Badrinath anchored the innings after the early dismissal of Michael Hussey to help Chennai overhaul Pune's modest 141-6 with three balls to spare at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.

Opener Murali Vijay (31) and middle-order batsman Suresh Raina (34 not out) chipped in with useful knocks to ensure a comfortable win for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men in the Twenty20 competition.

The victory, Chennai's fourth from seven outings, saw them move to second place on the points table behind Mumbai Indians whereas Pune slumped to their fourth defeat in a row.

Yuvraj Singh earlier played a captain's knock, making an unbeaten 62 off 43 balls to resurrect Pune who were reeling on 83-5 after some incisive bowling by Chennai fast bowlers, led by Australian left-armer Doug Bollinger.

Bollinger (3-21) struck early, removing openers Jesse Ryder (19) and Mohnish Mishra in the fourth over before returning to dismiss Mitchell Marsh in his second spell.

Robin Uthappa resisted briefly until edging to Srikkanth Anirudha off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for a cameo 31 that included two sixes and as many fours.

Pacemen Nuwan Kulasekara of Sri Lanka, playing his first IPL match, and New Zealander Tim Southee took one wicket apiece, underlining a fine performance in the field by Chennai after having lost the toss.

Brief scores:

Pune Warriors 141-6 in 20 overs (Yuvraj Singh 62 not out, R. Uthappa 31; D. Bollinger 3-21) lost to Chennai Super Kings 145-2 in 19.3 overs (S. Badrinath 63 not out, S. Raina 34 not out, M. Vijay 31) by eight wickets
 
Duncan Fletcher appointed India coach

Meantime, former England coach Duncan Fletcher was appointed the new coach of India with a two-year contract on Wednesday.

Despite the announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Fletcher told The Associated Press by telephone that the contract was yet to be finalized.

«I cannot say anything until the BCCI has finalized my contract,» said Fletcher, contacted at his home on a golf course in Hermanus, Western Cape.

«I need to be consistent with everyone and do as the BCCI have asked me, and that is not to talk to the media. This is a delicate time. I hope you'll appreciate that.» Fletcher said that once negotiations with the BCCI were complete, he'd be happy to talk to the media, but added that «has to be in India.» According to the BCCI, the 62-year-old Fletcher has replaced Gary Kirsten, who didn't want to extend his contract after guiding India to World Cup victory in Mumbai this month.

However, Fletcher may not be part of India's nine-match tour of West Indies in June and July, said BCCI secretary Narainswamy Srinivasan.

Srinivasan said Fletcher «has some prior commitments.» He was expected to be available to lead India on tour in England from July.

Fletcher was shortlisted by the BCCI along with another former Zimbabwe player, Andy Flower, the England coach.

He will be the fourth foreign coach of India after New Zealander John Wright, Australian Greg Chappell and South Africa's Kirsten.

Fletcher captained Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup but never played in Tests.

After winning club titles with Western Province and Glamorgan, he became the first foreign coach of England in 1999, when it was ranked the worst Test side. Within 18 months, he organized England to win a test series from West Indies for the first time in 31 years and beat Pakistan in a test in Pakistan for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Ashes series were lost in 2001 and 2002 but 16 years of Ashes misery were ended in 2005 on home soil when Australia was beaten 2-1, for which Fletcher was issued British citizenship and an OBE. But England was then whitewashed in Australia in 2006-07.

In one-dayers, England hardly threatened under Fletcher.

It reached the 2004 Champions Trophy final at the Oval but lost to West Indies. Fletcher resigned after England crashed out of a second straight World Cup in 2007, and became a consultant, helping New Zealand and most recently South Africa for the latest World Cup.

Meanwhile, the BCCI also re-signed Eric Simons as the India bowling coach, and doubled the cash bonus for the World Cup-winning players, who will receive rupees 20 million ($420,000) each.