Sachin’s view of IPL

India batsman Sachin Tendulkar was all praise for the Indian Premier League after the inaugural season drew to a close on Sunday.

Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians failed to make the semi-finals of the IPL despite a stirring comeback after a string of early losses, in which the ‘little master’ did not feature because of a groin injury.

But Tendulkar said he was pleased to have been involved in the IPL’s first season, which was won by Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals after a dramatic final against the Chennai Super Kings.

“I’m very happy to have been a part of the inaugural edition of the IPL. It has been a huge success,” Tendulkar told CNN’s Talk Asia programme.

“People all over the world are talking about it and I don’t mean just enthusiasts of the game.

“In Test cricket, the game gets a little boring for the casual spectator because there isn’t much excitement.

“In one-day cricket too there are phases where little action happens.

“But that’s not the case with the IPL. It’s so full of excitement.”

Tendulkar believes criticism from purists that Twenty20 ‘dumbs down’ the game is short-sighted.

He said: “I don’t think it’s dumbing down the game. There was the same criticism to one-day cricket when it started but, over the years, it has proved very successful.

“I think the IPL is a good way to globalise the game.”

There were several calls for Tendulkar to retire at the end of the World Cup in the Caribbean, but the 35-year-old batsman believes he still had plenty to give.

IPL SEMI-1

The Shane Warne led Jaipur team, which has sprung as a surprise package in the Indian Premier League would want to continue their splendid run against Delhi in the first semi final in Mumbai at the Wankhede.

The two teams, which finished first and fourth respectively in the preliminary phase of the Twenty20 league, are more or less evenly matched, at least on paper to produce a rivetting cricket match in front of a packed Wankhede gallary.

The team that hold its own in a battle of nerves would go through to the finals and play the winners of the second semi final to be played between Mohali and Chennai on Saturday.

Japiur and Delhi go into the semis with a 1-1 win loss record against each other in the league stages. While Jaipur won 11 of their 14 matches, Delhi managed seven wins, with one game getting washed out due to rain.

Both these teams would be hoping their top orders continue to come out all guns blazing like they have done all of the last month and a half.

MALLYA CONSOLES SUTIL

Force India’s billionaire co-owner Vijay Mallya has conceded to being “shattered” and close to tears after seeing his dreams of Monaco glory cruelly wrecked.

Adrian Sutil was on course to score the team’s first points when running fourth with only 10 minutes of the two-hour race to run around the streets of Monte Carlo on Sunday.

But the young German was rear-ended by reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who lost control of his Ferrari on a damp part of the circuit emerging out of the tunnel.

Sutil was later seen in floods of tears inside the team garage, and although Raikkonen apologised, the shunt has potentially cost Force India around £5million in points bonuses.

“I was close to tears too – so were many of us actually because we were obviously shattered,” remarked Mallya.

“I’ve had a lot of SMS (text) messages and phone calls from supporters in India, all of whom were highly emotional.

“We were so looking forward to a spectacular result, which was not to be.

“Kimi just rear-ended him. It wasn’t as if it was an overtaking manoeuvre.

“Something drastic must have happened, because you wouldn’t expect a world champion to run into somebody.

“It was sad for us, that moment was a very emotional moment. But such things happen in racing, that’s what I’ve been telling everyone.

“F1 wouldn’t be F1 if it wasn’t as unpredictable as it is, but we’ll get over it, and take away a lot of positives.”

One of those is Mallya believes Sutil has proved he is worthy of his race seat following a poor start to the season.

“Adrian has a lot of ability and talent, and we’re glad and proud to have him in our team,” added Mallya.

“Some people started questioning my decision to keep him when he didn’t finish a few races at the start of the season, but I think he has more than redeemed himself.”

Mallya is hoping the tide of good fortune will soon turn the way of his team, as he said: “We don’t want to base our earning points on exceptional circumstances.

“The team has to be good and competitive, and that’s what we’re driving for.