Kolkata: Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, as focused as a young cricketer who is about to play his first match, hit the nets Monday ahead of the all important Test match against the West Indies beginning Nov 6. Sachin would be appearing for his 199th test what would be his outing here at Eden Garden
After doing some exercises Sachin rolled his arm over at the nets with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. Murli Vijay was beaten couple of time by Tendulkar's legies.
After bowling for a few minutes, the little master took the willow after chatting with coach Duncan Fletcher.
He first practiced against pacers and after 15 minutes he shifted to an adjacent net to try playing spinners.
Tendulkar, who seems to have lost none of the zeal for batting despite spending a marathon 24 years in top flight cricket, was in his element against the spinners as he executed elegant drives and cuts much to the delight of a motley crowd of aspiring cricketers.
The batting legend knocked at the nets for another 20 minutes and then made way for the others, as he watched the youngsters practice at the nets.
After a brief rest and chat with team mates, Tendulkar moved to the far away net where local club bowlers were in action. He knocked a few balls and later gave a few tips to the youngsters.
Before moving out with his team mates, Tendulkar had a brief fielding session where he concentrated on some catching practice.
Earlier, on his arrival at the venue. Tendulkar was greeted by his wax replica placed at the entrance of the dressing room by the local staging body, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which is leaving no stone unturned to make the master's swansong Eden outing for India memorable for him, the city, as also his countless admirers.
One hundred youngsters stood on both sides of the stretch from the main gate of the stadium upto the dressing room and formed a human chain when the Team India bus arrived and Tendulkar alighted from the vehicle.
Saluting 24 golden years of Tendulkar's international playing career, 24 confetti cannons burst spraying red paper on the cricketing genius.
