02:18
Cricket Analysis
New Delhi: It's difficult to imagine a Mumbai Indians (MI) team without Sachin Tendulkar but that's how it's likely to be for the star-studded team from India that could be without their icon in the third edition of the Champions League Twenty20 beginning September 23.
Tendulkar returned mid-way through India’s forgettable tour of England where the World Champions surrendered their No. 1 Test status. But an old toe injury flared-up after the Test series, forcing Tendulkar to miss the entire ODI series.
But while Tendulkar's loss will seriously dent MI's aspirations to end their trophy drought, they have much gas left in the tank to win the Champions League, unlike their debut season when they were ejected in the group stage.
Mumbai are in Group A with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings, Cape Cobras, New South Wales Blues and Qualifier 2 from the six-team qualifying competition that precedes the group stage.
In the absence of Tendulkar and Sharma, the bulk of the responsibility will be shouldered by the experienced all-rounders Kieron Pollard and James Franklin, speedsters Lasith Malinga and Munaf Patel and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who could captain the side in place of Tendulkar. Of that lot, Pollard, Malinga and Harbhajan will have to set the benchmark with the kind of performances one associates with Tendulkar.
MI open their campaign against Chennai Super Kings on September 24 and will target a semifinal spot to begin with. But how far they reach in the tournament will depend on how quickly they can get their team combination right.
Squad: Aiden Blizzard, Yuzvendra Chahal, James Franklin, Davy Jacobs, Dhawal Kulkarni, Surya Kumar Yadav, Lasith Malinga, Ali Murtuza, Munaf Patel, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh, Tirumalasetti Suman.
Tendulkar returned mid-way through India’s forgettable tour of England where the World Champions surrendered their No. 1 Test status. But an old toe injury flared-up after the Test series, forcing Tendulkar to miss the entire ODI series.
Mumbai are in Group A with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings, Cape Cobras, New South Wales Blues and Qualifier 2 from the six-team qualifying competition that precedes the group stage.
In the absence of Tendulkar and Sharma, the bulk of the responsibility will be shouldered by the experienced all-rounders Kieron Pollard and James Franklin, speedsters Lasith Malinga and Munaf Patel and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who could captain the side in place of Tendulkar. Of that lot, Pollard, Malinga and Harbhajan will have to set the benchmark with the kind of performances one associates with Tendulkar.
MI open their campaign against Chennai Super Kings on September 24 and will target a semifinal spot to begin with. But how far they reach in the tournament will depend on how quickly they can get their team combination right.
Squad: Aiden Blizzard, Yuzvendra Chahal, James Franklin, Davy Jacobs, Dhawal Kulkarni, Surya Kumar Yadav, Lasith Malinga, Ali Murtuza, Munaf Patel, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh, Tirumalasetti Suman.
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