Article taken from Rediff.com
Kings XI Punjab halted Mumbai Indians' [Images] six-match winning streak with a thrilling one-run victory off the last ball in the Indian Premier League [Images] match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
In a frenzied final phase of the match, the home team, chasing the visitors' 189 for four, was dismissed for 188, their last six wickets falling in three overs.
The victory, their third in a row, virtually put Punjab XI into the semi-finals, leaving Mumbai Indians on 12 points from 11 matches, with the difficult task of winning at least two of their last three away outings to make it to the last four.
Mumbai Indians also lost their away match to the visitors in Mohali on April 25.
Cruising to victory with captain Sachin Tendulkar [Images] (64) on song, Mumbai Indians suddenly lost the plot and a clutch of wickets -- mostly to run-outs -- saw them end up on the losing side.
From 159 for three in 16.5 overs, the home team slumped to 188 all out when last man Vikrant Yeligati was run-out at the non-striker's end by a superb piece of fielding by Punjab XI skipper Yuvraj Singh [Images] when two runs were needed off the final ball.
Five batsmen were run-out in the innings, and among those the most crucial dismissal was that of Tendulkar, who got mixed up with Robin Uthappa's yes-no call and was stranded out of the crease at the non-striker's end.
Mumbai Indians lost Shaun Pollock [Images] and Uthappa quickly and the loss of three wickets in just seven balls unnerved the rest of the batsmen, who took enormous risks and failed.
Taking centre stage after the fall of swashbuckling opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya (20) in the third over, Tendulkar played the anchor role, hitting 12 fours off 46 balls, before being run-out off the last ball of the 17th over.
Mumbai Indians lost their way after his dismissal, and that of Pollock, out first ball after top-edging Yuvraj to third man.
Tendulkar, playing in only his fourth IPL tie after missing the first seven matches, cleverly batted around power-hitters Dwayne Smith (20) and Abhishek Nayar (27) but the clutch of wickets in the end undid his good work.
The Mumbai run chase got off to a flier with Jayasuriya taking full advantage of a wayward Irfan Pathan [Images] and smashing him for two sixes and a four in his opening over which yielded 24 runs.
S Sreesanth [Images] was prone to bowling wide balls at the other end and 36 was raised in only 20 balls when the Kerala-born pacer trapped Jayasuriya with a slower ball.
Tendulkar, looking sedate when Jayasuriya was at the crease, and one-down Smith, playing his first game after joining the team two days ago, added 45 runs with the West Indian all-rounder starting off the block in style with two fours and a pulled six off Sreesanth.
Tendulkar, content to play the anchoring role, also opened out but lost his partner Smith who was run out backing up too far to an attempted single.
Nayar, promoted ahead of Uthappa, did his bit as he struck two sixes and a four in his 18-ball 27 before holing out to Tanmay Srivastava when slog-sweeping leg break bowler Piyush Chawla.
Earlier, the in-form Marsh made the most of an early escape to compile a superb 81 and put on a century stand with compatriot Luke Pomersbach to help Kings XI Punjab amass 189.
Marsh, dropped by Robin Uthappa at gully off Shaun Pollock when on 6, struck seven fours and four sixes in his 56-ball half century, his fifth in seven games.
He also added 133 runs for the second wicket, off only 86 balls, with fellow left-hander Pomersbach (79 not out) to lift the visitors from 1 for 1 to a very competitive total.
The visitors, with 14 points under their belt going into their 11th match, lost an early wicket -- that of James Hopes, who poked his bat at a fine out-swinger from Pollock off the first ball he faced and nicked to stumper Pinal Shah.
But Marsh, who started slowly before accelerating, stole the show with some classical batting to dominate the rest of the bowling once Pollock, after yet another stand-out bowling stint, was off the attack after a spell of 1 for 14 in three overs.
Initially, Marsh was overshadowed by Pomersbach during their second wicket partnership, worth 133, that helped the Punjab team recover from a shaky start. The Western Australian youngster, included in the Australian ODI team to play against the West Indies [Images], had a lucky escape on six in the team score of 8, when Uthappa, who had an off-day in the field, grassed the catch at gully after diving forward when Marsh glided Pollock.
It proved a costly error for Mumbai, who made a few changes to their bowling attack, as Marsh held sway over the bowling thereafter.
Pomersbach, who played the ideal foil for his more attacking partner, was also given the benefit of doubt by third umpire Suresh Shastri after repeated viewings of TV replays when Pollock's pick-up and throw at the non-striker's end stumps seemed to have caught the batsman short of the crease.
The batsman was then on 17 in a total of 66 for one and went on to remain unbeaten after facing 50 balls and striking ten fours and three sixes.
The 100 of the Punjab innings was raised in 71 balls and Marsh continued to bat in the same attacking fashion, hitting his sixes mostly over the straight field, before he was caught in the deep by Pollock while trying to clear the ropes for the fifth time.
Young off-spinner Sidharth Chitnis, playing in the tournament after missing a few matches, also accounted for visiting team captain Yuvraj Singh to claim 2 for 40 as the home team fought back a bit and seemed poised to restrict the visitors, who were 134 for 2 after 15 overs, below 180.
But the last over by Ashish Nehra, surprisingly bowling instead of Pollock who had one more over left in his quota, proved expensive as Pomersbach smashed him for two fours and six off consecutive balls to take the total one run below 190.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Bangalore's losing streak ends
Article taken from Rediff.com
Bangalore Royal Challengers [Images] beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in their Indian Premier League [Images] match in Chennai on Wednesday.
The win was only Bangalore's third in the competition in 12 matches and moved them up from the bottom of the table to seventh spot with six points.
Chennai, on the other hand, suffered their fifth defeat in 12 matches and now have to win both their matches to qualify for the last four.
This was a much improved performance from Bangalore.
Chasing a modest 127 to win, Chennai began well with Parthiv Patel (24) and Stephen Fleming [Images] (45) putting on 60 runs in nine overs.
The former New Zealand [Images] captain looked impressive in his 39-ball knock that included three hits to the fence and two huge ones over it.
Parthiv fell in the first ball of the 10th over, bowled by Kumble and then followed a Chennai collapse.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] (4), Fleming, S Badrinath (1), Albie Morkel (1) and S Vidyut (0) fell in quick succession as the home team lost five wickets for an addition of 33 runs while eating up seven overs. Chennai never recovered from that collapse and ended up with just 122 for eight in their quota of 20 overs.
Anil Kumble [Images] (three for 14) and Dale Steyn (two for 28) were the most impressive bowlers for the Bangalore team. Vinay Kumar also chipped in with two wickets.
Bangalore Royal Challengers [Images] beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in their Indian Premier League [Images] match in Chennai on Wednesday.
The win was only Bangalore's third in the competition in 12 matches and moved them up from the bottom of the table to seventh spot with six points.
Chennai, on the other hand, suffered their fifth defeat in 12 matches and now have to win both their matches to qualify for the last four.
This was a much improved performance from Bangalore.
Chasing a modest 127 to win, Chennai began well with Parthiv Patel (24) and Stephen Fleming [Images] (45) putting on 60 runs in nine overs.
The former New Zealand [Images] captain looked impressive in his 39-ball knock that included three hits to the fence and two huge ones over it.
Parthiv fell in the first ball of the 10th over, bowled by Kumble and then followed a Chennai collapse.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] (4), Fleming, S Badrinath (1), Albie Morkel (1) and S Vidyut (0) fell in quick succession as the home team lost five wickets for an addition of 33 runs while eating up seven overs. Chennai never recovered from that collapse and ended up with just 122 for eight in their quota of 20 overs.
Anil Kumble [Images] (three for 14) and Dale Steyn (two for 28) were the most impressive bowlers for the Bangalore team. Vinay Kumar also chipped in with two wickets.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Shah Rukh will be allowed to cheer from dug-out
Article taken from Rediff.com
A day after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan [Images] was denied entry to his team's dressing room, Indian Premier League authorities issued fresh guidelines, which cleared the deck for the presence of a franchise owner in the team dug-out during the Twenty20 tournament.
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi announced that the organisers will issue an all-area accreditation badge to one member of each of the eight team franchisees, following the ejection of Shah Rukh from the dug-out by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit officials of the International Cricket Council.
While defending the ACSU officials' decision to ask the film star to vacate the dug-out during the IPL match against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, Modi said suitable measures would be taken to avoid a repeat of the incident.
"There have been reports in the media about denial of a team owner access to the dug out and dressing room. The IPL is conducted as per the rules and regulations of the ICC [Images], whose ACSU officials were just doing the job entrusted," Modi said.
"They go strictly by the colour code. A red badge issued by the ACSU, on approval of the team manager, will help the person holding it access to all areas," he said.
"This is what we intend to do by giving each of the team owners one such badge each. They do have the right to sit with the players in the dug outs and dressing rooms," Modi told a media conference in Mumbai on Monday evening.
Modi said since this is the first year of the IPL, they are still learning the ropes.
"If we make mistakes, we are willing to set them right. This is the first year of IPL.
"We had already provided such badges to Preity Zinta [Images] (owner of Punjab King's XI) and Vijay Mallya [Images] (owner of Bangalore's Royal Challengers) as we had received such a request from them in advance," Modi explained.
"The team owners have the right to be with the team at all times. They are very much part of the team's strategies," he added.
Modi also said that each team, in addition, would get four visitor's passes with the condition that the holder of that badge, one at a time, can sit with the team members during the match for a maximum of 15 minutes.
"After the usage (of the temporary badge) it must be returned to the manager who has issued it," he said.
The IPL chairman also said that in future children of team members, including support staff, would not be allowed to enter the teams' dug-outs or dressing rooms during a match.
Earlier, the ICC expressed surprise at Shah Rukh's statement that he had been ejected by ACSU personnel.
The ICC said the IPL is a domestic tournament and the game's governing body did not have any role in formulating the rules.
"The reported incident has nothing to do with the ICC as the IPL is a domestic tournament which is being held under the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI," an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.
"Furthermore, the ICC Board in its meeting held in Dubai on 17-18 March had decided that IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that complies with ICC regulations," he said.
Shah Rukh was visibly dejected after being denied an entry in the dressing room and the actor said, "I like to hang around with the boys. I am very energetic. I am very disappointed that the ICC has stopped me," he said.
"I don't know the ICC rules. I'll tell only one thing. Nobody dare stop me from coming to Kolkata. I'll be here whenever my team plays a match at the Eden," Khan said.
Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya said ICC rules are meant to stop bookies entering the dressing room but they do not apply in a domestic tournament like IPL.
"When these rules were framed, the concept of franchisee owners' domestic tournament didn't even come, the law was not framed to stop people like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Mukesh Ambani or Vijay Mallya from walking into the dressing room," he said.
"According to even ICC regulations, there is a system of visitor's pass, the manager and team management sign it. The person can be allowed in the dressing room as long as it is signed by. So there is no way to stop Shah Rukh from entering the dressing room," Bhattacharya added.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, meanwhile, asserted that Shah Rukh has to go by ICC rules, even though he felt nothing could really stop the actor from entering the dressing room.
"He should take permission from IPL's anti-corruption officer before entering into the dressing room," Shah said.
A day after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan [Images] was denied entry to his team's dressing room, Indian Premier League authorities issued fresh guidelines, which cleared the deck for the presence of a franchise owner in the team dug-out during the Twenty20 tournament.
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi announced that the organisers will issue an all-area accreditation badge to one member of each of the eight team franchisees, following the ejection of Shah Rukh from the dug-out by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit officials of the International Cricket Council.
While defending the ACSU officials' decision to ask the film star to vacate the dug-out during the IPL match against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, Modi said suitable measures would be taken to avoid a repeat of the incident.
"There have been reports in the media about denial of a team owner access to the dug out and dressing room. The IPL is conducted as per the rules and regulations of the ICC [Images], whose ACSU officials were just doing the job entrusted," Modi said.
"They go strictly by the colour code. A red badge issued by the ACSU, on approval of the team manager, will help the person holding it access to all areas," he said.
"This is what we intend to do by giving each of the team owners one such badge each. They do have the right to sit with the players in the dug outs and dressing rooms," Modi told a media conference in Mumbai on Monday evening.
Modi said since this is the first year of the IPL, they are still learning the ropes.
"If we make mistakes, we are willing to set them right. This is the first year of IPL.
"We had already provided such badges to Preity Zinta [Images] (owner of Punjab King's XI) and Vijay Mallya [Images] (owner of Bangalore's Royal Challengers) as we had received such a request from them in advance," Modi explained.
"The team owners have the right to be with the team at all times. They are very much part of the team's strategies," he added.
Modi also said that each team, in addition, would get four visitor's passes with the condition that the holder of that badge, one at a time, can sit with the team members during the match for a maximum of 15 minutes.
"After the usage (of the temporary badge) it must be returned to the manager who has issued it," he said.
The IPL chairman also said that in future children of team members, including support staff, would not be allowed to enter the teams' dug-outs or dressing rooms during a match.
Earlier, the ICC expressed surprise at Shah Rukh's statement that he had been ejected by ACSU personnel.
The ICC said the IPL is a domestic tournament and the game's governing body did not have any role in formulating the rules.
"The reported incident has nothing to do with the ICC as the IPL is a domestic tournament which is being held under the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI," an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.
"Furthermore, the ICC Board in its meeting held in Dubai on 17-18 March had decided that IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that complies with ICC regulations," he said.
Shah Rukh was visibly dejected after being denied an entry in the dressing room and the actor said, "I like to hang around with the boys. I am very energetic. I am very disappointed that the ICC has stopped me," he said.
"I don't know the ICC rules. I'll tell only one thing. Nobody dare stop me from coming to Kolkata. I'll be here whenever my team plays a match at the Eden," Khan said.
Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya said ICC rules are meant to stop bookies entering the dressing room but they do not apply in a domestic tournament like IPL.
"When these rules were framed, the concept of franchisee owners' domestic tournament didn't even come, the law was not framed to stop people like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Mukesh Ambani or Vijay Mallya from walking into the dressing room," he said.
"According to even ICC regulations, there is a system of visitor's pass, the manager and team management sign it. The person can be allowed in the dressing room as long as it is signed by. So there is no way to stop Shah Rukh from entering the dressing room," Bhattacharya added.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, meanwhile, asserted that Shah Rukh has to go by ICC rules, even though he felt nothing could really stop the actor from entering the dressing room.
"He should take permission from IPL's anti-corruption officer before entering into the dressing room," Shah said.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Jayasuriya feasts on Chennai bowlers as Mumbai win
Sanath Jayasuriya single-handedly led Mumbai Indians to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
The Sri Lankan scored an aggressive 48-ball 114 not out that included nine boundaries and 11 huge sixes.
Jayasuriya and captain Sachin Tendulkar [Images] (12), playing in his first match in the IPL, put on 82 for the opening wicket in just 44 balls, Mumbai's best opening wicket stand so far in the competition, as the hosts made light work of the chase.
A packed crowd waited in eager anticipation to see Tendulkar perform but instead they witnessed Jayasuriya steal the thunder with the spectacular performance. Even Tendulkar was a mute spectator from the other end as the Sri Lankan severely punished the Chennai bowlers.
Chasing a modest 157, the home team romped home with 6.1 overs to spare.
Earlier, Subramaniam Badrinath and Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] revived Chennai Super Kings with a near-century stand after the Mumbai Indians' pace attack had taken early control of the match.
Badrinath, struggling initially before picking up pace, struck his second successive half century in the IPL and shared a 95-run fifth-wicket stand with Dhoni to take Chennai to 156 for six.
Badrinath made 53 off 32 balls with seven fours and two sixes while his skipper Dhoni made an unbeaten 43 in 35 balls with six fours and a six.
Earlier, the Mumbai Indians pace attack put them on the rack on a bouncy track to restrict them to 46 four in the ninth over before Badrinath and Dhoni led their revival with a splendid stand.
Put in to bat, Chennai began well by hitting a string of boundaries in the second over before being rocked by the Mumbai attack to be pushed on the back foot.
However, the Chennai Kings' final tally looked inadequate against Mumbai Indians' strong batting line-up that included the fit-again Sachin Tendulkar for the first time in the tournament.
In the top-order Stephen Fleming [Images] (26), dropped on one, and fellow-opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (16) got a start but failed to flourish to the full.
The visitors started with a flourish after a tight opening over from Pollock. Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan waded into Ashish Nehra, who had bowled well in Mumbai Indians' previous tie against Rajasthan Royals, and smacked the left arm bowler for three fours in the second over of the innings.
Fleming, after striking the young medium pacer for a four to square point, dragged the next ball on to his stumps when playing well away from his body.
Sri Lankan Kapugedara was nearly run-out off the next ball when non-striker S Badrinath did not respond to a call for a single, but Jayasuriya's throw to the striker's end was blocked by the batsman with his bat as he tried to retrieve the crease.
But Kapugedara fell off the very next ball, edging a rising ball from Kulkarni that left him off the pitch to stumper Takawale.
Pollock then came back for his fourth and final over and troubled Dhoni also bowled a maiden over.
Badrinath, who played some audacious scoop shots to fine leg, and Dhoni, who hooked Rohan Raje for the first six of the innings in the 18th over, put on a half-century stand to take the score past the 100-mark in the 16th over.
The last five overs fetched 67 runs for the visiting team as the pace bowlers, after Pollock had finished his quota, were punished at will.
The Mumbai Indians' medium pacers were so much on top of the batsmen initially that Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar, making his debut in the IPL after missing the first seven ties because of a groin injury, did not utilise Jayasuriya's left arm spin at all.
The Sri Lankan scored an aggressive 48-ball 114 not out that included nine boundaries and 11 huge sixes.
Jayasuriya and captain Sachin Tendulkar [Images] (12), playing in his first match in the IPL, put on 82 for the opening wicket in just 44 balls, Mumbai's best opening wicket stand so far in the competition, as the hosts made light work of the chase.
A packed crowd waited in eager anticipation to see Tendulkar perform but instead they witnessed Jayasuriya steal the thunder with the spectacular performance. Even Tendulkar was a mute spectator from the other end as the Sri Lankan severely punished the Chennai bowlers.
Chasing a modest 157, the home team romped home with 6.1 overs to spare.
Earlier, Subramaniam Badrinath and Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] revived Chennai Super Kings with a near-century stand after the Mumbai Indians' pace attack had taken early control of the match.
Badrinath, struggling initially before picking up pace, struck his second successive half century in the IPL and shared a 95-run fifth-wicket stand with Dhoni to take Chennai to 156 for six.
Badrinath made 53 off 32 balls with seven fours and two sixes while his skipper Dhoni made an unbeaten 43 in 35 balls with six fours and a six.
Earlier, the Mumbai Indians pace attack put them on the rack on a bouncy track to restrict them to 46 four in the ninth over before Badrinath and Dhoni led their revival with a splendid stand.
Put in to bat, Chennai began well by hitting a string of boundaries in the second over before being rocked by the Mumbai attack to be pushed on the back foot.
However, the Chennai Kings' final tally looked inadequate against Mumbai Indians' strong batting line-up that included the fit-again Sachin Tendulkar for the first time in the tournament.
In the top-order Stephen Fleming [Images] (26), dropped on one, and fellow-opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (16) got a start but failed to flourish to the full.
The visitors started with a flourish after a tight opening over from Pollock. Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan waded into Ashish Nehra, who had bowled well in Mumbai Indians' previous tie against Rajasthan Royals, and smacked the left arm bowler for three fours in the second over of the innings.
Fleming, after striking the young medium pacer for a four to square point, dragged the next ball on to his stumps when playing well away from his body.
Sri Lankan Kapugedara was nearly run-out off the next ball when non-striker S Badrinath did not respond to a call for a single, but Jayasuriya's throw to the striker's end was blocked by the batsman with his bat as he tried to retrieve the crease.
But Kapugedara fell off the very next ball, edging a rising ball from Kulkarni that left him off the pitch to stumper Takawale.
Pollock then came back for his fourth and final over and troubled Dhoni also bowled a maiden over.
Badrinath, who played some audacious scoop shots to fine leg, and Dhoni, who hooked Rohan Raje for the first six of the innings in the 18th over, put on a half-century stand to take the score past the 100-mark in the 16th over.
The last five overs fetched 67 runs for the visiting team as the pace bowlers, after Pollock had finished his quota, were punished at will.
The Mumbai Indians' medium pacers were so much on top of the batsmen initially that Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar, making his debut in the IPL after missing the first seven ties because of a groin injury, did not utilise Jayasuriya's left arm spin at all.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I want Sachin to play against us: McGrath
Article taken Rediff.com
Missing his long time on-field rival Sachin Tendulkar [Images], retired Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath hopes to bowl at the master batsman when Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians face off again in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Hopefully, Sachin will be fit in the next match. I wish him best of luck," the legendary pacer told PTI.
Talking on the sidelines of a fashion event in the capital on Friday night, McGrath said the Mumbai team was dearly missing Tendulkar.
"If Sachin comes to the Mumbai side, it will add extra pressure on the rival team as the little champion has the capability to win matches on any given day, he said.
The Australian said the Delhi Daredevils was a balanced side and was one of the strong contenders for the title.
"We have a good combination of youth and experience. Losing the last match against Chennai felt bad but we played some good cricket," said McGrath.
Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag [Images] exuded confidence that his side would lift the IPL title.
"We have performed very well till now and the boys are enjoying the IPL format. We are sure that we will win the IPL," he said.
Missing his long time on-field rival Sachin Tendulkar [Images], retired Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath hopes to bowl at the master batsman when Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians face off again in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Hopefully, Sachin will be fit in the next match. I wish him best of luck," the legendary pacer told PTI.
Talking on the sidelines of a fashion event in the capital on Friday night, McGrath said the Mumbai team was dearly missing Tendulkar.
"If Sachin comes to the Mumbai side, it will add extra pressure on the rival team as the little champion has the capability to win matches on any given day, he said.
The Australian said the Delhi Daredevils was a balanced side and was one of the strong contenders for the title.
"We have a good combination of youth and experience. Losing the last match against Chennai felt bad but we played some good cricket," said McGrath.
Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag [Images] exuded confidence that his side would lift the IPL title.
"We have performed very well till now and the boys are enjoying the IPL format. We are sure that we will win the IPL," he said.
Tendulkar to make IPL debut against Chennai
Article taken from Rediff.com
Mumbai Indians' hopes got a big shot in the arm when their icon player and captain Sachin Tendulkar [Images] on Monday declared himself fully fit to play his first Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium on May 14.
"Yes I will be playing the match on May 14. I feel very comfortable. It has been tough and disappointing to have missed the two Tests against South Africa and the first seven IPL ties," Tendulkar told reporters after a strenuous practice sessions under lights.
"It has been hard work and with help from the physio and masseuse," Tendulkar, who has not played a competitive match since March-end due to a groin injury, said.
Tendulkar said though ace South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock [Images] had done a commendable job as captain, resurrecting the team's fortunes after a string of defeats in the first four matches, he would take over the reins now that he is fit.
"Shaun Pollock was the makeshift captain and has done a terrific job but I will be captaining the side," Tendulkar said.
He will open the innings with Sri Lankan ace Sanath Jayasuriya for the Mumbai Indians against Chennai, Tendulkar said.
The batsman however refused to be drawn into comments over off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [Images] who has been banned from the IPL for slapping S Sreesanth [Images] after the Mumbai Indians match against Punjab Kings XI at Mohali.
"It is a past chapter. Let's put it behind and look ahead," Tendulkar said.
"It's not about who is captain but about helping each other," Tendulkar said.
Talking in detail about his rehabilitation process, the ace batsman explained that the first half was spent in taking complete rest.
"The first half of my rehabilitation was done by taking rest and I was not allowed to play. I spent time on strengthening my muscles and swimming in the pool. All these contributed to my recovering full fitness," he said.
When asked about the team's performance so far, especially the defeats, Tendulkar said the first two matches were very close and in the crunch moments went in the opposition's favour.
The third and fourth matches the team could not compete as expected, he said, adding the key for the turn around in the team's fortunes leading to its three match winning streak was the ability to take early wickets.
"We could get early wickets and that was the key," Tendulkar said.
The master batsman was also very confident that the crowd would support the home team as has always been the case at the Wankhede stadium.
"The crowd has always been a constant support for us and like Shaun has said earlier it acts as the twelfth man for us," Tendulkar said.
When asked if he would be looking to strike good form after an injury lay-off like in the past, he said, "I always try hard."
About the rivals from Chennai, Tendulkar said, "They are a tough side. There will be plenty of talking done in the team before the match, it will be a question of implementing them."
Mumbai Indians' hopes got a big shot in the arm when their icon player and captain Sachin Tendulkar [Images] on Monday declared himself fully fit to play his first Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium on May 14.
"Yes I will be playing the match on May 14. I feel very comfortable. It has been tough and disappointing to have missed the two Tests against South Africa and the first seven IPL ties," Tendulkar told reporters after a strenuous practice sessions under lights.
"It has been hard work and with help from the physio and masseuse," Tendulkar, who has not played a competitive match since March-end due to a groin injury, said.
Tendulkar said though ace South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock [Images] had done a commendable job as captain, resurrecting the team's fortunes after a string of defeats in the first four matches, he would take over the reins now that he is fit.
"Shaun Pollock was the makeshift captain and has done a terrific job but I will be captaining the side," Tendulkar said.
He will open the innings with Sri Lankan ace Sanath Jayasuriya for the Mumbai Indians against Chennai, Tendulkar said.
The batsman however refused to be drawn into comments over off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [Images] who has been banned from the IPL for slapping S Sreesanth [Images] after the Mumbai Indians match against Punjab Kings XI at Mohali.
"It is a past chapter. Let's put it behind and look ahead," Tendulkar said.
"It's not about who is captain but about helping each other," Tendulkar said.
Talking in detail about his rehabilitation process, the ace batsman explained that the first half was spent in taking complete rest.
"The first half of my rehabilitation was done by taking rest and I was not allowed to play. I spent time on strengthening my muscles and swimming in the pool. All these contributed to my recovering full fitness," he said.
When asked about the team's performance so far, especially the defeats, Tendulkar said the first two matches were very close and in the crunch moments went in the opposition's favour.
The third and fourth matches the team could not compete as expected, he said, adding the key for the turn around in the team's fortunes leading to its three match winning streak was the ability to take early wickets.
"We could get early wickets and that was the key," Tendulkar said.
The master batsman was also very confident that the crowd would support the home team as has always been the case at the Wankhede stadium.
"The crowd has always been a constant support for us and like Shaun has said earlier it acts as the twelfth man for us," Tendulkar said.
When asked if he would be looking to strike good form after an injury lay-off like in the past, he said, "I always try hard."
About the rivals from Chennai, Tendulkar said, "They are a tough side. There will be plenty of talking done in the team before the match, it will be a question of implementing them."
Dravid, Charu Sharma had their own plans: Mallya
The internal bickering of the Bangalore Royal Challengers is out in the open with team owner Vijay Mallya [Images] revealing that he was at loggerheads with captain Rahul Dravid [Images] and the outfit's sacked CEO Charu Sharma over players' selection for the Indian Premier League.
Mallya made it clear that he was not happy with the squad, currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL points table, which has been ridiculed as a Test team in Twenty20 jersey.
The liquor baron said he had some players in mind but Dravid and Sharma completely ignored them and went ahead with their own plan.
"I had my own list (of players) but the fact is Rahul Dravid and Charu Sharma had their own list and at the end of the day, I decided to take the back seat," Mallya told NDTV.
"I was very tempted to bid for players whom I wanted but they held me back. Obviously things have turned out differently," he said.
He said Sharma backed Dravid to the hilt and even in the second auction, where the captain was not present, the former CEO discouraged Mallya to buy players of his choice.
"When Rahul Dravid was not present in the second auction, I wanted to acquire some players but Charu Sharma was very tentative about them. I mean I bought Misbah-ul Haq because I was determined to do it. There were other players I was discouraged about," Mallya said.
On sacking Sharma and replacing him with former Test player Brijesh Patel, Mallya said, "Charu Sharma was appointed CEO because I thought he understood cricket and he would add value to the team and the entire Royal Challengers initiative."
Mallya said Patel's appointment was necessitated because he was tired of complaints that the team did not have good practice facilities in its base in Bangalore.
"When I was questioning the performance of the team, all I was told was that practice facilities are bad, then I was told there was no bonding in the team...so everything was blamed on a particular event or lack of infrastructure.
"So I said to myself things can't continue like this and I brought Brijesh Patel. He is the honorable secretary of the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) and who better a person to provide match facilities and whatever else the team needs at its base in Bangalore. He understands cricket as well," Mallya explained.
The flamboyant liquor-baron also made it clear that IPL had an unmistakable corporate face, which makes it evidently distinct from other tournaments.
"At the end of the day, people need to understand that the IPL has a corporate side to it, and a very definitive corporate side. It is not at all cricket in the traditional sense," he added.
Now that the team's semi-final hopes have gone up in smoke, Mallya expects Dravid and his teammates to win a few matches to salvage some pride.
"I want from Rahul Dravid to do the best for the team and to produce some good results for us because I don't think Rahul Dravid enjoys being at the bottom of the league tables, and certainly I don't." Mallya added
Mallya made it clear that he was not happy with the squad, currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL points table, which has been ridiculed as a Test team in Twenty20 jersey.
The liquor baron said he had some players in mind but Dravid and Sharma completely ignored them and went ahead with their own plan.
"I had my own list (of players) but the fact is Rahul Dravid and Charu Sharma had their own list and at the end of the day, I decided to take the back seat," Mallya told NDTV.
"I was very tempted to bid for players whom I wanted but they held me back. Obviously things have turned out differently," he said.
He said Sharma backed Dravid to the hilt and even in the second auction, where the captain was not present, the former CEO discouraged Mallya to buy players of his choice.
"When Rahul Dravid was not present in the second auction, I wanted to acquire some players but Charu Sharma was very tentative about them. I mean I bought Misbah-ul Haq because I was determined to do it. There were other players I was discouraged about," Mallya said.
On sacking Sharma and replacing him with former Test player Brijesh Patel, Mallya said, "Charu Sharma was appointed CEO because I thought he understood cricket and he would add value to the team and the entire Royal Challengers initiative."
Mallya said Patel's appointment was necessitated because he was tired of complaints that the team did not have good practice facilities in its base in Bangalore.
"When I was questioning the performance of the team, all I was told was that practice facilities are bad, then I was told there was no bonding in the team...so everything was blamed on a particular event or lack of infrastructure.
"So I said to myself things can't continue like this and I brought Brijesh Patel. He is the honorable secretary of the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) and who better a person to provide match facilities and whatever else the team needs at its base in Bangalore. He understands cricket as well," Mallya explained.
The flamboyant liquor-baron also made it clear that IPL had an unmistakable corporate face, which makes it evidently distinct from other tournaments.
"At the end of the day, people need to understand that the IPL has a corporate side to it, and a very definitive corporate side. It is not at all cricket in the traditional sense," he added.
Now that the team's semi-final hopes have gone up in smoke, Mallya expects Dravid and his teammates to win a few matches to salvage some pride.
"I want from Rahul Dravid to do the best for the team and to produce some good results for us because I don't think Rahul Dravid enjoys being at the bottom of the league tables, and certainly I don't." Mallya added
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