Sachin Tendulkar says he is desperate to recover from an injury to his left elbow and play in the home Test series against Australia starting in a fortnight.

"I really want to play...I'm hoping and praying I'm fit for the series against Australia," Tendulkar told Bombay's afternoon daily Midday on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old batsman has been frustrated by the freak injury to his left elbow in July, which kept him out of the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

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Tendulkar said he would know whether the injury had fully healed by the end of the month, just days before the four-Test series starting on October 6.

Doctors have told Tendulkar that even mild pressure on the elbow can aggravate the injury.

"I'm pretty conscious of whatever I do with my left hand. I have to be careful even while playing with my kids," he said.