Preview CL: Mumbai Indians

Probably, the favorites for the Champions League T20, Mumbai Indians are a serious contender and sure semi-finalists. The presence of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo strengthens the team. The team is placed along with Royal Challengers, Guyana, South Australia and Highveld Lions. They were the finalists of the Indian Premier League 2010 and just missed the cup. They were the most consistent team in the whole IPL.

CL T20 squads come in for all teams

One of the costliest players bought in the IPL, missed season 3 of IPL due to a knee injury. Yes, it is Andrew Flintoff, he will miss the Champions League 2nd Edition this Sepetember too. Chennai Super Kings will miss the English all rounder Flintoff. But, the Giant who recently retired from the Test form- Muttiah Muralitharan is in the action for the Champions League.

Sachin Tendulkar-The Living Legend

Sachin Tendulkar’s life can be summed up quite rightly in one sentence. From Tendulkar to Ton-dulkar to End-ulkar to Ton-dulkar again. Such has been his importance to the game that it had be quite an achievement to find an Indian cricketer who says that he has not been inspired by Tendulkar. For the past two decades, Sachin Tendulkar has quite successfully handled the magnanimous task of living upto the expectations of a billion people.

Maxertainment 3:Mumbai wins despite Yusuf's ton

An astonishing 37-ball hundred from Yusuf Pathan could not save Rajasthan Royals from a four-run defeat to Mumbai Indians. Pathan’s hundred, the second fastest in T20 history and the fastest in the Indian Premier League, injected life into Rajasthan’s innings after it had stalled at 69–4 in 10 overs chasing Mumbai’s 212–6.

Pathan reached a 21-ball fifty, followed by his hundred in 37. He hit nine fours and eight sixes, adding 107 in less than eight over with Paras Dogra, whose contribution to the partnership was 18 from 21 balls. Pathan fell with Rajasthan needing 40 from 18 balls. He was run out when a Dogra straight drive deflected off Sathish’s hands on to the stumps.

Dogra raised the tempo, smashing 21 runs in the same over by Sathish. But his best efforts left Rajasthan needing 12 from the final over by Lasith Malinga, who’d been the best of Mumbai’s bowlers today. Dogra was also run out, having made 41 from 29. Malinga was unhittable in the final over, conceding just seven of the final over; denying Dmitri Mascarenhas the six needed off the final ball.

Mumbai were dealt a major blow when Harbhajan Singh had to retire hurt while batting. He was struck by a fast, low full-toss on his left-knee from Shaun Tait. The off-spinner could not bowl, and Mumbai nearly paid the price with the match.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar elected to bat in this Brabourne Stadium fixture. Attractive fifties from Ambati Rayudu and Sourabh Tiwary helped Mumbai to an impressive score.

Rayudu, who comes to the IPL after a stint with the ICL, struck a 30-ball fifty. Tiwary, one of the stars of India’s U-19 World Cup win in 2008, also reached a 30-ball fifty.

The two added 110 from 10.3 overs, helping Mumbai average over ten runs an over throughout the innings.