Leipus happy with Tendulkar progress

Andrew Leipus, former physio of the Indian cricket team, said he was satisfied with the progress Sachin Tendulkar was making as he recovered from elbow surgery. "I met him in Mumbai and his arm looks like it's healing very well," Leipus was quoted as saying in The Hindu. "He has still got lots of work to do."

Leipus, who is at the Indian team probables training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, said that Tendulkar's injury had left him with no option apart from surgery. "I think the best he could have done under the circumstances is to undergo surgery, considering that the demands on him are huge, both from the playing point of view and the physical point of view," he said. "He's been there for 16 years and obviously there will be wear and tear on his body. I think in my perspective, Sachin opting for surgery is the right call."

Leipus is presently a consultant-physio with the probables at the camp. He said that Tendulkar's progress augurs well for the rest of his playing career. "In the future, he can do what he is comfortable with," he said. "I think he will be better than what he has been for the last few years, and mentally he will be stronger now."

Leipus also mentioned that the Indian team was fairly unfit, having come in from the off-season. But he singled out Zaheer Khan for praise. "Zaheer Khan is extremely fit," he said. "Probably the fittest I've ever seen him. That's a very positive thing."