INTERVIEWS

I have time to get in shape for IPL: Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday brushed aside reports saying he was doubtful for the opening Mumbai Indians IPL tie against Bangalore Royal Challengers on Sunday.

He said there were two more days left for him to get into shape to lead his team at the Wankhede Stadium.

"I am following the fitness regime given to me by the physio. There are two more days for the match. No decision has been taken as yet (whether he will play or not). It will be decided before the 20th," said the champion batsman at the team launch.

Tendulkar has not played any competitive cricket since being ruled out of the last two Test matches against South Africa after aggravating an old groin injury. He could not take part in the Olympic Torch relay event in New Delhi for the same reason.

Team coach Lalchand Rajput announced that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been appointed vice-captain of the team.

Also present at the official launch of the squad was guest of honour Sunil Gavaskar and Nita Ambani, wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, the franchise owner of the team.

Tendulkar said surprise was the key element in Twenty20 matches. "The key factor in Twenty20 (matches) is introduction of surprise element and we will have quite a few of these planned (for our rivals)," he said.

The 27 players, barring the absent Lasith Malinga and Loots Bosman, and support staff, were applied tilak mixed with mud from Tendulkar's nursery Shivaji Park ground in Dadar.

Tendulkar turned nostalgic and said he could never forget Shivaji Park and the way he had been taken around the ground and other places on a scooter by boyhood mentor Ramakant Achrekar.

Achrekar was especially present on the occasion to apply tilak on the forehead of all Mumbai Indians players. "I have grown up in that area and can never forget those days. I used to be taken around by Sir (Achrekar) on his scooter for playing matches. I would not have reached where I am without those happenings," he said.

Tendulkar, who skipped last year's World Twenty20 Championship won by India, said he had limited experience of playing the shortest form of the game when representing Mumbai last year in domestic cricket.

"I have played a few Twenty20 games for Mumbai last year and I enjoyed it. It's a great challenge and I am looking forward to it," he said.

"Shaun (Pollock) has already started giving tips to the young fast bowlers of our team. I am not sure how the wickets and conditions will be as the matches would start at 8 pm. I don't know how much dew will be there. We will have a few practice sessions to see how the conditions are," he added.

I'll talk it out with Bhajji: Hayden

Matthew Hayden will be in the spotlight when his team Chennai Super Kings begins its IPL campaign on Saturday. But going into his opening match in India since the tour down under, Hayden has decided to leave the past behind and is hoping to sort any differences even with Harbhajan Singh. Times Now's Nidhi Tuli speaks exclusively to the man himself who says that he will try and talk to Bhajji.

Watch: I'm looking forward to playing with Bhajji, says Hayden

On Bhajji on playing in his team

Laughing out the point of view, Matthew Hayden said, "There is a lot of facade around the competition between me and Bhajji. We really respect each other and I think because we have had that competitive tension, and the fact is that we both love winning. That perhaps brings the best or the worst out of us. But, I am really looking forward to playing Bhajji in this series and also when I come back here to India. He has always been successful against Australia and I guess I have to put a stop to that. That is my job."

On whether he has spoken to Bhajji

Hayden said, "I think we are playing his side in the second round, so I will be definitely taking the opportunity to make sure that there is nothing hidden beneath the surface that needs to come out. You can never do that when you are under pressure or competing against each other because you are always looking for that edge all the time. I always say never know someone until you play with him and in this case I will definitely take the opportunity to have a chat with Bhajji."

Matthew-Bhajji battle

Bhajji and Matthew Hayden found themselves caught in a war of words during the Commonwealth Bank Series that took place Down Under in December 2007 - February 2008. Here's why Australian Matthew Hayden is hoping to sort it all out by talking to Harbhajan Singh. The duo have been involved in a long battle.

On February 26, 2008, Australian opener Hayden called the Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh an 'obnoxious little weed' on a local radio station in Australia, which sparked a huge controversy off the cricketing field.

Earlier, it all began in Sydney, the incident between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh that marred India's tour Down Under also saw Hayden having a verbal go at the Indian spinner during second Test. Hayden were seen intervening and backing his skipper Ricky Ponting by stating that I have seen it and it's time you paid for your action.