— Photo: Vivek Bendre

EXCITING PROSPECTS: Sachin Tendulkar, who will lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL, at the unveiling of the team name and logo in Mumbai on Saturday.

Mumbai: Sobriety was the soul of Sachin Tendulkar’s answers after he named the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) franchise team as ‘Mumbai Indians’, posed for pictures in front of the crest resembling a Sudarshan chakra in motion with an outline of India and was named the captain of the team.

Tendulkar said Mumbai Indians was a well-balanced team, like most other teams in the DLF IPL Twenty20 competition to be played from April 18 to June 1.

The Mumbai Indians will sport ocean blue, to which neither the BCCI nor IPL has objected, as its official team colour.

Excited

It was evident that Tendulkar, who, along with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, opted out of the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, is thrilled and excited about the prospect of leading a team that will have a reasonable sprinkling of overseas players and promising players from Mumbai and its designated catchment areas in Maharashtra and Vidarbha.

Tendulkar said he had not been sure of giving 100 per cent to the team after the long tour of Ireland, Scotland and England last summer and hence had opted to stay away from the ICC T20 competition.

“But in Australia, we were all excited by the IPL developments. I was curious to know which player was going where, not the price they commanded.

“What’s going to make the IPL thrilling and exciting from the players’ point of view is that there will be a combination of players from around the world in a team.

Privilege

“I will get an opportunity to lead, plan strategy and provide excitement to the fans. The IPL is going to be a super hit. It will be an evening out for the family. And, it’s a privilege for me to lead the Mumbai Indians,” he said.

Tendulkar said the Mumbai Indians would have a good combination of seniors and youngsters and would be looking forward to whip up support from the followers of the game in Mumbai.

“I want Mumbaikars to support Mumbai Indians. We will play in the right spirit.

“Thirty years ago, one-day cricket provided all the excitement, 30 years later I will be happy to say I was part of the inaugural IPL and how all the players enjoyed playing it.

“I wish all the franchise teams and players my good wishes and hopefully there will be plenty of entertainment. It provides plenty of spills and thrills in three hours. It’s a game for the 5-year-old and the 80-year-old, and students don’t have to bunk school or college,” he said.

Finally asked about his availability for the home series against South Africa, he said: “As far as I am concerned, I am fit.”