The Legendary Master Blaster Unveils Mumbai Indians

MUMBAI, March 8th, 2008: Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today unveiled the name and logo of Mumbai’s very own DLF Indian Premier League team. At a glittering function, the Master Blaster raised the banner of the appropriately named Mumbai Indians which will battle for Mumbai. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar will captain the Mumbai Indians in the DLF Indian Premier League, with the inaugural season commencing in April.

Team Mumbai zeroed in on the name ‘Mumbai Indians’ as the name denotes the very essence of our modern day megapolis, which is a true melting pot, a maximum city home to a myriad dreams. Mumbai represents a microcosm of India as well as the rich mosaic of our country. To the world, Mumbai at once encapsulates the diversity of India and the unity of its spirit. It is a unique example of the multi-faceted richness of varied cultures and influences, and yet the compelling oneness of the triumphant spirit of India.

Sachin Tendulkar, Captain of the Mumbai Indians said, “Mumbai is a city of dreams, where hard work, performance and a winning attitude are simply par for the course. India’s commercial gateway to the world, Mumbai and indeed all Mumbaikars has fierce pride in all that we do.  I assure all the cricket loving fans of the city that Team Mumbai Indians will aim for nothing less than winning the IPL tournament. My team and I will carry the same passion and pride to the cricketing fields. I am proud to be a Mumbaikar and a Mumbai Indian and call upon every cricket lover to share in our passion to win. “

Underscoring the spirit and and sense of mission of the franchise, the Mumbai team and Mumbai cricket, R. Balachandran, President & Chief Marketing Officer, Reliance Retail added, “Sachin’s cricketing exploits are treasured by all in our great city, and are driven  by a  fierce passion to succeed and excel. He represents the spirit of winning which is in the DNA of all in this great city, and winning has become the watchword of today’s India in every field. That’s the spirit that drives this franchise, coming from the first corporate house in India to have sponsored a World Cup of Cricket, in 1987. The Mumbai Indians will work to build worldbeating talent in this great game, and promote sport at all levels in the years to come.”

Team Mumbai has a great mix of youth and experience with some of the finest cricketing talent from across the globe. Mumbai Indians boasts the prodigious talent of Indian cricketing superstars and matchwinners Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa; and the experienced Sanath Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Loots Bosman. Three Mumbai Indians players have been earlier captained their national teams! And the young talent in the Mumbai side, Abhishek Nayar, Ajinkya Rahane, Pinal Shah and Yogesh Takawade, have been lighting up the domestic cricket scene with superb batting, bowling and all round performances.

The Mumbai Indians will play their first game against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in Mumbai on Sunday April 20th 2008. The team will then travel to Chennai on April 23rd to play the Chennai Super Kings in its first away fixture.