Three players cost us semis': Sachin

CENTURION: Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai Indians skipper, has declared absence of three important players as the main reason for not making into semifinal. He, however, denied to accept that they were outclassed by any of the opponents. Tendulkar said that missing of big players after six matches and inconsistent batting cost the semis'.

He added that for the first six matches they had got good side but after that it was some awesome players missing made the difference. He insisted that like of Zaheer Khan, Shikar Dhawan and Saurabh Tiwary were absent from the team and they became the poor side. Tendulkar said that they could win the matches but the difference of two-three runs which could be chased. In this way the other side has not beaten them overwhelmingly. Tendulkar said after their last league match which they lost by four wickets to Delhi Daredevils.

The masterblaster also believes that it would not be easy to roll over Delhi in the last-four stage. He appreciated Delhi Daredevils and said that Daredevils had really played well. Their batting looks pretty solid, the bowling was also balanced. So all in all, I think it is a very strong side and one will have to be on the top of their game to beat them, he said.