We will work harder to stay No. 1: Tendulkar

Lack of practice ahead of the World Cup is not a worry for Tendulkar, says Harish Kotian.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday said that it was a great achievement by Team India to scale the top ranking in Tests and the team will continue to work harder to prolong their stay at the top.

"What we have been able to achieve as a team, it has been remarkable. The hard work done all by the colleagues has paid off but it doesn't stop here. It is nice to be number one and we want to continue being there.

"It is what the entire team wanted but it is important to stay there and we will work harder for that," Tendulkar said in Mumbai.

India, recently, underlined their numero uno status as they whitewashed Australia 2-0. India narrowly escaped defeat in the first Test in Mohali after edging to victory by a slim one-wicket margin, but registered a convincing seven-wicket victory in the next Test match.

"Playing against Australia is always special and as a team we have always something terrific against Australia. In the second Test match, they scored 475 in the first innings and then to lose that game on the fifth day by seven wickets just around tea time was terrific performance by the Indian team," Tendulkar said.

The 37-year-old is on the verge of a historic milestone in Test cricket as the master blaster needs just one century to complete 50 hundreds in the longer version.

But Tendulkar pointed out that he never plays for record and only believes in performing in the middle. "I don't like to count numbers. For me, the closer I look at the ball that is more important for me than counting the numbers and I continue to do that. I am always optimistic.

"I believe I can perform better and when you believe in something, things do happen. I enjoy my cricket more and I work hard on my number," Tendulkar said.

Keeping the World Cup in mind, the India opener has opted to rest his body in 2010 and has played just two One-dayers this year, including a double century against South Africa in Gwalior in February.

But lack of practice is not a worry for Tendulkar, heading into the all-important World Cup.

"I have been playing cricket. If I hadn't been playing cricket then there would have been something to think about. After having been around for so long I know how to adjust my game. If I feel that certain things are needed to be in the best condition for the World Cup then those things should be done, I would react accordingly," he said.

India's next assignment is the home series against New Zealand in November before they head to South Africa in December.

And, as expected, Tendulkar is taking one thing at a time. "There is a lot of cricket before the World Cup and I would like to think about the next series only and that is the only thing I want to focus on right now."