The Mumbai Indians were buoyed by the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, who joined the team’s training session here on Tuesday as the high profile franchise starts its title defence against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL-VII.
The MI players were overjoyed as Tendulkar, who reached here on Monday night, came in the team’s practice outfit at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Having retired from all forms of the game after the Test series against West Indies ended on November 16 last year, Tendulkar seemed to be itching to have a go at the nets.
He has already been named as a “MI Icon” recently and will also do his bit to promote the franchise’s cause of “Education for All”.
The legend padded up and had a half an hour session at the nets during which he was a picture of concentration as if he was going to be a part of the playing XI.
He also did his customary knocking facing throwdowns from a member of the support staff. “It was a lesson for the youngsters in the manner Sachin went about his drills. If someone thought that he wanted to hit a few balls for fun, they were mistaken. His drills were just like it used to be before a match,” a MI source said.
Tendulkar also keenly watched the Rohit Sharmas and the Kieron Pollards at the net session and was seen talking to chief coach John Wright.
The highest scorer of all time in international cricket, will be a part of the team’s think-tank wherein he will be providing inputs to coach Wright and skipper Sharma on team combination and strategies.
The iconic cricketer had said a few days earlier about how he would want to contribute with his expertise as Mumbai Indians aims to do an encore like Chennai Super Kings did in 2011. “I have been a part of the Mumbai Indians team since its inception and am delighted to continue my association.
“I look forward to closely interacting with the experienced support staff and sharing my learning,” he was quoted as saying earlier this week.
