Tendulkar will be available for IPL-V: Mumbai Indians

Mumbai, March 28 (IANS) Mumbai Indians says skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who is in London for a routine check-up of an old toe injury, will be available for the fifth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that begins April 4.

"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 the UK to consult his doctor and will be back in India to join the camp from 31st March," Mumbai Indians said in a statement Wednesday.

Tendulkar had to rush to London Tuesday for a checkup on an old toe injury, which has resurfaced and might need surgery. He also missed Rahul Dravid's felicitation ceremony here Tuesday evening.

Tendulkar picked up the injury nearly a decade ago. But it came back to haunt him last years forcing him to miss the ODI series in England in September. He had to consulted a specialist in London and was advised four weeks' rest.

Tendulkar was also ruled out of Champions League Twenty20, which Mumbai Indians won under the stand-in-skipper Harbhajan Singh.

The IPL starts in Chennai, where Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians, the last year's runner-up takes on defending champions Chennai Super Kings, led by India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhone at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.