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Kerala Blasters are a hugely talented side: Tendulkar
Thiruvananthapuram: Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who co-owns Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters, said on Wednesday that he has a hugely talented side.
The Blasters were impressive during the inaugural ISL season last year, eventually finishing runners-up.
The team’s jersey was unveiled in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the officials of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, who continues to be the principal sponsors for the second year in succession.
After unveiling the yellow-coloured team jersey, Tendulkar said he always believed in the colour yellow. The entire Kochi Blasters team was also presented on the stage.
“In the inaugural season last year, none of us knew when we played how it would go. As the games began and went forward, we had the full confidence that we could fill any stadium,” said Tendulkar.
“Slowly we started to win the hearts of people because of the way we carried forward. We have a hugely talented side and I have no doubt that this season our confidence levels are high after the training and the results will show.”
“Please continue to support and love us. We are going to give our best and this time we are going to better our performance and we will continue to get better,” added Tendulkar who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon and left immediately after the event.
Chandy thanked Tendulkar for holding Kerala in high esteem.
“We are also indebted to him as he was the goodwill ambassador for the National Games that was held here early this year and also for his role in the Kerala Blasters,” said Chandy.
The seven home-matches of the Kerala Blasters will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi with the first match to be held on October 6 against North East United FC.
The team is coached by former England U-21 manager Peter Taylor and its marquee player is former Spainish midfielder Carlos Marchena.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.