Tendulkar out of Irani Trophy

Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of the Irani Trophy to recover from his elbow injury ahead of the Test series against Australia starting October 9. He will be replaced by Tamil Nadu batsman S Badrinath.

"Tendulkar is not playing the Irani Trophy because he has been advised a week of rehabilitation," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo. "Paul Close [the National Cricket Academy's physio] has suggested he [Tendulkar] needs a break from the Irani Trophy to recover from the stiff elbow."

Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said that Tendulkar will be available for the Test series against Australia which begins on October 9.

Tendulkar will work with Close in Mumbai from September 20 to get fit in time in order to join the national camp in Bangalore. He had twisted his elbow while fielding during the third Test in Sri Lanka last month and was forced out of the one-dayers that followed.

Badrinath will join the Rest-of-India squad after the one-day match against New Zealand A on September 21.

"Maybe the time has come for me now," Badrinath was quoted as saying by Times of India. "Tremendous to know that I'll play for the Rest. I would like to make use of this opportunity, a good knock means a chance to enter the Test squad against Australia. I can't ask for more, if I make a debut against the world champions."

The Irani Trophy match will take place between Ranji Trophy champions Delhi and a Rest of India side that will feature probables for the Test series. Tendulkar had earlier declared himself fit for the match, which starts on Wednesday in Baroda.