It’s been seven long years since April 2001 in Margao; since they faced-off in ODIs. And over three years since October 2004 at Nagpur; since the Test format saw Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne pit their wits along traditional lines — Indian v/s Australian. Warne has since retired, while Tendulkar has redefined reinvention through numerous comebacks, mending a variety of bones, muscles, tendons. The intervening years saw the Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy change hands, and also the ODI World Cup stay safely in the Australian cupboards, while India staked, and won a strong claim on World T20 honours. Warne and Tendulkar weren’t necessarily part of all that action. And then, the IPL happened.This competitive separation between cricket’s two most charismatic practitioners ends Monday, though both speak fondly of the strong friendship they’ve forged outside of the cricket world. Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium would have loved to be the first to witness this renewal of one of cricket’s purest battles between great bowler and great batsman. But on Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium falls the unenviable task of appreciating this duel.In this part of the IPL world, the Mumbai-Rajasthan game was billed as a ‘Clash of Titans’ well before Sachin Tendulkar had recovered from his groin injury, and Shane Warne was still trying to figure out what to make of his ragtag bunch. Unabashedly partisan voting on Rajasthan Royals’s website, with over 2000 fans voting for their favourites, had no qualms declaring Warne a 64-36 clean winner, right after the IPL schedule was drawn. The last game, which the then-lowly centre of Jaipur was to host, would be against Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan, the only team without an Indian icon or lead player, would be naturally rooting for Warne.Over a month’s period, Warne’s team went on to be the first to romp into the semi-finals, while Tendulkar’s Mumbai arrive in Jaipur needing to win both their games to make the semis. Or they exit the competition.But while it would be interesting to watch just how brazen the 48,000 at the SMS stadium can get in siding with Warne, the Little Master’s cheeky reminder comes in the form of a cold statistic: Mumbai are the last team to have beaten the Rajasthan side. Tendulkar had watched that game from the dugout, a smile permanently pasted on his face, mocking at Warne, who has since crossly declared that it is unfair that the semi-finals should be played at Mumbai in that same nightmarish stadium with its double-paced strip of a wicket. Something’s worrying Royals’s strutting Big-Shane, there? Indeed, since with a six-on-six record at home, Warne has virtually turned SMS into his citadel.On Monday, Warne would be wary of another Mumbai assault. It can dent both the Royals’s home record and unsettle some more nerves, which Warne admitted were stretched after their close finish against Chennai. No Graeme Smith (pulled a hamstring) for Royals, and an unstoppable Sanath Jayasuriya, rampaging at a strike-rate of close to 200 during his 422 runs for Mumbai Indians, mean Warne faces his sternest test yet at Jaipur.Rajasthan’s captain has pomised to not take the foot off the pedal, but nearing the end of the IPL, he runs into old foe Tendulkar who is yet to really fire. Mumbai’s talisman has faced just 100 balls and averages 23.56 in his five games, aggregating 118 runs, with a highest of 65. Now, that top-score came in a narrow loss to Kings XI Punjab, and Tendulkar would be keen on notching one of his magical match-winning contributions. A familiar setting for Warne-Tendulkar to face off. Also, a fitting finale for Jaipur, who witness their last piece of IPL action. Teams (likely): Mumbai Indians: S Jayasuriya, S Tendulkar, D Smith, R Uthappa, A Nayar, S Pollock, S Chitnis, P Shah, A Nel, D Kulkarni, A NehraRajasthan Royals: S Asnodkar, K Akmal, Y Pathan, Y Khan, M Kaif, T Kohli, D Salunkhe, S Warne, S Tanvir, P Singh, M Patel.Mumbai’s road to semi-finalsThe Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians — placed 6th with 12 points after 12 matches — need nothing but wins from both their remaining matches for a semi-final spot.•If Mumbai lose: If Mumbai lose any one of their ties — to Rajasthan or Bangalore — they move to 14 points. Chennai are on 14 points with a match in hand, and Delhi are on 15 with no matches remaining. In case Chennai win their match against Hyderabad on Tuesday, Chennai, on 16, and Delhi move into the semis.If Mumbai lose both ties they finish 5th in the the inaugural IPL.•If Mumbai win: If Mumbai beat Rajasthan and Bangalore they go on to 16 points, one more than Delhi. Then, if Chennai lose, Delhi and Mumbai would proceed to the semis.•If Mumbai lose one, Chennai lose: Both remain tied on 14, the team with better net run rate will then move into the semis.
