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Indian Premier League
Tendulkar doubftul for Mumbai's opening match
Cricinfo staff
April 17, 2008
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Sachin Tendulkar: a doubtful starter for Mumbai's opening game on April 20
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Sachin Tendulkar has said he was not yet fully recovered from his groin injury, leaving him a doubtful starter for the Mumbai Indians' opening IPL match on April 20.
With just three days left for Mumbai's first match, Tendulkar said he was still following a rehabilitation regime and was not 100% fit yet. "I am a little disappointed that I was not able to play in the two important matches against South Africa. I am yet to recover fully from the injury," he told reporters.
"The physiotherapist and the doctor had earlier advised me rest and now they have given me the exercises and I am following their advice," he said. "There are two more days for the match. No decision has been taken as yet [whether he will play or not]. It will be decided before the 20th."
The Bangalore franchise has also been hit with a few injury concerns, with Anil Kumble set to miss their opening match on April 18. Nathan Bracken, the Australian left-arm seamer, has already been ruled out for at least four weeks and it would make the selection of the final XI a tricky process.
Bangalore's opponents for the first match of the IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders - have announced a 14-member squad for the opening match. The side, led by Sourav Ganguly, includes five foreign players - Ricky Ponting, David Hussey, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle and Mohammad Hafeez.
The second match of the tournament features Chennai taking on Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. Yuvraj Singh, the captain of the Punjab side, has already spoken of the mini-battle that the contest is likely to throw up between him and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of the Chennai franchise.
"It's a good way to build the hype (around the competition) by pitching it as Yuvraj versus Dhoni contest," Yuvraj said. "Maybe, I will share a joke with him after the game." Dhoni, however, will play in the side as a specialist batsman with Parthiv Patel set to keep wicket. "Dhoni has bruised fingers. We'll see how things shape up in the next couple of days, but with Parthiv there, we don't want to put unnecessary pressure on the Indian captain," said Kepler Wessels, the coach of the Chennai franchise.
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