Hoping to avail the services of batting genius Sachin Tendulkar in the third Test against Australia at Nagpur next week, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday expressed confidence that the three-month lay-off would not have any bearing on the willower's performance once he was fit.
"I don't think the lay-off will be a problem. He is a cricketer par excellence. He will be able to get back into rhythm straightaway," Ganguly told newspersons.
But the captain said that he had not spoken to Tendulkar, who was recuperating from a painful tennis elbow, for the last two-three days. "So, I don't know the latest situation pertaining to his fitness," he said.
Ganguly had during the past two days expressed optimism about Tendulkar taking the field in the Nagpur Test, beginning on October 26.
Tendulkar has missed the Holland tri-series, Natwest Trophy and Champions Trophy due to the injury on his left elbow. He is now recuperating under the supervision of Dr Anant Joshi and team physio Andrew Leipus.