Mumbai: Reacting swiftly to reports that Sachin Tendulkar will not play IPL 5 due to a recurring toe injury, the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday said that their captain would be available for the tournament.
"Mumbai Indians' captain Sachin Tendulkar will be joining the in-progress camp at the Wankhede Stadium from March 31 and is fully available for the entire IPL season 5," a statement from the franchise said.
The statement also confirmed that Tendulkar had gone to England to consult a specialist and would join the camp from March 31. "Sachin is in UK [the United Kingdom] to consult his doctor and will be back in India to join the camp from March 31."
Earlier in the day, it was reported that Tendulkar, 38, was in doubt for the IPL 5 and as he has gone to London to consult a specialist about the toe injury.
"Yes, Sachin Tendulkar has gone to London for consultation about his toe injury. He has been playing with this injury for long. It is not sure when he will return as even a surgery may be needed to correct it," a BCCI source told PTI on Wednesday.
The new edition of the cash-rich tournament will commence in Chennai on April 4 where Mumbai will play the defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.
Tendulkar, who recently scored the much awaited 100th international century against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, also did not attend the BCCI-organised felicitation function of Rahul Dravid, who retired from the game lately, on Tuesday night as he had already left for England.
The toe injury has come back to haunt Tendulkar time and time again, with him missing the ODI leg of India's tour to England last year. He was withdrawn from the team before the first ODI because of the same injury.
But after playing the Test series against West Indies at home last winter, Tendulkar opted out of the five-match ODI series. He, along with the other senior players, left early for the Test series in Australia where India were pummeled 4-0 by the home side.
(With inputs from PTI)
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