Tendulkar8217;s current slump a passing phase, says Bedi

With nine centuries in one-dayers and another two in Tests, Sachin Tendulkar was sending records and cliches for a tumble even as the world looked in awe.

Averages a quot;poorquot; 32.60, with just a century in ODIs midway through the current year. Fares slightly better in Tests, with three centuries but critics are far from impressed

Sachin Tendulkar8217;s biggest problem is the battle within. Everytime he goes in to bat, he is expected to dwarf his own mark. But after a phenomenal 1998, he seems to have already been weighed down by the expectations 8212; of his countrymen, teammates and above all, himself.

He was supposed to be India8217;s answer to all in the World Cup, but his performance there 8212; in the backdrop of a personal tragedy in the form of his father8217;s death 8212; is a worrisome factor now. Add to it the apprehensions over his recovery from the back injury which kept him out of action for some time.

Probably the only othertime Tendulkar failed to live up to his standards was during India8217;s 8217;97 tour to the West Indies, when he faced problems as the team8217;s skipper too. However, without a century in the series, Tendulkar still managed reasonably well.

The current slump hence, is the worst of his nine-year long international career. Images from the World Cup telecast portrayed a different Tendulkar 8212; reticent, rather than the normally exuberant one.

Of course, his father8217;s demise must have played havoc with his morale, nevertheless, questions have flown thick and fast. Is the little master on the road downhill? Have we already seen the best of Tendulkar, 26?

8220;No way,8221; asserts former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi, 8220;It8217;s just a phase which even the greats have to face. There is no flaw in his batting. He will soon be back, all guns blazing. He is a strong character.

8220;Even Sunny Gavaskar kept coming back from such setbacks. He did not know where his off stump was in the 8217;79 series in England. He concentrated hard inleaving the balls on the eve of the Oval Test and scored 221 there!8221;

8220;Both are great batsmen. But, whereas Sunny was more worried about his own runs, Tendulkar wants to do well for the team. He wants the team to win as well. The team8217;s low morale 8212; and I am not talking only about their on-field conduct 8212; is affecting Tendulkar8217;s performance,8221; Bishan adds.

In fact, this is a self-imposed dilemma for Tendulkar. He offered to move up and down the batting order, like a yo-yo, during the World Cup. Coming off an injury, which apparently is still to heal, Tendulkar was short on match practice. Apart from a century off a hapless Kenyan bowling attack, he struggled otherwise.

8220;Tendulkar normally bats at a fast rate. But, the problem starts when he tries to bat faster than himself. The same8217;s the case with Lara. Both are excellent batsmen but you can play on their ego as a bowler. When Tendulkar was being overshadowed by others in World Cup he wanted to do the extraordinary. That he was short onconfidence is evident from Saurav Ganguly8217;s comments that he advised Tendulkar to bat at number four.8217; Tell me, how can somebody say such a thing to the best batsman in the world?quot; Bishan says.

Talking about the controversy regarding his heavy bat and its effect on his back, Bishan says: 8220;That8217;s a stupid theory. He has the forearms to play with that bat and if at all he wants to bat with a slightly lighter bat, he won8217;t find it difficult to adjust.8221;

Knowing Tendulkar8217;s commitment and zeal, it won8217;t be a surprise if he strikes form in India8217;s next engagement in Sri Lanka. Admittedly, it would be quite an achievement if he eclipses his last year8217;s show but he definitely has the class to repeat that. Bishan has the final say: quot;Form is fickle, class is permanent. A lot is yet to come from him.quot;