The Hindu : Sport : Tendulkar down with flu

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Saturday, Jun 16, 2007
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Tendulkar down with flu

Principal Correspondent

We need to start well: Yuvraj Singh

RARING TO GO: Yuvraj Singh is eager to prove himself in India's forthcoming tours of Ireland and England. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: One man's absence raised incessant queries at the Chinnaswamy Stadium while the Indian team went through its cricket-skills camp here on Friday. The queries were understandable as the man answers to the name of `Sachin Tendulkar'.

The whispers on the sidelines ranged from `he is resting at the hotel' to `he will come later in the afternoon.' And clarity finally emerged when in a press conference, Yuvraj Singh said, " Sachin has got a flu."

Short-term targets

Meanwhile for the players, the morning was all about handling short-term targets in sets of eight overs each.

The targets were decided by bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh and the batsmen operated in pairs and played on the main pitch with fielders all around.

All the batsmen had a hit though the last few pairs had to be content with six overs and five overs each. M.S. Dhoni's mighty heave that only hurtled his bat into the sky while off-spinner Ramesh Powar laughed, lent some mirth to a rigorous session.

A few bowlers too had a good time as R.P. Singh had Robin Uthappa snicking while leg-spinner Piyush Chawla scalped Sourav Ganguly, who holed to the deep after scoring 38. Later in the afternoon, the players had fielding drills.

Late in the evening as the players trooped out on the camp's penultimate day, Yuvraj Singh spoke to the media. "I am quite eager. I got some batting in the Afro Asia Cup matches and it all depends on where I bat and may be if I get to play four to five games in a row, then we will know how my form is," Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj mentioned the need to begin well in Ireland and England. "It will be a tough tour because after Ireland and England, we have Australia coming here and we have to be fit physically and mentally. It is important to do well against South Africa in Ireland. We need to start well," he said.

Queried on the `missing-coach' as well as manager Chandu Borde's absence in the latest camp, Yuvraj said: "We do have a bowling and fielding coach and the team is looking good. I cannot comment on that (Borde not being here) and I think everybody is happy with the way the camp is going."

On his left knee injury, Yuvraj said: "I haven't done a surgery and I have to keep it strong. I wear a brace as a precaution and when I am playing a game, I give my 100 per cent." Yuvraj also stressed on his willingness to bat at any slot besides dishing a `Indians-play-spin-well' line when asked about countering Monty Panesar.

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