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The great Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said he felt at home while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming Indian Premier League.

"My ancestors hail from Tamil Nadu and my wife is from Chennai. That way it is a privilege for me to be playing for a team from this place," he told reporters at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.

"Playing for Chennai is special, I feel at home here," he added.

The highest Test wicket-taker said while every team in the competition was strong, "Super Kings is great".

"(Super Kings captain) MS Dhoni has been lucky winning everything so far. I hope he will win the League also," he added.

The wily Lankan off spinner felt spinners would play a crucial role in the League despite their short four over spells: '' In fact, on Indian wickets, he has even a bigger role to play.''

"Pitches in India help the spinners and more so the wicket at M A Chidambaram stadium."

"In fact, a spinner has more chances of getting a batsman out in the T20 games. He may get hit for a couple of sixes, but he has more chances of getting a batsman out as he has to go for his shots straightaway and may mistime."

"I have not played regular T20 games at international level so far. But while playing this format for Lancashire, I played a key role."

"We have to have a good spinner even in a T20 match. A bowler has to adjust and try to take wickets in the span of the four overs he gets to bowl. The same holds good for a batsman who has to get runs in the few overs he gets to bat."

Murali, regarded as one of the best spinners ever said he was very keen to do well for the Super Kings: "Whichever game you play, you compete. I want to do well and get the Cup for Chennai Super Kings."

Muralitharan refused to agree that T20 would in any way hamper the more traditional format of the game: "Test match cricket is the ultimate in the game."

"On the other hand, I think that Test cricket will survive because of T20. People may not have time to see Test cricket but for a player Test cricket is the ultimate."

''For me, adapting to T20 is easy'', Murali said.