Tendulkar vouches for IPL

The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) franchise of Mumbai team formally named Sachin Tendulkar as the captain of the team while unveiling its team name and logo, as ‘Mumbai Indians’ and a ‘Sudershan Chakra’ resemble at the backdrop of the name for the upcoming much-celebrated Indian Premier League (IPL).

Skipper of the ‘Mumbai Indians’ team Tendulkar claimed that the IPL tournament would be a "super hit". The T20 team also features some big names with the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock, Robin Uthappa and Harbhajan Singh.

Mumbai Indians team is a team in suitable proportion, like most of the other teams in the DLF IPL Twenty20 competition. Tendulkar also said that Mumbai Indians would have a good mix of seniors and youngsters.

The much-awaited IPL T20 tournament is to be played from April 18 to June 1. The Mumbai Indians will play their opening game against Bangalore Royal Challengers in Mumbai on 20 April 2008. They will then travel to Chennai to play Chennai Super Kings in its first away match on April 23.

"Twenty20 cricket is immensely popular all over the world and I have no doubt over its success. IPL will be a super hit. We are all looking forward to it. Moreover it can be used as a family outing," Tendulkar said while addressing the media.

Tendulkar also urged the fans to support his team. "At the time of IPL auction, we were all in Australia. I want to request all the Mumbaikars to come and support our team," he said.