Standing ovation for Sachin Tendulkar at Eden Gardens on Day 2

Kolkata woke up early on Thursday. Dawn on Day Two of the first Test brought with it, the promise of Sachin Tendulkar batting in what may well be his final innings at the Eden Gardens. With India wanting to create a platform to ensure that it bats just once on a low and slow Eden wicket, the wait for Tendulkar was not too long.

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Indian openers began on 37/0 but Shikhar Dhawan was dislodged by spinner Shane Shillingford in the third over of the day. His partner Murali Vijay quickly made his way back but his wicket brought out a loud cheer all around. The legend was making his way in - small but steady and confident strides.

If cheers when he picked a wicket a day earlier were loud, Eden's celebration when Tendulkar hit his opening runs - hitting a widish ball to point off Tino Best - was vociferous. An over later, he dispatched Shillingford - his victim with the ball earlier - twice to the fence to stamp his class and excellence.

On a two-paced wicket with uneven bounce and some turn, batting on the second and third day would be the ideal time for batsmen - an opportunity the hosts won't like to waste.

Indian batting may not revolve around any one batsman - or legend - but prayers at stadiums are surely addressed to Tendulkar. On Thursday, the God of cricket appeared only too willing to answer each wish  with the crackling sound of his blade.