It would be a mistake to take Australia lightly: Tendulkar

MUMBAI: Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar on Monday picked India as the favourites for the upcoming Test series against Australia but warned the hosts that it would be a mistake to take the team from Down Under lightly.

India will play a four-test series against Steve Smith’s men starting February 23 in Pune. Australia have been enduring mixed fortunes in Test cricket of late, losing to South Africa before beating Pakistan.

“The last thing one would like to do is underestimate your opposition and Australia is a strong side. Yes, to play in Indian conditions it would be difficult and Australian players have also acknowledged that, which is a compliment to the Indian team, the way they are playing but you cannot take things for granted,” Tendulkar said here launching ‘Sachin by Spartan’ range of sporting equipment and sportswear.

“I have no doubt that our team will prepare to their best of the ability and deliver when it matters. Australian are going to be tough to handle and that’s how it has always been. But I think I am confident of Indian team” he added.

Speaking about Australian Open final match on Sunday, Sachin Tendulkar said he could well understand what veterans Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal might have felt during their Australian Open final clash.

“I had lot of injuries and there were some tough times. In 2005-2006 (in) one of the press conferences I was posted a question ‘so when are you going to retire?’ and best years came after that, the biggest thing in my life happened after that, the 2011 World Cup,” Tendulkar recalled.

“And I could actually understand what both those athletes (Federer and Nadal) were feeling and Federer actually said in his post match speech that both of them never thought they will be standing in the middle of the court but it was all about enjoying the sport,” he added.

Tendulkar, a self-confessed Federer fan, said the two greats showed why they remain a force in world tennis.