Sachin Tendulkar Will Play IPL 5: Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai Indians have rubbished the reports that their skipper Sachin Tendulkar is doubtful for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.

"Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar will be joining the in-progress camp at Wankhede Stadium from 31st March 2012 and is fully available for the entire IPL season 5," Mumbai Indians said in its statement. Reports had been doing the rounds that Sachin might have to give the tournament a miss due to an old toe injury, which has resurfaced and might need surgery.

But Sachin is in London for what is merely a routine check-up of an old toe injury. "Sachin is in UK to consult his doctor and will be back in India to join the camp from 31st March", Mumbai Indians said.The IPL is all set to commence on April 4 in Chennai, where Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians, the last year's runner-up will take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.

Tendulkar, who notched up his 100th international ton in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, also did not attend the BCCI-organised felicitation function of the retired batsman Rahul Dravid last evening at a hotel near his residence here, as he had already left for England.

Sachin had suffered an injury to his toe almost a decade ago. It came back to haunt him last September and upset his plans to play the ODI series in England after a not-too-successful run in the four-Test series that preceded it.He was withdrawn from the team sheet before the first ODI, which was washed out. And then the BCCI issued a statement, saying that Tendulkar had been ruled out of the series "due to a toe injury".

The Mumbai Indians have announced that their captain Sachin Tendulkar will be available for the entire IPL Season 5. Here's their official statement:

"Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar will be joining the in-progress camp at Wankhede Stadium from 31st March 2012 and is fully available for the entire IPL season 5. Sachin, is in UK to consult his doctor and will be back in India to join the camp from 31st March", Spokesperson, Mumbai Indians”

This came statement was issued after some reports said that Sachin might have to give the tournament a miss due to an old toe injury.

Tendulkar had consulted a specialist in London after suffering the injury and was advised four weeks' rest.Tendulkar came back to play the Test rubber against the West Indies at home after missing the Champions League Twenty20, which was won by Mumbai Indians under the stand-in-skipper Harbhajan Singh.But after playing the Test series against the Windies, Tendulkar again opted to rest for the ODI series.

© NDTV