I am looking forward to play in West Indies - Tendulkar

Though satisfied with his recovery after a shoulder operation, Sachin Tendulkar has not let out the verdict on whether he will join India for the Tests during their tour of the West Indies. He remained confident of India's chances in the five one-day international and four-Test series and their ability to continue their recent winning streak.

"The rehabilitation and preparation have been good. The doctor and the phsyio have been quite happy with my progress," he told Press Trust of India. "That is the reason I am in Chennai, training at the MRF[Pace Foundation]. I always wanted to be there [West Indies] and I am looking forward to the tour. At this moment, I do not want to say whether I would be going to the West Indies for the Test series. Because there is a fitness test in Mumbai and before that I do not want to say anything. So far it has been good. We just have to wait and see."

Asked about his experience of playing in the Caribbean as well as India's chances, Tendulkar said that the team has the firepower to put on a good show. "It is an exciting tour," he said. "I think if I am not mistaken, we won the one-day series in West Indies last time and losing in Barbados was a nightmare. It took me a long time to overcome that. But I am sure that our present team will put up a very good performance. I have no doubt in my mind that we will come back with flying colours."

While India is the last team to play in the West Indies ahead of next year's World Cup, Tendulkar refrained from a decision on how important gaining experience would be. "World Cup is ten months away now. It is too early to start thinking about," he said. "About 17 or 18 players would be considered for the World Cup. But he insisted that to start playing right away for the World Cup was not the right thing to do, though it should remain in the back of the players' minds.

Tendulkar admitted that though youngsters in the side had taken some pressure off him, he always wanted to give his best and that doing so was pressure alone. "No matter what the other guys perform or they do not perform. Surely, I want to go there and give my hundred percent to contribute towards our team's victory. So the pressures are still the same. Earlier also, I wanted to play and perform. It is wonderful the other players doing extremely well. It is very heartening and gratifying that India is winning. It is brilliant that the present team had done well in the past and will continue to do well by God's grace."

The team is performing well right now. It is a healthy sign. I am an Indian and I am proud whenever our team play well and win matches and series. I am sure that we will continue to do it. It is the collective effort of the team that takes you right to the top. When it is not collective, it shows you the other way."