Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Cricket » India's tour of West Indies » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Tendulkar defends under-fire India
Get Cricket updates:What's this?
Advertisement
October 08, 2006 22:22 IST

Sachin Tendulkar [Images] has defended the tactics blamed for India's recent slump in form and expects the hosts to regain their one-day touch in the Champions Trophy.

"Experiments should go on to a certain extent," the batsman told reporters on Sunday. "I know it is equally important to settle down and figure out individual roles.

"That doesn't mean we should totally stop experimenting. There should be a nice balance, but things will change for sure," Tendulkar said.

Skipper Rahul Dravid [Images] and coach Greg Chappell [Images] came under fire from former players and the media after losing a one-day series in the West Indies 4-1 and failing to reach the final of last month's tri-series in Malaysia, won by Australia.

"Just because we didn't play well in Malaysia doesn't mean we won't do well here," Tendulkar said. "This is a new tournament and we would like to approach it differently."

India, bidding to add flexibility to the side for next year's World Cup, have unsuccessfully switched Dravid as one-day opener and moved explosive batsman Virender Sehwag [Images] down the order in recent games.

Dravid said rotating players and trying them out in different roles was needed to find the sort of depth displayed by Australia.

"All the time you got to improve your team. Otherwise, you are going backwards because everyone around you is constantly improving," he said.

Chappell said he did not expect the team to be ready until the World Cup, which starts in March.

"The World Cup is a long way away," he said. "We're not looking to be settled probably until then.

"If other teams are settled, that is their concern," he said. "Our concern is to be settled when we need to be."

India play England [Images] in the opening pool A game of the Champions Trophy next Sunday.



India's tour of West Indies: The Complete Coverage

Would you like to join the Cricket and Cricket Lovers Discussion Group and discuss your cricket views with other cricket freaks? Click here. Have fun!

© Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

 Email this Article      Print this Article
© 2006 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback