Mumbai captain Zaheer Khan said the atmosphere around the dressing-room was festive as Sachin Tendulkar prepared to play possibly his last domestic game against Haryana in Lahli. Tendulkar, 40, will bow out of Test cricket after the two-match series against the West Indies next month and though he has not made his plans about domestic cricket public, the game starting Sunday in the sleepy Haryana town is being seen as his swansong for Mumbai. It is a special game for all of us. The atmosphere is very festive. Everyone is excited to be seeing Sachin in the Ranji Trophy for the last time. As a team we are lucky to have him here. In a way it is like his farewell game. It is emotional and exciting and there are mixed feelings in the camp. The emotion and the occasion will help everyone put in that extra bit to perform, Zaheer said on Saturday. He is enjoying the game as he was when he started. It is very evident. We are happy to have him around. The way preparations are going, its going to help him play those last two games as well. Lahli has seen a flurry of activities as the worlds most celebrated cricketer arrived in a luxury sedan and then stepped out to train with his teammates at the Bansi Lal Stadium, but the season opener to the Ranji Trophy has its own cricketing significance. Indias pacers have taken a mauling against Australia in the ongoing series and with the West Indians arriving in two days and India set to play more than a dozen overseas Tests over the next year, the national selectors will be keenly following Zaheers progress. The left-arm seamer, who made a comeback against West Indies A, impressed with a match-winning spell of 4/59 in the third unofficial Test. He looks slimmer and said he was looking forward to more match practice. The couple of matches I played for India A were a good opportunity to get some overs under the belt. The rhythm is good, and as I played more it was coming along and things were falling in place. The more I bowl in match situations, the more it will help me. Its very important for me to get match fitness going. I am controlling the things I can control, making sure the routine is good, and keeping things on track. In terms of my follow-up on the fitness, a routine has been in place which I have been following for three and a half months. The match will also be a reunion of sorts as Tendulkar clashes against former India opener Ajay Jadeja. The 42-year-old Jadeja is making a domestic comeback for Haryana, and had led the state side to the Buchi Babu title earlier this year. Itll be great to see him around. Theres obviously been a lot of build-up to the match, and I hope its a good contest, Jadeja said.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 05:41:37 +0000
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