Tendulkar is a private man, difficult to get to open up to issues other than cricket and even then isn't prone to make his point forcefully. He's dismayed though at the recent turn of events and doesn't feel it's alright to play cricket at this juncture in the country.
Tendulkar is the history man of Test cricket, having amassed 12,273 runs with 40 centuries, both of which are more than any other batsman in the history of the game. Tendulkar has so far played 154 Tests in his career.
He has apparently conveyed his reservations to his team-mates, including skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni, and feels cricket should take a backseat when bigger issues are crowding the consciousness of people of the country.
Unlike his Mumbai statemate Wasim Jaffer who feels "life should go on", Tendulkar feels cricket could be a distraction to people who grapple with the question of their security.
Laxman's absence
Indeed, Tendulkar is said to have been upset with the absence of his Indian team-mate VVS Laxman from the Hyderabad team which took on Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy fixture in Mumbai on December 2, 3, 4 and 5, just 72 hours after the terrorist attack in the city on November 26-29.
Tendulkar, being a Mumbaite, felt a pang of horror and assumed Laxman's absence was on account of terrible events in the city. He was soothed though to know that Laxman had been blessed with a baby daughter on November 28 and and had henceforth excused himself from the tie.
As India reels under the impact of terror, Tendulkar, and other senior members of the side including Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan, aren't sure if this two-Test series against England is such a necessity.
The common feeling among these cricketers is that good performances by Team India could allow the anger building among the masses to diffuse - something which they don't want to happen.
Under the carpet
A triple hundred, for example, by Sehwag would unleash a cricket mania in the country, allowing those running the country to sweep the security issue under the carpet.
Already a front-page coverage of a visit by a football has-been, even though a glorious one such as Diego Maradona, so close on the heels of attacks, hasn't gone down well with everyone in the country.
There have been candlelight march-pasts across the length and breadth of country and the decibels of protests against the politicians have been stunning, the worst public outcry since the country became independent in 1947. Senior Indian cricketers also feel they wouldn't be able to bring the same amount of unfettered joy as it wouldn't go with their own mood at the moment. They also feel their focus at this point of time might not be that intense.
The feeling amongst these cricketers is surprising, to say the least. While Tendulkar is looking to touch new peaks every day of his glittering career, somebody like Yuvraj Singh has only one cricket ambition left in his bones-to make a permanent spot for himself in the Test team.
Somebody like Mahinder Singh Dhoni has reasons to add to this stunning run of success as captain of the team while Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan, are aspiring to be the leaders of the bowling pack after the retirement of Anil Kumble.
Interestingly, the reason for these cricketers' indifference isn't security. They feel it just isn't the right time for the game to return to cricketing fields of the country.
What do you think of England’s decision to return to India post Mumbai attacks? Do you think too much significance is being placed on the two remaining Test matches? Does it matter in the current environment of India?
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