India's one-day fortunes may be on the upswing, but their best batsman indicated that he wasn't coming in at his preferred position. Sachin Tendulkar, who has been batting at No. 4 in the current line-up, said he would much rather face the new ball. "Personally speaking, if I were given a choice I'd like to open the innings. It's where I feel most comfortable and score more runs. When I used to open, I had a chance to dictate terms. Now when I go in, terms are set for me (by bowlers) and I have to play accordingly."

Tendulkar dropped down to No. 4 in the ODI series in the West Indies earlier this year, in an attempt to bolster India's batting line-up, and steer the innings in the middle and end overs. Virender Sehwag was promoted up the order to open with Sourav Ganguly.

The move has paid off spectacularly – India have lost only two of their last 15 one-dayers, while Tendulkar has scored 468 runs in his latest stint at No. 4, at an average of 52. Often accused of being poor chasers, seven of India's last 12 wins have come batting second. Tendulkar's contribution in these wins have been minimal – his two centuries and a fifty have all come when India have batted first – but his sheer presence down the order has given the team a solidity it had lacked earlier.

Though Tendulkar has had a lean Champions Trophy, scoring 7, 9* and 16 in his three innings, it's strange that he should voice his disagreement with the batting order at a time when the team has achieved excellent results. Sehwag himself has been in awesome form at the top of the order, plundering 233 runs in the Champions Trophy.

Tendulkar indicated, though, that he was trying to adapt to his new position. "I'm willing to adapt myself so that I could lend some solidity to the middle order. It's going to take some time in this adjustment and I've to be patient." He scoffed at reports that he was in poor form. "I think there is something wrong with people who question my form. I've scored more than 1,000 this season. I'm trying out more options of scoring runs and cutting down on risks. I'm probably playing fewer lofted shots these days."

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