In the fitness of things!

By John Cheeran
Whom should one trust?
Physios or coach?
Indian cricket team coach Greg Chappell has said in an interview that Sachin Tendulkar is not 100 per cent fit as a cricketer. Chappell remarked that Tendulkar finds it tough to throw from the deep.
Chappell's comment is interesting. Tendulkar himself is ready to join the battle in the middle and physios have given the green signal to the National team selectors. Now what should one read into Chappell's timely comments?
Meanwhile, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah asserted that Tendulkar is fully fit. "I think Sachin is fully fit to play cricket. Sachin is such a player that if he feels he is not fully fit then he will not take part," Shah said. "The board will go by the report of John Gloster," Shah added.
The situation is really intriguing.
The tri-nation series in Sri Lanka begins only on August 14 and can one presume that India's cricketing icon will graduate to 100 per cent match fitness in the available time.
Sanjay Manjrekar's observations on Tendulkar's future and his game plan attain much importance in the new context. If Tendulkar is ready to play for India without he being 100 per cent fit physically, Manjrekar can claim to be vindicated.
That's exactly what Manjrekar told Sachin to do.
Play as much for India as you can, without waiting for a fit as a fiddle status. Take your chances, and in the process if you fail too often, take it in your stride.
In fact, I think Chappell's no-nonsense comment on Tendulkar's fitness indicates that the Mumbaikar has no choice but to follow Manjrekar's advice of not waiting for 100 per cent match fitness.
Only one thing remains to be seen though.
Whether Tendulkar's new move is based on sheer exigency of getting back into the Indian team and maintaining his brand value or bowing to the ineluctable cricketing logic. We will know soon.