Don't put pressure on Virat Kohli: Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli is being hailed as one of cricket's finest upcoming batsmen and senior India player Sachin Tendulkar agrees but he does not want the youngster to be put under too much pressure just at the beginning of what seems to be a promising career. 

"He is a very good player. He is a brilliant player. He has done well but all I can say is don't put pressure on him. Let him play," said Tendulkar.

Kohli proved his batting credentials with two dominant performances. He led India's successful run chase in Australia, surpassing the target of 321 inside 37 overs with a blistering 86-ball 133 and again on Sunday, when India produced their highest-ever run chase to eclipse a daunting 330-run victory target against Pakistan with the middle-order batsman again at the forefront with a magnificent 183.

Photographs: Sahil Salvi

Tendulkar, who returned to Mumbai from Dhaka on Wednesday after India's exit from the Asia Cup, scored his much-awaited 100th ton during the tournament and said it was not easy for him to achieve the milestone despite scoring 99 centuries. 

"The pressure is off. It was a difficult phase and all of us had to wait for it for a long time. But it has made everyone realise, including me, that even after scoring 99 hundreds, it is not easy to score another one," said Sachin. 

On India's exit from the Asia Cup, Tendulkar said: "We go out to win every match and sometimes it's not possible to win every match and sometimes the opposition plays better cricket than you and that is what happened. I would not want to take the credit away from them (Bangladesh). I think they played well." 

The batting great also praised his Mumbai counterpart Rohit Sharma for the crucial third-wicket partnership of 172 runs he put on with Kohli against arch-rivals Pakistan that helped the five-time continental champions chase down the huge target.

"Rohit batted very well. He showed a lot of compsure. The way he built partnership with Virat was very important for us and the partnership happened at a crucial time," said Tendulkar who would be turning 39 on April 24. 

Tendulkar's international season has ended with the Asia Cup campaign as he's not part of the squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni which will engage South Africa in a one-off T20 International in Johannesburg on May 30. 

"Looking forward to next (international) season. This season is over," said Tendulkar who would be leading Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League T20 competition commencing on April 4 in Chennai.