Tendulkar should not be rested, says batting legend

India should not rest record-chasing Sachin Tendulkar as part of a rotation policy in the ongoing tri-series in Australia, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said on Thursday.

The visitors rested Virender Sehwag in the opening game against Australia and Gautam Gambhir for the next match against Sri Lanka but Gavaskar said India needed to field a balanced side.

The former opener said Tendulkar, looking for an unprecedented 100th international century, should not miss any match amid speculation he may be rested against Australia at Adelaide on Sunday.

“I think Sachin should be playing in all matches,” Gavaskar told the NDTV news channel. “If you want to use a rotation policy, then it should be used for all the players.

“I believe that Tendulkar, Gambhir and Sehwag should play and maybe one among Rohit Sharma or Suresh Raina has to sit out.”

Tendulkar, who has hit 51 Test and 48 one-day hundreds, looked impressive while making 48 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday before being bowled by seamer Angelo Mathews.

Visiting side
Millions of fans have been keenly awaiting Tendulkar’s landmark since the master batsman hammered his 99th international century in a World Cup match against South Africa at Nagpur in March 2011.

He has now gone without a hundred in 21 Test innings and six one-dayers.

Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram said India should field their best side in the tri-series.

“I do not think it is a good idea for teams like India or Pakistan to rotate players in a series as big as this.

We do not have such a culture,” Akram wrote in the Times of India.

“Especially when the team is not doing well, the focus has to be on playing the best XI at all times to regain confidence. In a series like this, the hosts can afford to experiment, but not a visiting side.”

Tendulkar is the world’s leading scorer in both Tests (15 470 runs) and one-day internationals (18 161).—AFP