"Genius" Sachin Tendulkar will just need to spend some time at the crease to rediscover his touch when he returns after an elbow injury, says former Sri Lanka batsman Roshan Mahanama.
"Someone like Sachin who has accumulated 23,000 runs (in Tests and one-day internationals) should have enough experience and confidence to go through situations like this," Mahanama said in an interview.
Now an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, Mahanama felt that 15 years of international experience would help Tendulkar adapt more easily than others when he stages his comeback.
The 39-year-old said Tendulkar might be a little rusty initially because there was nothing like time spent in the middle. "So, what he would require is some time in the middle. But he will come out of situations like that quicker than someone else."
Tendulkar, 32, was ruled out of the game for at least 14 weeks following a surgery on his left elbow in May. He has been provisionally picked in the Test squad to play Zimbabwe next month.
The former stylish Sri Lankan batsman felt it was up to Tendulkar to decide on the weight of his bat -- a subject of a passionately raging debate in India.
{{/usCountry}}The former stylish Sri Lankan batsman felt it was up to Tendulkar to decide on the weight of his bat -- a subject of a passionately raging debate in India.
{{/usCountry}}"It is his preference, really. Critics can say that he should bring down (the weight) or whatever, but then he can turn around and say 'when I was scoring runs I was used a heavy one'. So, he would know the best," said Mahanama.
Tendulkar has always used a heavy bat and has never been comfortable with suggestions that he should reduce the weight to put less pressure on his hands.
"The shots that he is playing now got runs when he was playing well. So it's up to him to see whether he was finding it difficult to play certain shots that he played (earlier), because obviously when you grow old it is up to you to bring it down."
The slightly built Mahanama, who played 52 Tests and 213 one-day internationals, played with a bat weighing an average two pounds and five ounces.
A few shots and Tendulkar would know what he has to do in terms of the weight of his bat, said the soft-spoken Mahanama, who has also played against Tendulkar.
"He should realise that if his strength is playing through the off whether he is getting those shots. And if he feels he is not getting there, then I'm sure - he is a genius, too good a player - he will realise whether he should bring the weight down to the level that will help him," he said.
Mahanama said good and bad phases are part of every cricketer's career.
He added that he had made several friends with Indian cricketers during his playing days and later.
"We always had a close relationships with the Indians. I was in Bombay once on a personal visit to promote tourism and I remember talking to Sachin as well... we have that bonding."
"I have met Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev by accident at different places. I keep in touch with someone like Robin Singh on different issues and do a bit of business with him if possible, also Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath," he said.
Mahanana is also friends with Mohinder Amarnath, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Kiran More.
On his job as a match referee, Mahanama said that since he is a former Test player it helps in understanding the players' viewpoint when he summons them for transgressing limits on the field.
"It certainly helps, and all of us who are involved (as match referees) are all former players. If someone like me who has finished playing very recently (in 1999) it is basically advantageous because I know the thinking of a player and it helps me analyse certain scenarios and certain situations," he explained.
"And whenever something happens, I try to put myself in their shoes to see why they reacted and what went wrong with a particular individual," said the man who also represented Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club and the Colombo Cricket Club.