Tendulkar bats for Dhoni: I scored a double hundred in ODIs at 38

Dhoni retired from Test cricket two years ago, and at 35 continues to captain the Indian limited-overs sides, although he has faced a lot of questions regarding retirement, the sort that was thrown at Tendulkar during the fag end of his career.

“All (his performance) shouldn't be related to age. I still remember there were articles that T20 cricket is meant for youngsters, which is all wrong. I mean, Brad Hogg is playing at 44. It's wrong to say that. I scored a double hundred in ODIs at 38. Fitness is all that matters. If a player is physically fit, mentally in a state of mind to play for India, let that be his choice. He (Dhoni) knows his mind and body better than anyone else. He's the best judge. Leave the matters to him,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The master blaster is also positive about the current Indian team’s prospects while playing overseas. “Yes. It will happen. We've the firepower and the balance in the team. They're not a young team anymore. Rohit Sharma went with us to Australia in 2008, Virat (Kohli) has been there since 2010. So, the guys have been around for a long time. So is the case with Murali Vijay. That's a positive sign. It'll be a nice to have these guys play for India for a long time together,” he said.

The 43-year-old has also praised India’s Test skipper Kohli for taking the “fitness factor to a different level”.

“He's (Kohli) always been hungry, and a good student of the game, his commitment has been very good. He's surely taken the fitness factor to a different level. It'll have a good effect on the team. I feel the new generation has more awareness about health. All the things are changing when it comes to approaching any sport. There's more study behind everything, whether it comes to diet, or your training pattern. That's clearly showing.

“It's a progression on how players prepared themselves in the 90s. So was the case with players in the 70s. I remember that a laptop was introduced in our dressing room in 2002. It was revolutionary at that time. Things had started changing slowly.There were foreign trainers and physios in the dressing room.Diet, training methods, the way the players practise, everything has changed.”

Tendulkar also spoke about how the introduction of the DRS has forced the batsman to play the ball a lot more.

“Without doubt, the batters are using the bat a little more. I remember when I got out a couple of times while playing the forward defensive, I also changed (my game) a bit. I would use the pad as a second line of defence. But that wasn't the case anymore, as I was given out the moment the ball hit the pad. Yes, there were occasions, when I tried defending differently.”