For relaxed Tendulkar, it is practice as usual

Mumbai – It was practice as usu! al for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar at the nets of Wankhede Stadium where he plays his farewell and 200th Test against the West Indies, starting Thursday.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) plan a heavy dose of celebrations, the master blaster carried on with his preparations like he always has since he made his international debut at the age of 16 against Pakistan on Nov 15 in 1989.

The celebrations and the hoopla didn’t seem to bother him. He strives for perfection even in his swansong, something that has been the key to his long glittering career.

Tendulkar walked out of the dressing room at exactly 9.55 a.m. and onto the field. He didn’t look around even though there was a huge crowd of the MCA staff and the contract workers, who turned up to get a glimpse of the icon.

Three national selectors Rajender Singh Hans, Roger Binny and Vikram Rathour greeted Tendulkar. While Hans ! and Binny will be staying for the match, Rathour came just to ! meet his former team mate.

The old ground staff also felicitated him with a bouquet and Tendulkar obliged them with a group photo.

Tendulkar had a light practice session that he always prefers to have on the eve of every match. He batted for a while and also rolled his arm over.

At the end of the session around 10.45 a.m., Tendulkar was greeted by BCCI president Narayanswami Srinivasan, who was personally inspecting the arrangement for the landmark Test.

Srinivasan, who was accompanied by board secretary Sanjay Patel and his trusted lieutenant Kashi Vishwanathan, hugged Tendulkar before a brief chat.

But Tendulkar was a picture of poise and concentration. For him, it was just another morning and another day, ahead of another match!.