India physiotherapist John Gloster said that Sachin Tendulkar opted out of the forthcoming two-Test series against hosts Zimbabwe as "he does not feel confident and strong enough yet to return to the rigours of Test cricket batting."
The national selectors had a telephonic conference among themselves and Indian coach Greg Chappell in Zimbabwe, and decided that Maharashtra opener Dheeraj Jadhav would replace Tendulkar for the Test series commencing on September 13, Indian Cricket Board Secretary S K Nair announced from Thiruvananthapuram.
Tendulkar, who underwent a surgery in London in May after being constantly troubled by a tennis elbow, had been examined by Gloster here before the national team's departure to Zimbabwe when the latter had a net session at the MIG club in suburban Bandra.
In his report to Nair from Zimbabwe, Gloster said the master batsman's rehabilitation plans were going on well.
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The physio said "the strength component of his rehabilitation plan has progressed positively to this point but is not yet sufficient to progress to the next level of competitive play.
"We will continue to constantly review his recovery and progress."
Tendulkar had been chosen for the two-Test series, which follows the one-day tri-series concluding on September 6, subject to his fitness.
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