Prepared for all challenges: Tendulkar

16th May 2008

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who recently recovered from a groin injury sustained during the Test series against South Africa, asserted that he was ready to take on all kinds of challenges.

Tendulkar made his debut appearance in the ongoing DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) against Chennai Super Kings on May 14 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai wherein under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians routed the visitors by nine wickets. However, he could only score 12 runs off 16 balls as he was bowled out by Joginder Sharma in the eighth over.

The groin damage kept him out of action for the second and third Tests as well as for the first seven IPL games.

Speaking at a pre-match conference, he indicated that though he was not able to contribute on the field in the initial games, he made it a point to stay with the team and chip in with any advice to the team.

"I am prepared for all the challenges. In the last three weeks that I stayed with the team, the idea was to keep in touch with the team. So that from outside, I could give inputs and contribute in that manner," he said.

Earlier, Tendulkar had pointed out that the team will have to maintain momentum in the tournament to move ahead. Commenting on the mental stance of the team, Tendulkar said that they had witnessed a psychological shift after the straight losses were followed by consecutive victories.

"Psychologically, there has been a shift in the team. Though we lost the first few matches, we went on to win others." he stated.

For the first time in history, a packed house witnessed Asian rivals Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya open a session for the same side at the Wankhede. The Mumbai captain could not shine with the bat but Jayasuriya's scintillating unbeaten 48-ball knock of 114, that was studded with nine boundaries and eleven sixes, will be memorable for every member of the unit.

The Mumbai Indians will next face the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede on May 16. Fans will eagerly await the mouth-watering clash between Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar, the man who made a huge impact in his debut IPL game. Let's wait and watch!