Preserve Tendulkar for top matches: Shastri

Former India captain Ravi Shastri feels that India's star batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, should be allowed to pick and choose which matches he would like to play in.

Speaking about the recent debate over Tendulkar opting out of the Twenty20 match in Sri Lanka, Shastri told Gulf News: "Tendulkar knows his body better than anybody else. He has realised that Twenty20 is a young man's game. He feels that he can prolong his career and add value to India as a Test match player and by playing only in the important one-day tournaments and series."

Shastri, who as a senior player for Mumbai and India guided Tendulkar in his early days, continued: "Tendulkar has realised that he has reached an age where he has to look after his body and see where he can give optimum value to India. In Twenty20 it is just a matter of 20 overs and even if he is in prime form he will get to bat a maximum of seven to nine overs. It is good that he has decided to give a younger player a chance and at the same time ensure that he is not burnt out."

Shastri is hoping that Tendulkar will play in the 2011 World Cup.

"Tendulkar must play as much Test cricket as he can and play in only the big one-dayers like the World Cup, Champions Trophy and against strong oppositions where his contribution is needed."

When asked about the dropping of Rahul Dravid from the one-day squads, Shastri said: "Dropping Dravid from the one-day squad is the right decision because one-day cricket is today a young man's game. You need younger legs to run between the wickets and strong arms to throw. This adds 30 to 40 runs to the eventual score."

Shastri is on his way to New Zealand as a commentator for the India tour.

"The New Zealand tour will be a big challenge but this Indian team has it in them to turn things around. They have got the right blend of experience and a mixture of caution and aggression. They have some real aggressive cricketers. It is nice that they are starting with a one-day series and whenever India has started a series with a one-dayer they have done well," he said.

Asked whether India's young batsmen can reach the heights of Tendulkar, Shastri said: "Rohit Sharma is the most talented player in the country. At his age he is as good if not better than Dravid and Ganguly. He is a tremendous striker of the ball.

The recall of Dinesh Kaarthick is an excellent move. He is a very capable batsman. Gambhir has shown he is a tough little cricketer in both forms of the game."

Shastri attributes India's success in the last year to the Sehwag-Gambhir opening partnership.

"An established opening pair plays a big role in victories. Openers Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge did it for West Indies. Michael Slater and Mark Taylor and later Matthew Hayden with Slater and Justin Langer too did it [for Australia]. Gambhir and Sehwag are good in all three forms of the game."

Shastri feels that India will emerge as a strong contender to win the next World Cup.

"The 2011 World Cup team will be more or less the same, except for two or three changes. They will be more experienced and will be at their peak. They need to get two good spinners by that time. If Harbhajan Singh remains and Pragyan Ohja develops into a good spinner then they can win the World Cup," he concluded.