Will Sachin make Adelaide date special?

Considered next best to Sir Don, it will be fitting if Tendulkar scores his 100th international ton in the late Aussie great's hometown of Adelaide today

What if Sachin Tendulkar scores his most valuable century at a venue associated with the greatest batsman that ever lived -- Sir Don Bradman.


Sachin Tendulkar. Pic/Getty Images

Tendulkar is due to return to the playing XI against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval in the CB tri-series today, and it could well be the much-anticipated day when the batting legend finally scores his long-pending milestone of 100 international centuries. It would be fitting too if Tendulkar, who is considered next best to Bradman, reaches the landmark in Aussie great's hometown.

Tendulkar, under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's rotation policy, was rested in the last game against Australia. In the earlier games, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir rested so that young gun Rohit Sharma could have more opportunities. The rotation policy is also aimed at keeping players fresh for the closing stages of the series.

If the rotation policy is kept in place, Sehwag could be cooling his heels again in today's game. However, Dhoni's men will also be aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories when they take on the last World Cup runners-up here today.

The Sri Lankans won't be mere pushovers even though they haven't been able to register a single victory. In Perth, they had India and Australia on the ropes, but couldn't finish off the match. They allowed India to escape from 181 for 6 in the first match and needed only a hit to prevail over Australia.

Meanwhile, India's batting is also shaping up nicely. Gambhir looked in sublime touch during his 92 against Australia. The middle-order too is beginning to bloom.