Desperately seeking Sachin

The moral of the story: Twenty-20 is not only about the resources, it depends more on resourcefulness.

On paper, Punjab have a dream team. Led by Yuvraj, they have batsmen like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Simon Katich, and bowlers like Brett Lee, Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Piyush Chawla and all-rounder James Hopes. Yet, the results are not there. West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan has joined the team so Yuvraj will have to once again juggle with the playing XI.

Skipper8217;s task

BUT more than anything, Punjab need Yuvraj to bat out of his skin. The format is suited to his kind of batting and his team will be hoping that he plays a match-winning knock in front of his home crowd.

8220;I have made mistakes,8221; admitted Yuvraj, 8220;but I am learning with time. I am just two games old and with experience I will do better. I hope we have a good game against Mumbai.8221;

Sachin factor

AS always, all eyes were on the birthday 8216;boy8217; Sachin Tendulkar, who turned 35 on Wednesday. He hasn8217;t had a game so far, still recovering from his groin injury, but indications are Tendulkar will finally lead Mumbai Indians here. That could be good news for the team, struggling with batting and captaincy and Tendulkar will have a role to play in both areas.

For Harbhajan, it will be the first time in the visitors8217;s dressing room at his home ground. It8217;s a tough call for the crowd: to cheer their own son, or jeer a 8216;visiting8217; player?

On playing as opposition on his home soil, Harbhajan said: 8220;I owe everything to the PCA as a cricketer. It will be a crucial game for us at Mohali. We will go for the kill and try to open our account. I am looking forward to playing here.8221;