Mumbai: Raising hopes about his availability, after a lengthy absence due of a finger injury sustained a fortnight ago, Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday practised for about one-and-a-half hours ahead of the Mumbai Indians’ next game against the Kings XI Punjab on Sunday.

Tendulkar faced regular bowlers in the MI ranks, like Pragyan Ojha, during nets and did not appear to be in any difficulty while playing a number of lofted shots at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra Kurla Complex Ground.

After hurting his index finger in the IPL opener against Chennai Super Kings on April 4, Tendulkar has missed MI’s subsequent four games.

He missed the games against Pune Warriors, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi DareDevils. As a result, MI could not get off to the start they were looking for and slumped to defeats in two out of the four ties. (PTI)