New Delhi: A lot has been said on Master Blaster's form in the last one year and his mode of dismissals during the New Zealand series did give his critics another opportunity to link it to his growing age and diminishing reflexes. However, Sachin Tendulkar, who has opted to play for Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy opener against Railways ahead of the India-England Test series, made his intentions clear by slamming a century which was spiced up with his masterful strokes.
And Sachin's return to form just prior to the India-Engalnd series will deinitely bring in some cheers to the Indian camp.

India-England series is only two weeks away and the intensity is increasing with every passing day. Both teams are practicing hard and almost all the players who will feature in the first Test are in action playing either for their states or for their A sides. The teams are be hoping that their big players have some runs behind their back when they will step on the field at Ahmadabad for the first Test.

The England Test series is very important for Sachin as he has failed in his last three Test series and he just can’t afford to let this series go by without making some big scores.

Sachin himself would know that he is not in the best of touch and it was the reason he opted to play in Ranji Trophy for Mumbai after a long time.

The Little Master played at number five position to give Rohit Sharma a chance at his favorite number four spot. Sachin was very cautious in the beginning of his innings and hit his first boundary after spending more than half-an-hour at the crease.

Sachin was a bit circumspect against the pacers but punished the spinners on every given opportunity. He completely changed the pace of his innings in the last session after reaching his half-century. He overtook Rahane in no time and got to his century following some clean strikes.

He looked in murderous form and got his strike-rate above hundred before he got out in the dying minutes. Sachin in his innings of 137 hit three massive sixes and 21 boundaries.

The innings will give him a lot of confidence because there is nothing like scoring runs. When other players like Sehwag and Gambhir failed, Sachin ensured that the first day of the Ranji opener brings some smile to the Indian team management.   

By Indian Sports News Network