Tendulkar doubtful for Pakistan series

The same old story regarding Sachin Tendulkar and his elbow © Getty Images Enlarge

Sachin Tendulkar is a self-confessed doubt for India's forthcoming Test series against Pakistan because of the same elbow injury which caused him to sit out most of last year's home series against Australia.

Tendulkar was sidelined for almost three months last year with tennis elbow, and on Monday he told reporters in Mumbai that he was again struggling. " I played my last match on December 27 and have not touched the bat or ball since then. As of now I've been advised (to take) five to six weeks' rest by the doctors," Tendulkar said. "We'll have to wait and see. After the rest period is over, I'll meet the doctors again and we'll take a decision.

"I am not going to hurry my return," he continued. "I am eager to play against Pakistan but I would do so only if I am fully fit and able to play. I will strictly go by what the doctors say. "

Tendulkar's injury dominated the headlines last year and, although he returned at the end of the Australia series, he struggled. In six innings against Australia and South Africa he managed 93 runs, but he did make a big double-hundred against Bangladesh.

There were those who blamed a heavy bat for his problems, but Tendulkar again dismissed those suggestions. "I have been reading articles wrongly attributing my injury to my usage of heavy bats," he explained. "A lot of people have been saying that but they don't know much about the game. I have used heavy bats for 15 years without any trouble."

The dates for the Pakistan series have not been confirmed but the first Test is expected to start on March 4.