Indian captain Rahul Dravid on Friday sought to shield Sachin Tendulkar from growing criticism, but acknowledged that senior players needed to contribute to the team consistently.
"To be honest, the Cuttack wicket was sort of a lottery. Sachin looked good at Nagpur. He is striking the ball well and playing with confidence. A big score from him is round the corner," Dravid said in defence of his most experienced batsman on the eve of the third one-day international against the West Indies.
Tendulkar made a triumphant return to the game from a shoulder injury with a scintillating century and a half-century in a tri-series in Malaysia in August.
But since then he has averaged 20.20, making 202 runs in 10 innings with one fifty.
He made 31 in the first one-dayer against the West Indies at Nagpur where India went on to post 338-3. The Mumbai batsman was dismissed for nought in the second tie at Cuttack.
Dravid, however, emphasised that the seniors had to take responsibility and initiative.
"Key players have not performed in the last two matches. If they perform we will continue to win more matches, including some under pressure situations," he said.
India have decided to leave out Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh for tomorrow's tie, paving the way for Anil Kumble, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa into the eleven.
India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Dravid said it was a tough job for him as captain to explain to the players why they were left out.
"A captain has to take tough decisions at times. Players are told as to why they are being dropped, but we are not happy in dropping anybody," he said.
"Everyone will not agree with you. It is a matter of opinion. We are going to give some opportunities to youngsters and some seniors have been rested."
Dravid said resting players was part of the fine-tuning for the World Cup.
"The players who are rested are not at the end of the road," he said.
"We have a good idea as to what our plans are for the World Cup. Couple of questions are being addressed, particularly on the fitness front.
"Yuvraj Singh is now back in the team after playing in a Twenty-20 tournament. We have to have a look at him."
Dravid did not agree that his side had anything to worry about after the West Indies came close to their daunting target in Nagpur and that India could only put up a modest total in the second one-dayer.
"We performed better (than the opponents), otherwise we would not have a 2-0 lead. Our bowlers defended a small total excellently in difficult conditions.
"And Dinesh Kaarthick played a great innings in that situation. There are great plus points for us."
India are to play four matches against Sri Lanka after the West Indies series.
Dravid said it did not matter as to what kind of wickets that were made available for these matches.
"We need to maintain the momentum till the World Cup. I do not worry about the wickets.
"We need a team that will adjust quickly to any wicket, conditions and eventualities.
"We have to pick the best team wherein the batsmen will be able to adjust to any kind of wickets and the bowlers too excel on different wickets."
