The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Tendulkar taking part still doubtful

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 20, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Tendulkar taking part still doubtful

Nandakumar Marar

— PHOTO: PTI

TUNING UP: If Tendulkar does not play, his deputy Harbhajan can rely on the experience of Jayasuriya and Pollock.

MUMBAI: Harbhajan Singh will be mentally preparing for captaincy in Mumbai Indians’s opening Indian Premier League match against Bangalore Royal Challengers. Sachin Tendulkar, icon and skipper, declared that he would wait for team physio Nitin Patel’s assessment on Sunday about recovery from the groin injury, though the delayed decision may have been aimed at denying the rival team a psychological edge.

Tendulkar said: “I am waiting for the physio to assess my fitness. I will play if fit, otherwise I won’t.” It is clear though that Harbhajan, officially named vice-captain, will lead in his absence, with inputs from senior pros Shaun Pollock and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Twenty20 cricket demands split-second decisions and the Indian off-spinner may not have the necessary experience. The presence of coach Lalchand Rajput, along with former international team captains Pollock and Jayasuriya in the Mumbai Indians camp means the onfield skipper has adequate backup. “The captain has to take the final call, but we are open to ideas,” said Tendulkar. “Even if Harbhajan becomes captain, suggestions from Pollock or Jayasuriya will always be welcome.”

Bravo for Malinga

Mumbai Indians drafted in West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo in place of injured Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga, but the former will arrive only after Sunday’s home tie.

The teams (from):

Bangalore Royal Challengers: Rahul Dravid (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Balachandra Akhil, K.P. Appanna, Jagadeesh Arunkumar, Mark Boucher (wk), Nathan Bracken, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Bharat Chipli, Sunil Joshi, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Praveen Kumar, Ross Taylor, Vinay Kumar, Anil Kumble, Devraj Patil, Cameron White, Dale Steyn, Ashley Noffke. Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock, Sanath Jayasuriya, Dilhara Fernando, Luke Ronchi, Robin Uttappa, Dhaval Kulkarni, Abhishek Nayar, Ajinkya Rahane, Dominic Thornley, Saurabh Tiwary, Musavir Khote, Swapnil Singh, Siddharth Chitnis, Vikrant Yeligetti, Pinal Shah. Match starts at 8 p.m.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport