Fit-again Tendulkar gives Mumbai Indians the edge
Boosted by the availability of their icon and captain Sachin Tendulkar who has recovered from his groin injury, hosts Mumbai Indians go into their IPl clash against the high-flying Chennai Super Kings eager to make it four wins in-a-row at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow.
After being forced to sit out of the first seven matches of the Twenty20 league, the fit-again master batsman would be eager to stamp his authority on the proceedings immediately in what is for his team, lying sixth, a very critical match.
The Mumbai outfit started the IPL on a poor note, without Tendulkar in the playing XI, and slid to four straight defeats before arresting the downward-going graph.
The Harbhajan Singh slapping episode of April 25 leading to the booting out of the off spinner by the IPL authorities only added to their woes.
But victories in their last three matches, including against top performers Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals, have boosted the sagging morale of the team and Tendulkar's return should only add to their confidence in what is the ace batsman's home ground.
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, started in spectacular fashion before stumbling a bit only to regain poise with a fine 18-run victory over Punjab on May 10.
Both the teams seem to have settled down after an uncertain period, initially for Mumbai and after the departure of Australians Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey for Chennai, and tomorrow's clash under lights promises plenty of fire-works for the crowd.