Thaindian News

Kolkata, Nov 14 (IANS) Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar yet again failed to get the much awaited 100th international ton Monday, prompting West Indies coach Ottis Gibson to say that the high expectations of the Indian fans were putting pressure on him.

However, Tendulkar’s teammate Rahul Dravid felt that the cricketing genius was not unduly concerned about the milestone.

“He is a great player. High expectations of the Indian people seem to be affecting him and creating all the more pressure,” Gibbson told mediapersons after the first day’s play in the second Test a the Eden Gardens.

Tendulkar got out to leg spinner Devendra Bishoo after scoring 38 when he tried to pull a short ball that was turning away from him, and offered a simple catch to Samuels at mid wicket.

Tendulkar got his 99th international century eight months back in March against South Africa at Nagpur.

However, Gibson praised Tendulkar for the way he has handled the enormous pressure on him throughout his career.

“It’s a great thing on his part that he has had to cope up with great expectations of one and all. The pressure on him is enormous. As for ourselves, every time he is at the crease, we have been patient and hit the ball in the right areas,” the coach said.

But both Gibson and Dravid were confident that Tendulkar will achieve the historic feat sooner or later.

“I am sure he will certainly get it sometime later. But I hope it’s not against us,” he quipped.

Dravid said: “Sachin will certainly do it one day. It was a short ball and it was unfortunate that the shot found a fielder when there were few on the leg side.

“He is batting beautifully… It is just a matter of time he gets to his hundredth hundred. But at the same time I think he is not too concerned about it,” he added.

Tendulkar had walked out to a rousing reception, 27 minutes into the post-lunch session after Gautam Gambhir got out.

The spectators clapped and shouted “sachin”, “sachin” as the master batsman made his way to the 22 yards.

He unleashed some good shots, in between picking up runs in singles and twos, as every run resulted in a countdown by the fans.

But all that finally ended in disappointment in the 52nd over of the day.

Sachin, who Monday turned out in his 183rd Test, has struck 51 hundreds. Forty eight more centuries have come from 453 ODIs.