India rest Sachin Tendulkar

Openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have been rested for India's final one-day international against SA on Saturday.

India have already sealed victory in the three-match one-day series against South Africa with wins in the first two games in Jaipur and Gwalior.

Tendulkar, 36, smashed a world record 200 not out in Gwalior yesterday.

With Saturday's game being a dead rubber, India's selectors have decided to give fringe players some international experience.

The India selectors have picked top-order batsman Murali Vijay and have also called up uncapped Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun in place of medium-pacer Praveen Kumar.

Batsman Rohit Sharma, who had missed the first Test in Nagpur due to an ankle injury on the morning of the first day, also returns to the team.

Selectors have also named a 30-member long list for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

Team for final ODI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Sudeep Tyagi, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ashish Nehra.

Long list for the World Twenty20: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Sudeep Tyagi, Rohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Piyush Chawla, Abhimanyu Mithun, Manish Pandey, R P Singh, Munaf Patel, Murali Vijay, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Pavilion, road to be named after Sachin

A road and a pavilion in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh will be named in honour of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Making the announcement, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the City Centre-Hurawali Road will be named after the batting maestro, who delivered a 147-ball blistering knock to clinch the three-match series against South Africa, Gwalior Collector Akash Tripathi told PTI.

Union minister of state for commerce and Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) president, Jyotiraditya Scindia also announced to name a pavilion after the legendary cricketer, who cracked an unbeaten 200 to help India beat South Africa by 153 runs in the second ODI yesterday.

British media praise Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar's feat of becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in one-dayers was hailed by the British media.

"Tendulkar underlined his sensational class with a double century in Gwalior. To have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game," BBC Sports said.

"His innings, the 46th one-day century of his career, was typified by wristy strokes, trademark boundary shots and, above all, stamina as he batted through the entire innings," the report read.

Meanwhile, The Times tried to anticipate whether the Indian can complete a century of centuries in international cricket by the end of this year.

"All kneel down and praise whatever god you fancy for the mighty Sachin Tendulkar. This could just be turning into the greatest year of his international career, more than 20 years after it began," the report said.

"Tendulkar now has 93 hundreds in international cricket - 47 in Tests and 46 in ODIs - which is 25 more than the next best man, Ricky Ponting. At the age of 36 and in such great form, he could reach 100 hundreds by the end of the year," it added.

Tendulkar yesterday became the first batsman in the four-decade history of ODI to hammer a double ton as his 200 not out helped India pile up a mammoth 401 for three against South Africa and beat the visitors by 153 runs in the second one-dayer.

Daily Mail also termed the innings as "sensational" in their report.

"Sensational Sachin Tendulkar smashes world record one-day innings and first ever double hundred for India," the headline goes.

In another report, Guardian opined that the stormy knock has hit hard the notion that form of Tendulkar is on the wane.

"The blazing innings comes 10 months after his 36th birthday and four years after he was booed off his home ground in Mumbai, with his career apparently in terminal decline.

"Somewhat improbably given today's innings, the abuse had been for slow scoring," the daily said.

It was not only Tendulkar's 46th ODI century but also the highest score in one-dayers, eclipsing the previous record of 194 which was held jointly by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe's Charles Conventry.

I'd like to bat another full 50 overs - Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar: "Since I was timing the ball well, I could be more aggressive and put pressure on the bowlers"© Associated Press

Sachin Tendulkar, who broke the record for the highest individual ODI score, overtaking Saeed Anwar and Charles Coventry on his way to the format's first double-hundred, has said his ability to bat the entire 50 overs was a testament to his fitness after having played the game for more than 20 years.

"It feels good that I lasted for 50 overs, a good test of my fitness. I'd like to bat another 50 overs at some stage and see that the fitness level doesn't drop," Tendulkar said after his effort helped India take a unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. "The ball was coming onto the bat and I was striking the ball well. So when everything falls into its place, it feels nice. It was one of the innings where I felt I was moving well. Since I was timing the ball well, I could be more aggressive and put pressure on the bowlers."

Tendulkar, while dedicating his feat to the people of India, credited coach Gary Kirsten for the team's success in both forms of the game after the debacle in the World Cup in the Caribbean. "I've enjoyed various challenges; after the 2007 World Cup things have looked different and I'm enjoying the game," he said. "The credit also goes to Gary [Kirsten], he has really held the team beautifully. It's about togetherness and playing for each other. You see during the practice sessions that Gary himself trains as hard as anyone else, or probably harder than anyone else as he's the one giving us practice all the time."

Tendulkar said he sensed an opportunity to break the record and reach a double-century when he had gone past 175 in the 42nd over. The record eventually came in the 46th over, and the 200 in the 50th. "When I was near 175-180, I thought I could get a 200 as there were quite a few overs left," he said. He added that he would prefer his achievement to be upstaged by an Indian. "I don't play for records, I play for enjoyment and play with lots of passion. That's how cricket started. I didn't start playing cricket to break all the records; it's happened along the way. The dream was to play for India and do my best.

"I don't think any record is unbreakable. Records are made to be broken. I hope that if this record is broken, it's done by an Indian."

This was India's third-highest score in ODIs, and Tendulkar said the 400-mark would not have reached if not for some big hitting by Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni. "I thought a target of 340-350 would be a good one, but Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni came in and hit the big shots and cleared the ropes consistently and helped us pass 400."

Tendulkar added that India were not relaxing despite having put up a mammoth score, for they were aware South Africa were the only team to have chased down a target in excess of 400. "This was the team that chased 434 against Australia. So we didn't get complacent and told ourselves that we had just got through the half-way stage by scoring 401. And what we did in the second half was extremely important. We were aiming at getting early wickets and putting them out of the game."

Dhoni, who witnessed Tendulkar surpass the record from the other end, said: "I think one of the best innings, you can say. It's always good to be on the other side, watching him score 200 runs. When he is tired and can't play the big shots, he was very clever to use the pace of the bowler and it's very difficult for the bowlers as they don't know where exactly to bowl."

India lost Virender Sehwag early, and Tendulkar was assisted in three sizable stands where runs came at a brisk pace, with Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf and Dhoni. "Once Viru got out, it was important to get some kind of a partnership going. They [Tendulkar and Karthik] went on with their innings, and they set a platform after which we were sure we would get 350-plus which would be a difficult target," Dhoni said. "Yusuf was sent up the order and with the talent he's got, he can be a great asset to the side."

Yusuf scored a quickfire 36 and was particularly lethal during the batting Powerplay, while Dhoni proved destructive at the death, bludgeoning 68 off 35 in a century-stand with Tendulkar in just 53 balls. "I have changed my batting a bit, but the situation demanded that kind [attacking] of innings," Dhoni said. "The ground is a small one, and we were a bit worried about the dew factor. But once they lost 3-4 early wickets, it was difficult for them to get back into the game."

For South Africa and their stand-in captain Jacques Kallis, it was a case of the basics gone wrong. "The toss was quite vital. Our basics were just weren't good enough today. We were outplayed," Kallis said. "We lost wickets at crucial stages, our basics let us down. A fantastic innings by Sachin; he took advantage of some good conditions and he played superbly. We let ourselves down in some areas."

India aim to prove ODI superiority

After the Test stalemate, a depleted India and a scarred South Africa will begin their battle of ODI supremacy in Jaipur.

The three-match ODI series gets underway at a fortified Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.

The Indian team arrived on Friday, high on morale and low on resource, and it would require more than a nip and a tuck to fill the void created by the absence of some of their key players.

The hosts's bowling unit will lack the firepower of Zaheer Khan after the pace spearhead strained a leg muscle during the Kolkata Test against the Proteas. Zaheer's absence would sorely be felt not just because he leads the attack but also because he has been virtually India's bowling captain, mentoring fellow pacers with his elder-brotherly concern.

The spin department would also not be the same without the feisty Harbhajan Singh, who would miss the first two ODIs to attend his sister's wedding.

The volatile offie, who had just regained his mojo in Kolkata, would have been quite a handful for the South Africans with his bag of tricks and reckless slogging down the order, not to mention of his confrontational approach.

India's batting also loses some of its formidability because of the absence of left-handed duo of Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, the first is nursing an injury in his left wrist and the second a groin.

Like the recent Test series, here also India has more than just a bunch of personal reputations at stake.

India need to win the three-match ODI series to remain the number two one day side in the world which would entitle them to USD 75,000 from the ICC.

To stave off the South Africans, India would expect the substitute players to come to the party on Sunday.

S Sreesanth, Zaheer's replacement, is expected to share the new ball withAshish Nehra and the Kerala speedster would have to ensure that he is upto the mark. Uttar Pradesh teammates Sudeep Tyagi and Praveen Kumarwould vie for the third pacer's slot tomorrow.

In the slow bowling department, Amit Mishra is almost certain to play and he is expected to share the spin burden with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose utility in one day cricket has been proven beyond doubt.

In the batting line-up, Gambhir and Yuvraj's absence could be compensated only if the top order fire in unison.

Irrespective of whether India set a total or chase one, Virender Sehwag andSachin Tendulkar would have to provide the start they are expected of and Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina need to continue the good work.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fond memories of the venue. In 2005, it was at the same venue that the star stumper-batsman, then with flowing tresses, had hit a devastating unbeaten 245-ball 183 which remains his highest ODI score so far.

Since then, the Indian captain has modelled himself more into a finisher but the crowd would assemble here tomorrow to see glimpse of the old Dhoni.

A product of the same power-hitting school, Baroda all-rounder Yousuf Pathan is also set to make it to the playing XI, hoping to continue his red hot form that has won him a recall to the side.

Fortunately for Dhoni, India is not the only team grappling with injuries.

South Africa has already lost their charismatic captain Graeme Smith and even though stop-gap leader Jacques Kallis has an enviable record against India, how much inspiration this burly all-rounder manages to provide remains to be seen.

Prolific top order batsman Hashim Amla has been asked to stay back and fill Smith's void. Amla may have been a run-machine in the drawn Test series but one day cricket is a different kettle of fish altogether and the bearded batsman might struggle to adjust to the ODI mode.

Their bowling, especially Dale Steyn, looked too hot to handle in the Nagpur Test but was pretty pedestrian in Kolkata. Steyn's pace, Morne Morkel'sbounce and Wayne Parnell's angles remain a worry but the Indian line-up is capable enough to blunt them all.

The match would be played amid unprecedented security after reports of potential terror attacks on the city surfaced.

The stadium has already been turned into a fortress with CCTV cameras, metal detectors, sniffer dogs and a sea of security personnel taking care of the venue and the Indian Air Force has been entrusted with aerial surveillance.

Teams (From):

India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, S Sreesanth, Ashish Nehra, Sudeep Tyagi, Praveen Kumar, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan and Amit Mishra.

South Africa: Jacques Kallis (C), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, AB de Villiers, J P Duminy, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Roelof van der Merwe.

Approaching milestones:

- Sachin Tendulkar has recorded three hundreds against South Africa, sharing a record for most hundreds with Sourav Ganguly for India. He needs just one hundred to equal Gary Kirsten's feat of most centuries in India-South Africa ODIs.

- Jacques Kallis (248) needs two wickets to complete his 250 wickets and to become the fourth South African to achieve the feat. Shaun Pollock (393) heads the table, followed by Allan Donald (272) and Makhaya Ntini (266)

- Kallis (107) requires two catches to become the leading South African fielder and to surpass the tally of Shaun Pollock (108).

Last five ODIs in Jaipur:

Date	Toss	Teams & Scores	Result/MOM
15.10.06	India	Eng 125 (37) Ind 126/6 (29.3)	Ind won by 4 wkts Munaf Patel (Ind)
17.10.06	Sri Lanka	SL 253 (49.2) Pak 255/6 (48.1)	Pak won by 4 wkts Abdul Razzaq (Pak)
21.10.06	Australia	Eng 169 (45) Aus 170/4 (36.5)	Aus won by 6 wkts Damien Martyn (Aus)
2.11.06	South Africa	SA 258/8 (50) WI 262/4 (44)	WI won by 6 wkts Chris Gayle (WI)
18.11.07	India	Pak 306/6 (50) Ind 275 (49.5)	Pak won by 31 runs Shoaib Malik (Pak)

India and South Africa have played only one ODI at this venue on October 23, 1996. South Africa won the game by 27 runs. Batting first South Africa had made 249 for six off 50 overs thanks to Daryll Cullinan's 106 and Hansie Cronje 58. In response, India could score 222 for seven off 50 overs with a fifty each from Sachin Tendulkar (64), Mohammad Azharuddin (56 not out) and Sourav Ganguly (54). For South Africa, Brian McMillan claimed three wickets for 32 runs.