The Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians can go all the way and capture the title and US $2.5 million prize-money in the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 that gets underway in South Africa on September 10, says coach Robin Singh.
"We have the team to win the tournament. We are going with a positive intent. Everyone is excited. We played exceedingly well in IPL-III and are looking ahead now to win the Champions League," said the former India all-rounder in a teleconference on Friday.
Mumbai Indians lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final of IPL-III on April 25 at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Robin said key India players Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have recovered completely from injuries that forced the former to miss the entire Sri Lanka tour and the latter the second part of the tour.
"Both are fully fit and raring to go," added the team's Chennai-based coach.
The West Indies-born former India player said the team has worked hard in the run-up to the tournament and will be doing more focused work when it reaches South Africa in a few days' time.
"We had a preparatory camp in South Africa in end-July. We had another camp in Chennai. Everyone talks about the bounce on those wickets. We have to go there and see. We will do focused work-outs once we reach there on the 30th," he said, adding rhe team will practice in Durban for 5-6 days.
He views Tendulkar as the pivot in the team's progress in the event.
"Tendulkar is always crucial whether playing for India or for us. He is a crucial part of our game. He's already started practising for the tournament," he said.
While Shikhar Dhawan will open the innings with Tendulkar, the team has other plans too, said Singh.
"Obviously, we have other plans too, which I cannot reveal," he said.
Robin felt Jean Paul Duminy will also be crucial to the team's fortunes because of his knowledge of the conditions in his home country.
"JP is a very important part of our team with his knowledge of the conditions," he said.
Robin informed that West Indians Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, recovering from a hit on his eye while playing county cricket in England, are the ones with the most match practice under their belts.
"They were in England and have played a lot of cricket. They are joining the team after the 2nd (of September)," he said.
He said he is in regular touch with Saurabh Tiwary, who was touring with the India A and Emerging India teams, and is currently with the Indian team in Sri Lanka, where he is still to make it to the playing eleven.
"I am in regular touch with him. He's a fabulous player and is very enthusiastic (about CLT20)," he said.
