Due for runs, Tendulkar eager to join Mumbai party

On a hot, energy sapping afternoon, the Mumbai Indians were dealing with a healthy headache. As the men in sweaty blue shirts huddled together to welcome Dwayne Bravo's double replacements - Andre Nel and Dwayne Smith - the unit seemed to have no worry lines on the foreheads. The only question marks were about the playing XI.

With every game throwing new match-winners, and Shaun Pollock showing signs of recovery after missing a game due to back strain, the team's coach Lalchand Rajput and skipper Sachin Tendulkar kept a keen eye on the nets. But confusing signals from the nets meant the ticks and crosses to be marked on the squad list will be a tough exercise.

Nel troubled every batsman with his pace and bounce. But his modest batting record meant he isn't the ideal man to fill all-rounder Bravo's shoes. Smith and Pollock have the credentials but the West Indian looked rusty while South African was guarded in his approach while bowling. With Luke Ronchi and Ashley Prince in the squad as well, the Mumbai Indians have the resources but its not going to be easy to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate.

Since that issue will only be tackled behind closed doors, Tendulkar used the training session before his team's crucial game against the Punjab King's XI, to concentrate on his own batting.

Long after players from both the teams had called it a day, Tendulkar was at the nets with coaches Rajput and fielding coach Sameer Dighe for company. A close scrutiny of the Mumbai Indians skipper's two IPL outings shows that, despite the low scores, he isn't entirely out of touch. Tendulkar fell to Shoaib Akhtar early in the first game against the Kolkata Knight Riders but he was close to getting into rhythm against Deccan Chargers.

Straight up

His trademark flick off the pads and a perfectly executed cut from consecutive RP Singh deliveries showed that he was waiting to exhale. But his trademark straight bat drives - an unmistakable signal that Tendulkar is in prime form - were missing.

And that seemed to be on his mind when he asked for Rajput's help while tackling the bowling machine. With the pitching spot set at good length, Tendulkar leaned into his drives. He nodded his head after middling the ball and stood in thought for a while after even the slightest of mishits. This was just after he had spent some time with Dighe, who was seen throwing a bouncy rubber ball at him. By ironing these minor glitches, Tendulkar was brushing off the small smudge on the Mumbai Indians blues.

The only thing missing in this high-intensity thrill-a-minute T20 contest has been a Tendulkar special and Wankhede is keeping its fingers crossed that it happens in Mumbai's last league game at home. Even the Kings XI camp is wary of the eventuality.

Skipper Yuvraj Singh candidly expressed his fears. "I've played against Sachin in a couple of domestic games and in the Irani Trophy. Every time he has smashed a 90 or 100. I hope it doesn't happen tomorrow against my team. I hope he does it in some other match," Yuvraj said.

Mumbai Indians have jumped to the fourth place in the table despite playing the last game without Pollock and with no significant contribution from Tendulkar and Jayasuriya. In case of a Tendulkar special, more upward mobility is on cards for the team.