Poor form has ended sporting careers or at least forced a relegation to the bench. In Sachin Tendulkar's case, it has led to a promotion.
Tendulkar, 33, will be vice-captain to skipper Rahul Dravid for the one-day series against the West Indies starting on Sunday amid speculation that he may even be named Indian captain after the World Cup.
The unexpected appointment comes at a time when the master batsman is struggling to regain top form after a spate of injuries that threatened to end a glorious 17-year career.
PHOTO: AFP
Tendulkar averaged just 33.16 in three Test matches and 23.25 in four one-day internationals on the recent tour of South Africa, a far cry from his lofty record-setting standards.
The selectors, however, chose to keep faith in him even as Test vice-captain Venkatsai Laxman and one-day deputy Virender Sehwag were dumped for the first two one-dayers against the West Indies.
Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said he made Tendulkar vice-captain because someone was needed to "guide Rahul Dravid in the important season ahead."
"I offered the post [vice-captaincy] to Sachin and he agreed after giving the proposal some thought," said Vengsarkar, a former India captain and batting great.
Tendulkar led India in 25 Tests and 73 one-dayers between 1996 and 2000 before he voluntarily stepped down after a home series against South Africa to concentrate on his batting.
Tendulkar, who turns 34 on the day of the first World Cup semi-final in Jamaica on April 24, dismissed media speculation he may be named captain after the World Cup.
"At the moment the World Cup is the top priority," he said in a recent interview. "No one has consulted me nor have I discussed with anyone about taking over as Indian captain after the World Cup."
It has also been suggested that Tendulkar was elevated so that former captain Sourav Ganguly, who has made a comeback in both Test and one-day cricket, could be kept away from the team management.
Tendulkar is the world's leading one-day batsman with 14,537 runs from 374 matches with an incredible 40 centuries.
The Indian is almost 3,000 runs ahead of second-placed Inzamam-ul-Haq of Pakistan (11,591 runs) and has 17 more centuries than his nearest challenger Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka (23).
But millions of fans have been frustrated in recent months by Tendulkar's inconsistent form and his failure to play match-winning innings as in the past.
In his last 10 Test matches, Tendulkar has managed just 387 runs at 25.80 without adding to his 35 centuries.
His one-day form is even worse, plodding to 248 runs at 24.80.
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