Tendulkar defends rotation policy in Australia

Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar Sunday defended the controversial rotation policy during the tri-series in Australia saying it was the need of the hour to keep everybody fit during a long tour.

Tendulkar said the policy to rotate the three openers, including him, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, was pre-planned and decided by the senior players.

"It (rotation idea) was decided by our senior players and captain (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). We felt that since it was a long tour without long breaks it would be good to give rest to some borderline cases (injuries). I am not saying they were injured. No one was dropped," said Tendulkar during a media interaction here.

The rotation policy became the subject of debate after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the three top-order batsmen are being rotated because they cannot be fielded in the same match as they would concede 20 extra runs on the field. Sehwag hit back saying it was not the reason spelled out by the captain when it was decided.

Tendulkar said dressing room talks should stay within the dressing room.

"But that's my view. Individual views may differ. I don't know what was said (in what context) and what their (players) intentions were. But I feel dressing room talks should stay inside the four walls of the dressing room," he said.