Is it age or poor form? Sachin Tendulkar in a dilemma

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It’s a question on everyone’s mind, but Sachin Tendulkar’s. Following VVS Laxman’s retirement last month, the ‘famous quartet’ has been reduced to just one with Tendulkar remaining as the last man standing. But how long will the maestro go on?

The ‘greatest ever tag’ will remain with him forever but the tongues are beginning to wag, suggesting that he is delaying to call time on an incredibly illustrious career. A glance at Tendulkar’s performance in the two-Test series against New Zealand, will tell why.

In the three innings at home, Tendulkar has scored a mere 63 runs. But it’s not how little he has managed but the manner in which he has been dismissed, that has caused the angst.

Monday was the third successive time that Tendulkar has been dismissed in a similar fashion — bowled — and the last time he encountered such a problem was a good 10 years ago.

Not just that, Tendulkar has been bowled or lbw 12 times in the last 24 innings. It might be too harsh to read too much from it, but some experts feel it’s a sign of age catching up with Tendulkar and his reflexes slowing down.

During a recent award function, Tendulkar, when asked about his retirement had this to say: “As long as there is a reason to wake up in the morning, I will continue to play. The day I don’t enjoy wielding a bat in my hands, I will think otherwise. When I get that feeling, I will confirm on that.’’

Skipper MS Dhoni, however, backed the master saying: “Every time he has failed, he has come up with a big knock. I'm just waiting for that.”