23 March,2009 02:26 PM IST | | Agencies
India's batting maestro is unhappy that the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played outside India.
Sachin Tendulkar, who is the Mumbai Indians captain in the IPL, said: "It would be difficult to replicate the same feeling abroad."
"It's obviously going to be different because in India we used to have home and away matches," he said. "Right now looking at the itinerary whether it's going to be in South Africa or England, everything will be an away game for us."
Tendulkar, however, said there won't be shortage of Indian fans in either country because of the huge expat population.
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"You don't know which is a home or an away game," he said. "It's always fantastic to have Indian fans away from country, we always appreciate it. Nowadays, virtually wherever we go we have a lot of Indian supporters cheering us, it is a big strength and support for us.''
Meanwhile, his Team India colleague Yuvraj Singh, who is also the skipper of Kings XI Punjab, said although he was disheartened he would abide by the decision of the cricket board.
"It is sad that the IPL won't be held in India. But we have to go ahead with it as it is the decision of the Board," Yuvraj said.
"As we would be returning home from New Zealand after a long tour, we hope we are allowed to take our families along," he added.
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The Indian team, though, has come up with a clear preference, and is keen to play the tournament in England because the Twenty20 World Cup will be held there this June.