Former Indian team physio Andrew Leipus dismissed any doubts about Sachin Tendulkar's fitness, saying the batsman makes himself available for selection only when he is completely sure of his fitness.
"Sachin has shown that he can recover from injuries and those who doubt his fitness even now must realise that he plays only when he is sure of 100 per cent fitness. Tendulkar has amazing power of recovering," said Leipus, who is in Jaipur to give his inputs on fitness infrastructure for the under-construction cricket academy.
Tendulkar was declared fit to play last month, having recovered after shoulder surgery early this year, but coach Greg Chappell said the ace batsman was still improving and had problems throwing from the deep.
Asked if Tendulkar could again play as in his prime, Leipus replied, "There are certain biological processes which are not in our control. Injuries take time to heal and that is bound to happen to anyone. As far as I know he plays only when he is certain of giving 100 per cent."
Asked if Tendulkar was apprehensive about going all out fearing injuries, Leipus replied in the negative.
"No, that is not the case. It is very hard to recover from injuries. You need to become fit physically as well as mentally. There is stress factor attached to it.
"Once you are injured the stress factor develops. It takes a number of things, like getting back confidence, to overcome these, but Sachin has shown time and again that he can do that," Leipus said.
"That he still consults me is an honour for me. During my tenure with Indian team we had developed good understanding," he added.
Leipus said the team's general fitness is improving.
"Fitness is a broader term. It can't be confused with agility. Anil Kumble might be a little slow but it does not mean that he is not fit.
"When I came with the Indian team there was lack of professionalism and I even missed small things.
"But now things have changed, there is support staff, equipment and with youngsters like Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh coming in, the Indian team looks quite fit," added Leipus.
