Mumbai – Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar looked in good form ahead of a home Test series against England as he smashed a solid 137 in domestic first-class cricket on Friday.
The 39-year-old, the world's leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket, cracked three sixes and 21 fours in his 136-ball knock for Mumbai on the opening day of a four-day Ranji Trophy match against Railways.
Tendulkar, whose last Ranji appearance was in 2009, put on 200
runs for the fourth wicket with Test-hopeful Ajinkya Rahane (105
not out) to help his team post 344-4 in their first innings at stumps at the Wankhede Stadium.
The four-Test series against England starts in Ahmedabad on November 15.
Tendulkar struggled in the last home Test series against New Zealand in August-September when he scored just 63 runs in three innings.
Some observers suggested his reflexes were on the slide, and Tendulkar himself has hinted he may soon be on the brink of retirement.
He has been without a Test century since making 146 against South Africa in Cape Town in January 2011.
The “master blaster” has scored a world record Test (15,533) and one-day (18,426) runs and has also compiled an unprecedented 100
international centuries.
England, who also play two Twenty20 internationals on the first leg of their tour, will go home for Christmas and return for a five-match one-day series starting on January 11. – Sapa-AFP