Sachin is different: BCCI president Srinivasan

If the Board of Control for Cricket in India president N. Srinivasan is to be believed, Sachin Tendulkar's Test future seems to be alive and kicking. Refusing to comment on Tendulkar's under-par form in back-to-back home series against England and Australia, the BCCI chief said: "He is different. Any assessment on India's greatest cricketer will be unfair (at this stage)."

For the statistically minded, Tendulkar's aggregate in the 8 matches in the 2012-13 season reads as follows: 304 runs in 13 innings (1 not out) at an average of 25.33. Tendulkar scored two fifties and hasn't scored a century.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV on Monday, Srinivasan was all praise for Team India for the four-nil win against Australia and defended Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys for the 2-1 defeat against England at home.

"The team was unlucky at times and also undergoing a transition. Against Australia, the team has regrouped and we should be proud of them. No team wants to lose and our players have tried their best. Sometimes, the circumstances are not in your favour," Srinivasan said.

The BCCI chief refused to talk on selection matters and ducked question on Tendulkar's future. Praising Dhoni  for his amazing record as Indian skipper, the BCCI boss said: "It's nice to see India win so comprehensively. We always had confidence in the team. We had faith in the captain and his boys and now our stand has been justified."

He added: "The real test of character will come when India play South Africa and New Zealand later this year."

Srinivasan said the Indian Premier League was in safe hands and all apprehensions around the participation of Sri Lankan players were exaggerated.

"India is a safe country and there is no law and order problem in Tamil Nadu. The IPL is still a few days away and if any situation arises, we will deal with it," Srinivasan said.