Sachin Tendulkar might have taken the Ranji route to prepare for his swansong Test series but he has no qualms in conceding that a good performance in the country's premier cricket tournament is no guarantee for a berth in the Indian national side.
The 40-year-old, who would call time on his international career after his 200th Test next month, is here to play against Haryana in the Ranji season-opener to prepare for the matches against the West Indies.
He spoke to the BCCI's official website on the importance of Ranji Trophy.
"A good performance in Ranji Trophy definitely helps you to be recognised by the selectors but it is not a sure-shot certainty that it is going to get you a berth in the Indian cricket team because you also have to see the composition of the national squad, whether one fits into the selectors' ideas and the captain's ideas," Tendulkar said.
Tendulkar, whose average of 87.43 is the highest for any batsman who has played 50 innings in Ranji Trophy, however, felt that Ranji features excellent players and there should be constant efforts to improve the standard of the event.
"The competition is fierce and that is how it should be, you have got to have good tracks to play on and good oppositions, that's what raises the standard of playing," Tendulkar said.
{{/usCountry}}"The competition is fierce and that is how it should be, you have got to have good tracks to play on and good oppositions, that's what raises the standard of playing," Tendulkar said.
{{/usCountry}}"If somebody performs against a good opposition, that performance has to be recognised and I am sure the selectors are trying their best to witness most of the matches. To have the top players playing in this tournament is a bonus," he added.