Tendulkar's 'exceptional' leadership to help MI: Duminy

Captain Sachin Tendulkar has an uncanny ability to inspire his team-mates to perform several notches up and that will make a huge impact on Mumbai Indians' campaign in next month's Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa, feels batsman Jean-Pual Duminy.

Duminy believes that if Tendulkar continues with his menacing form of this year's Indian Premier League, MI will go all the way through.

"He (Tendulkar) obviously leads from the front and that lifts his team-mates. He is very inspiring and exceptional captain. If he fires, others also perform better by another 20 per cent. "He has been in fine form in the IPL and for India. Hope he does the same for us to win this tournament," Duminy told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of Champions League T20 here.

"Sachin helps everybody out and he tries to engage every player. I get along with him very well and had discussions on batting and other cricketing things," said the 26-year-old batsman, who was the inaugural CLT20's top scorer for Cape Cobras but will play for Mumbai Indians this time.

Duminy conceded that the two South African sides - Warriors and Highveld Lions - will have a bit of edge in the tournament as they are playing at home condition.

For fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, it is a big tournament having missed a lot of international action as he has been struggling for some time.

He was left out of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL but still wants to play for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side.

"I am game for IPL. I know there will be players' auction after this tournament. I definitely would want to go back to Chennai. I know people there and I know the staff also. It does not matter If I don't get but I would love to play in IPL," said Ntini, who will play for the Warriors in CLT20.

He, however, did not agree that South African sides have advantage over others.

"No home advantage. Home advantage may be there in Test cricket. It is less for shorter formats and very little in case of Twenty20."