Sachin 145;extremely unlikely146; in Chennai

An already bruised India might have to go into yet another Test against Australia without their most successful batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, who missed the first Test which India lost heavily in Bangalore yesterday, was also virtually ruled out of the second Test beginning here on Thursday with one of the national selectors hinting today that he had not recovered sufficiently to take the field. 8220;It is extremely unlikely that Tendulkar will be able to play at Chepauk. I think he has still not recovered from the injury,8221; the selector said.

Meanwhile, orthopaedic surgeon Dr H P C Khincha said that Tendulkar is unlikely to be 8220;fully fit8221; for Chennai. Tendulkar, who consulted Khincha during his stay in Bangalore, should however be fit for the third Test at Nagpur starting on October 26, Dr Khincha said.