India's Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot during team's training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 19, 2011. (AFP Photo)
CHENNAI (India): India captain MS Dhoni provided an insight into the tireless work ethic of the world's greatest batsman on Saturday, saying Sachin Tendulkar still works on his technique and still analyzes every pitch before he plays.
Even with Tendulkar's enviable record of 99 international centuries so far in a wondrous 21-year career - where he holds most major batting records - Dhoni said the game's most celebrated player won't stop working or trying to improve.
"He keeps it really simple. He doesn't look at the milestones that are coming up for him," Dhoni said. "He knows that in every game that he plays some kind of a milestone is around the corner.
"He practices well, he still works on his technique and where he feels that extra bit of effort is needed. Of course, what really helps him is the way he analyzes the wicket and his coming innings."
To back up Dhoni's comments, Tendulkar practiced next to the pitch at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium for about an hour Saturday in preparation for Sunday's World Cup Group B game against West Indies - when he could become the first man to an incredible 100 centuries in internationals.
After the rest of the batsmen had departed to the dressing room following India's main training session, the 37-year-old Tendulkar was still practicing, hitting drives and cut shots down to the boundary where a group of young stadium staff fielded the balls.
On Sunday, he goes in search of a 49th ton in one-day internationals to go along with his 51 centuries in Tests. Both are records in their own right.
Tendulkar has scored 31 more hundreds in international cricket than the next best player, Australia's Ricky Ponting. He has also scored more runs in both formats than anyone else as well as a record number of runs at World Cup tournaments.
And even when he's not batting, Tendulkar's influence on India's team is immeasurable, according to his captain.
"It has been really good to have him in the side, the amount of experience he has got," Dhoni said. "He always assists you as a senior player with plenty of ideas.
"If you are short of ideas you can definitely walk up to him. There will always be two to three ideas that he can float around and (you can) pick the best option."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who will have the tough task of trying to limit Tendulkar's prodigious run-scoring in Sunday's game, summed it up perfectly.
"Sachin. Nobody can question what he's done in the game. Great player," Sammy said.
Even with Tendulkar's enviable record of 99 international centuries so far in a wondrous 21-year career - where he holds most major batting records - Dhoni said the game's most celebrated player won't stop working or trying to improve.
"He keeps it really simple. He doesn't look at the milestones that are coming up for him," Dhoni said. "He knows that in every game that he plays some kind of a milestone is around the corner.
"He practices well, he still works on his technique and where he feels that extra bit of effort is needed. Of course, what really helps him is the way he analyzes the wicket and his coming innings."
To back up Dhoni's comments, Tendulkar practiced next to the pitch at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium for about an hour Saturday in preparation for Sunday's World Cup Group B game against West Indies - when he could become the first man to an incredible 100 centuries in internationals.
After the rest of the batsmen had departed to the dressing room following India's main training session, the 37-year-old Tendulkar was still practicing, hitting drives and cut shots down to the boundary where a group of young stadium staff fielded the balls.
On Sunday, he goes in search of a 49th ton in one-day internationals to go along with his 51 centuries in Tests. Both are records in their own right.
Tendulkar has scored 31 more hundreds in international cricket than the next best player, Australia's Ricky Ponting. He has also scored more runs in both formats than anyone else as well as a record number of runs at World Cup tournaments.
And even when he's not batting, Tendulkar's influence on India's team is immeasurable, according to his captain.
"It has been really good to have him in the side, the amount of experience he has got," Dhoni said. "He always assists you as a senior player with plenty of ideas.
"If you are short of ideas you can definitely walk up to him. There will always be two to three ideas that he can float around and (you can) pick the best option."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who will have the tough task of trying to limit Tendulkar's prodigious run-scoring in Sunday's game, summed it up perfectly.
"Sachin. Nobody can question what he's done in the game. Great player," Sammy said.
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