Tendulkar gears up for Challenger challenge

Sachin Tendulkar has indicated that the Challenger Series will give him a good idea of how well his elbow is responding to treatment. Speaking to the media after a net session, Tendulkar said that while there was still some discomfort, the doctors had assured him that he was recovering well.

"It [the elbow] still pains a little, but my doctors have declared me fit to play. They say it [the pain] is very normal and I don't have to worry about it," Tendulkar said. "I enjoy playing in the Challenger Trophy. It gives a perfect platform for me to test my match fitness.

"I am just going to go out there and give myself a chance and see what happens. I would know exactly where I stand and, basically, that becomes my target. After the Challenger, I will be in a better position to figure out how it is."

Tendulkar hasn't played competitive cricket since May, after undergoing surgery for tennis elbow, and has been forced to skip the Super Series, which be held in Australia later this month. He has, however, been named in the India Seniors side for the Challengers, and if he comes through those matches unscathed, he could be expected to make his international comeback in the one-day series against Sri Lanka, which starts on October 25.