Time for Tendulkar to take a call on his future

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and India were ruthless in demolishing Australia in the just concluded Test series. It was the first time India has beaten Australia 4-0 in a series and the first time the Aussies have lost 4-0 since 1969-70, when they lost to the South Africa of Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock.

The drubbing was unexpected following India’s first home series loss to England in 28 years, and says much about a young Indian side and its desire to win. Ayaz Memon, long-time cricket journalist, told SportsTalk that much credit should go to Dhoni and the team for their ability to bounce back after the debacle against England.

“India had hit a trough, having lost to England. So to come back from that situation with a lot of players under pressure, a lot of players with problems, not the least the captain. Mahendra Singh Dhoni - this kind of turnaround by any stretch of reckoning or imagination has been fantastic.”

That it was India’s next generation that did most of the damage with bat and ball added further sheen to the victory. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara were the leading run-scorers, while R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took 53 wickets combined.

It wasn’t all smiles and high-fives though. Sachin Tendulkar made 81 in the first Test but did no go past the 50 mark the rest of the series, leading to more calls for his retirement. That it was the kids that outshone him only heightened the contrast and Memon thinks it is time Tendulkar let everyone in on his thinking.

“Sachin has reached that stage in is life and in his career where he needs to take a call on whether he wants to continue and for how long. The reason being in your top six now he is not your best player. For somebody who has been regarded as the best batsman of his generation, that is a big comedown."

Watch Tariq Engineer and Ayaz Memon break down India’s series win and discuss the Sachin Tendulkar question in the video above.