Why pressurise team for Sachin's 200th?

NEW DELHI: BCCI's move to facilitate Sachin Tendulkar's 200th Test milestone on home soil is likely to have serious repercussions on the Indian team's curtailed South Africa tour.

After a timid encounter against Zimbabwe during the months of July and August, a fresh and rejuvenated Indian side was supposed to take on the World No.1 Proteas in November in their backyard with aplomb, sans any fatigue.

India were supposed to tour South Africa for three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 matches between November 18 and January 25. However, with the BCCI adamant on holding a West Indies series - two Tests and three ODIs - before the South Africa tour, an exhausted Indian side may find it difficult to face Proteas on their soil where the visitors already have a dismal record.

India have won just two Tests in South Africa and their ODI win-loss ratio, too, is far from impressive. With fresh pool of talents like Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay leaving a mark in previous home series and Champions Trophy, expectations were high from this current batch of youngsters.

But it seems the Indian board is hell bent on adding psychological pressures of an unwanted home series against the Caribbean side onto the youngsters, only to facilitate a fading star by helping him reach another milestone.

The board's adamant stand appears more foolish when Tendulkar himself has asserted that 200th Test is just a number and he has no intentions of quitting the game even after reaching the magical number. "Where is the rush? I don't think at this stage I need to do that," said Tendulkar when asked about his retirement plan.

Tendulkar had a chance to quit on a high note had he been allowed to reach the 200th Test during a challenging South Africa tour, rather than against a weak West Indies side in the sub-continent. A Tendulkar special against a ferocious attack consisting of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel would have been a delight for all his fans.

Tendulkar had reached his 50th Test ton during the South Africa tour in 2010. Though, India lost the match, the famous hundred at Centurion was a face saver for the visitors after the first innings collapse.

Tendulkar's fans are looking for another such knock from him. And if he guides the young team to a Test series win in South Africa, it would have been another prominent feather to his cap, rather than completing a double ton of Test matches on home soil.