Don't put pressure on Sachin: Dhoni to media

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday asked the media not to put any pressure on Sachin Tendulkar for his 100th international century which was "around the corner". Peoples' expectations from him are as high as Mount Everest, Dhoni said adding that the media was also putting pressure on him.

"We are not under pressure as a team. The media are putting pressure on him. Let him score his hundred and he will do at some point of time. He is pretty good at doing that and he will do it. Let him score the hundred without pressure," Dhoni said at the post-match press conference.

"If you are talking about the gentleman, expectations from him by the people has been high as (Mount) Everest. Since his second year in international cricket he has been the star. When he goes to a cricket field and score 50, people say he had not scored runs and it has been like this each and every day", Dhoni said.

"And what we have seen is that any individual, when he reaches a milestone, he may take a little bit longer time than usual. But I think it's around the corner. We have to wait and see," he added.

Tendulkar looked like finally getting the feat on the fourth day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium but fell short by 24 runs and Dhoni said the team was not perturbed by the veteran batsman not being able to do it.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said he would be happy for Tendulkar to score his 100th international ton, but not against his side.

"As I have said, we admire Tendulkar, he is a great cricketer. But I would want Tendulkar to score his hundred against Australia. I would want to watch it and enjoy and not when playing against him," he said.

Courtesy : Hindustantimes