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The competition will retain its edge

CL will be an interesting experience, writes Kieron Pollard

Well, I didn't expect to be laid low with a freak injury at this point of time!

With less than a month to go for the Champions League, I expected myself to go out there and practice those shots that would help my team in the competition. Instead, here I am, taped right eye and all, unable to open it completely!

Though I admit I was concerned immediately after being hit recently, it is not as bad as it seems and I hope to be completely fine by the time the Champions League comes around next month.

I have already written in my earlier piece on how the Champions League last time around set my career on fire. Since then, I have managed to play a lot of Twenty20 and have had it good so far.

I have got a chance to play all over the world in this format and performed pretty well, I think, and have been promoted as the star of the format at this point of time, and I feel really good about it all.

As for the actual competition, it will definitely be a lot different from everything the Champions League was last time around. It was held in India last time and there was a lot of support. The crowds came out in large numbers to support us and, frankly, I do not know if the same kind of support would be there this time around.

Great crowd

I mean, sure, the crowds in South Africa are really great and they get behind you like nothing else, and there are a lot of cricket fanatics in South Africa as well.

But they have their own two teams there in the fray and I am not sure how much of a support we will be able to get — in comparison to India!

The Indians simply overwhelm you in terms of sheer numbers and that's what, I think, will be the big difference this time around.

The competition will retain its edge — there is no better way to make your national selectors sit up and take notice of your performances, I being the prime example — but the atmosphere will be different. At the same time, it will be an interesting experience, something I am looking forward to.

What I am also looking forward to is getting back together with my teammates from Mumbai Indians.

It was absolutely great playing with someone like Sachin Tendulkar in the IPL and I hope to do even better in the Champions League this time around.

It was disappointing for Trinidad & Tobago to miss out this time around but Mumbai Indians are a great side and I will look to give my 100 per cent for the team.

But first, I am hoping for this taped eye to get better at the earliest!

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