Canberra, Dec 16: Indian batsman Rohit Sharma is hoping that Sachin Tendulkar gets his much-awaited 100th international century in the first Test against Australia as the anticipation has now become unbearable.
The first Test starts December 26 and Sharma is keeping his fingers crossed for a Tendulkar hundred in the match.
"I think it's a great place for him to do it... the only thing we want to see, me and my team-mates, all over the country, all the Indians, we don't want to wait for too long. It's been a while and (we hope) he gets it in the first game itself," Sharma said.
Tendulkar's 100th international hundred has kept his fans in animated suspense for the last nine months after he hit his 99th century, against South Africa during the World Cup in Nagpur in March.
Since then, Tendulkar has turned out in seven Test matches and entered into 90s on no less than three occasions yet the realisation of that monumental century has remained elusive.
For good measure, Tendulkar appeared to tease hundreds of his supporters at Manuka Oval today when he didn't come out to resume his innings on 92 after tea against Cricket Australia Chairman's Eleven.
Sharma said Tendulkar's withdrawal from the crease was part of the Indian team management's plan to give everyone a stint in the middle in the run-up to the four-Test series.
"It was a practice game and the team management wanted to give everyone a chance. I wasn't surprised when he didn't resume. As I said, it was a practice game and the idea was everybody should get some game."
Now that the government back home has agreed to include sportsmen, if deserving, for country's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, Sharma hoped the honour would come Tendulkar's way.
"It's great to know that government will now also consider sportspersons for this prestigious award. It's not easy to get it. I hope Sachin is the one to get it," he said.
