Robin Singh Says "Indians can win Champions League T20"

The conditions in South Africa are expected to favour seam bowlers but Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh says his team is prepared for the challenge in the Champions League Twenty20, beginning next month.

In fact, the former India all-rounder has gone on to declare that MI can emerge champions. “Mumbai Indians can be the winners of the Champions League,” Singh told DNA on Friday.

Singh is confident that MI, who finished runners-up in IPL-3, will emerge champions this time around. “We have got a good all-round side which is all prepared for the South African challenge in CL T20. Everyone knows the conditions would suit the seamers but we are ready,” Singh said.

The 46-year-old believes the challenge will be to “adapt to the conditions” and get “get acclimatised to it” as fast as possible. “Of course, getting acclimatised to the conditions is very important.

Also we are looking at winning the first game as that will give us the momentum,” Singh said.

“We have had a two-week camp in Australia where we practised on the bouncy and seaming pitches. We are therefore ready for South Africa,” he added.

The local know-how of fielding coach Jonty Rhodes and players JP Duminy and Ryan McLaren — all South Africans — will certainly help MI’s cause.

“Everyone has been given a role to play. Just like Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary and R Sathish played a crucial part in IPL-3 in India, the South Africans will have the same role to play in CL T20.

“Jonty has always been useful and he has a big role to play this time too. We are getting whatever inputs we want from Jonty about the conditions in South Africa,” Singh said.

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who was hit on the eye by a Dominic Cork bouncer in England recently, will be available for CL T20.

“Pollard is fine and will be playing for us in the tournament,” Singh added.

Talking about Sachin Tendulkar, Singh said, “Sachin’s presence in the team is always enormous. It is not always professional-wise but personality-wise. His words always boost the confidence of players and the attitude changes. It is always cool to play with him. As far as his batting is concerned, he has played enough cricket and knows the conditions well enough,” he added.