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He’s reverse: Sachin Tendulkar income to the Mumbai side after absent the first seven games because of Sachin Tendulkar has said he is fit and will lead the Mumbai Indians in their next game, next to the Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. The news will be a shot in the arm for Mumbai, who played the first half of the IPL with no Tendulkar, compulsory to sit out with a groin injury.

The action process has been successful, Tendulkar announced today; there was no “discomfort” and he will open Mumbai’s innings with Sanath Jayasuriya.”I will be live on May 14. It’s looking very good and I’m feeling very optimistic,” Tendulkar said after a two-hour batting session at the Wankhede Stadium. He said it was really “rough” for him to sit out but acknowledged the hold up of the fitness staff who had “really worked hard, especially the physio and the masseur”.Tendulkar first chosen up the injury during the CB Series in Australia and it got worse after the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, forcing him to miss the final two matches of the series. He was unable to recover for the start of the IPL, missing Mumbai’s first seven games.

Though Mumbai lost their first four games, Tendulkar was careful not to return before he was completely fit. “It was disappointing to miss the two Tests against South African and then seven IPL games. In his absence Harbhajan Singh led Mumbai for the first three games and after he was banned for an on-field row with Sreesanth, Shaun Pollock came in as the stand-in captain. “I will be the captain. Shaun was a makeshift captain and he did a terrific job and the other senior players have also contribute well. It’s not about who the captain is but it’s about helping each other and that’s what Mumbai Indians have been doing and will continue to do.”

Despite his minimal contact to the Twenty20 format - he has played only five sports competition so far - Tendulkar was look ahead to the challenge ahead. “I always try hard and I’ve forever given my best.” Mumbai are currently placed sixth in the points table, just above the Deccan Chargers and the Bangalore Royal Challengers.