Decision on whether to play to be taken tomorrow: Sachin

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Mumbai Indians are still not sure whether their captain batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar would be able to take the field for their opening IPL match against the Bangalore Royal Challengers tomorrow.

Sachin Tendulkar is recovering from a groin injury and the champion batsman has left it to the last moment, saying he would take a call on the matter only tomorrow.

''We have to wait and see how I feel tomorrow. If I am ready I will play,'' Tendulkar said here today on the eve of the match.

If he was unable to play, then vice captain Harbhajan Singh would lead the team and would have his ears open for inputs from two other international captains in the team -- Sanath Jayasuriya and Shaun Pollock, the master batsman said.

''Both I and Harbhajan, who would lead the team if I am unable to play, will be open to ideas. That's the way it should be,'' he said.

Tendulkar said he had already had a talk with his teammates from overseas on the vociferous vocal support they can expect from the Mumbai crowd.

''I have talked to them about the long tradition that Mumbai cricket enjoys when we had 'tika' ceremony the other day. I have told them that it will be an experience they should relish when the Mumbai crowd gets behind them. I told them to enjoy and not get overwhelmed by such support,'' he said.

Tendulkar was referring to his mentor Ramakant Achrekar applying 'tilak' to all the players with a mixture of Shivaji Park mud mixed with the 'sindoor' from the temples of Mahalaxmi and Siddivinayak and the holy water from Mount Mary Church in Bandra, near his residence, during a function held here on Thursday.

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