A morale-boosting century clinched before the much-awaited Test series against Australia [ Images ], senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] said the ongoing Irani Cup game has given him good match practice ahead of the big clash.
- Tendulkar keeps adding to his book of records
"It's a big series against Australia. I am sure everyone is looking forward to it. Always nice to get some match practice before a big series," Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 140 for Ranji champions Mumbai [ Images ] against Rest of India [ Images ], said before the start of fourth day's play.
India will take on the Australians in a four-Test series starting February 22 in Chennai. It is a crucial assignment for the hosts, who lost 1-2 to England [ Images ] in their previous home series last year.
Talking about his knock, which helped him equal Sunil Gavaskar's [ Images ] record of 81 first-class hundreds, Tendulkar said it took him some time to adjust to the pitch.
"It was the kind of surface where you needed to spend a little time to understand the bounce and the pace and the movement off the pitch," Tendulkar said.
"I had to take a little bit of time. Although I got a boundary off the second ball, I didn't get deliveries in my hitting zone early on, so I had to wait for my time," he explained.
The 39-year-old revealed that he has adjusted his guard slightly.
"I keep changing consistently as per the demands. I keep making small changes...I just trusted my instinct. I went how I felt how I needed to go according to the situation. You can't plan a whole innings at same pace," he elaborated.
Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
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