Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093061272200.htm

Sport

It feels good to be fit: Tendulkar

Principal Correspondent

Don’t underestimate the Australians, says the maestro

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

WHAT’S THAT? Sachin Tendulkar strongly feels that performance matters more than age.

BANGALORE: With talk of age-factor and transition swirling in the air, Sachin Tendulkar raised his voice a notch and said: “It’s about performing and that is what the whole team should concentrate on doing. We would just like to focus on our performance.

“It’s India versus Australia, it’s not certain individuals versus certain individuals in their team. It is about both countries competing against each other, so every little thing matters,” he added.

Tendulkar was reacting to a query on whether he and the other seniors were under extra pressure with the Test series against Australia looming ahead.

On Ganguly’s omission

About Sourav Ganguly’s omission from the Rest of India squad and its effect on the senior players, Tendulkar said: “I am not in a position to comment on that. I would leave that to the captain, the coach and the selectors. They have certain ideas in their minds and we have to abide by that.”

Tendulkar spoke to the media after the preparatory camp commenced at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

The maestro, who suffered a left elbow injury during the Test series in Sri Lanka and missed the subsequent ODI matches, stressed that he was fit.

“It feels good to be fit and while coming back to the team you feel some energy.

“I have been working with our trainer and I am pleased with the way things have gone. The first session here has been good and it was mainly fitness-targeted,” Tendulkar said.

Note of caution

Tendulkar also struck a cautionary note and emphasised that the Australian team with a slew of new players cannot be under-estimated.

“They have players who have played a lot of first-class cricket back home. Just because they haven’t played international cricket, doesn’t mean that they cannot challenge us.

“They have played a lot of cricket and we respect that fact, and we are on our toes,” Tendulkar said.

On the team’s game plan against Ricky Ponting’s men, Tendulkar said: “Today was our first session and I am sure we will have plenty of meetings ahead. There will be strategies about the way we want to approach the series. We haven’t had meetings yet where we have discussed the strategy, but they will happen over the next three to four days.”

Security concerns

Tendulkar also allayed security concerns in the wake of the recent bomb blasts.

“This is our homeland and I don’t think anyone can harm us. We have got full confidence that nothing bad will happen.

“We will be free to move wherever and whenever we want. However, I cannot comment on what the Australians feel,” Tendulkar said.

Team man

As for the small matter of scoring 76 runs to equal Brian Lara’s world record Test aggregate of 11,953 runs, Tendulkar stressed on team above self and said that the record would happen in due course.

“I just have to go and play my best. Records will come if you keep playing well. My mind is not on the 76 runs and it’s not as if I can relax after getting those 76 runs.

“For the four Tests (against Australia), the team has some targets and I am more focused on those,” Tendulkar said.