To play or not to play Tendulkar

Is a half-fit Tendulkar worth his place in the Indian team?

Is Tendulkar, in his current state, capable of playing the way we all know he can?

Is Tendulkar playing the Ranji Trophy?

The answer to all these questions is no. Reason: he hasn't recovered from the tennis elbow injury he has been nursing since last July.

In fact, he was not even fully fit for the recent series against Bangladesh, and yet the selectors included him in the team. They opted to rest Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman for the One-Day Internationals that followed the Tests but failed to consider the master batsman for similar treatment.

One wonders why he was even considered for the series in the first place.

Considering that his elbow injury hasn't yet healed -- otherwise he would have been playing Ranji Trophy for Mumbai -- the selectors need to think twice before including him in the side for the upcoming series against Pakistan. They must keep in mind that it is a choice of Tendulkar missing one series or India losing him forever.

India needs Tendulkar to be around for as long as possible; playing him despite him still nursing a sore elbow is foolhardy.

Granted that cricket is a skill game and Tendulkar's batting is still sublime. But, at the end of the day, it is the complete package of fitness, which includes mental strength and skill, that matters. With even one element missing the others are rendered impotent.

During the one-day series against Bangladesh, Tendulkar often looked completely out of sync. His hand-eye coordination was totally off and it was clear to all those watching that the injury was bothering him.

The effects of an injury like the one he is carrying are not only physical but mental as well. They create self doubt. And even though Tendulkar is a supremely confident individual, it makes one wonder whether he is unscathed after what he has been through over the last few months.

Only a few days ago outgoing Indian team physio Andrew Leipus had told me that Tendulkar should rest the elbow before venturing into major games.

This is the crux of the problem. If Tendulkar rests his elbow before major games, then how does he get enough match practice to be at his best during those games? It is a double-edged sword and, perhaps, the only solution to this dilemma is letting the little master recover completely from his injury before he regains his rightful place in the team.

Every time Tendulkar looks to rush his return, he runs the risk of aggravating an already serious injury.

With the Pakistan tour of India a little over a month away, the selectors need to again revert to the question: Should Tendulkar be rested or included in the squad for a high-pressure series, where his experience will be vital?

The lure of setting a world record 35 Test centuries in the upcoming series will undoubtedly tempt the Indian stalwart to prove himself fit when a safety first approach that will help prolong his career is the need of the hour. Truth is it is a Catch-22 situation for both, Sachin and the selectors.