Mumbai Indians vs Bangalore Royal Challengers: With or Without Sachin Tendulkar?

IPL Mumbai Indians is going to play their first match in Indian Premier League on 20 April 2008. Mumbai Indians is the richest club among the eight IPL franchises considering the club’s fee in the IPL franchise auction. The clubs includes some star cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuria etc. Mumbai Indians is going to play their first match of the tournament against Bangalore Royal Challengers, who suffered a humiliating 140 run defeat in the opening match.

However, IPL Mumbai Indians team has something to worry about and that is the injury of Captain Sachin Tendulkar. The master blaster has recovered from his groin injury, but he is yet to achieve his match fitness. So, his participation in the opening math of Mumbai Indians is now doubtful. If he can not play in the match, fellow Indian team mate, Sachin Tendulkar would lead Mumbai Indians against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Hindustantimes reported:

"We have to wait and see how I feel tomorrow. If I am ready I will play," Tendulkar said on Saturday on the eve of the match.

If he was unable to play then vice captain Harbhajan Singh would lead the team and would have his ears open for inputs from two other international captains in the team - Sanath Jayasuriya and Shaun Pollock, the master batsman said.

"Both I and Harbhajan, who would lead the team if I am unable to play, will be open to ideas. That's the way it should be," he said.

Actually, Sachin Tendulkar is the icon player of his side, by which he will receive more than 15 percent of the next highest earner of Mumbai Indians. Sachin is a class batsmen and he has nothing to prove, though it is true that he has very little experience in Twenty20 cricket. However, he became captain of Indian team twice, but failed to bring success in both of his tenures. However, he is very experienced player and his loss will definitely lessen the batting strength of Mumbai Indians. I think, the captaincy in absence of Sachin Tendulkar should be given to Sanath Jayasuria, who is very experienced and has fame for hard hitting. Jayasuria led Sri Lanka for some years successfully.

Harbhajan Singh is a very good spinner and perhaps one of the best off spinners of present day and he has been doing consistently well in all forms of cricket and he has been playing at this level for a number of years now. He has already become the best ever off spinners of India. However, I think, Jayasuria has more credentials to lead Mumbai Indians than Harbhajan Singh. Anyway, I think, Mumbai Indians fans will be happy to see Sachin Tendulkar becomes fit and lead the team in the opening match.