Sachin Tendulkar will miss India’s third and final Test against South Africa with a groin injury but Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians team is optimistic that their captain would regain fitness to play the Twenty20 tournament beginning April 18.

“Sachin is a player who does not like to miss any games. I am sure the physio will take care of him and he will be all right in time for the IPL,” Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput said on Monday.

Tendulkar had missed the second Test between India and South Africa at Ahmedabad due to a groin injury.

Rajput refused to confirm whether Tendulkar with Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya would open the innings for the team.

“There are four to five options that we have. We will look at the opposition team and wicket before deciding the openers for a match,” he said.

The Mukesh Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians will start a preparatory camp on April 11, a week ahead of the beginning of the cash-rich league which will see eight teams competing.