Record-breakers Kallis and Sachin in a contest of their own

Kallis’s Test average in India is 75.4 and, in Pakistan recently, the all-rounder made his love for sub-continent conditions more apparent by blasting three centuries and a half-century to aggregate an incredible 421 runs in two Tests.

Tendulkar, too, has been in tremendous form of late. If his century in Sydney wasn’t warning enough, a look at his record in Chennai should send a few alarm bells ringing. In 11 innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he has an average of 92.

In all, he has scored a total of 736 runs here with four centuries, of which three have been for a winning cause with the memorable 136 against Pakistan in 1999 the exception.

How Kallis and Tendulkar have approached the two practice sessions before the Test has been in sharp contrast. While Kallis was clearly the talisman of the side — talking to the media, mingling with the players and having long chats with his fellow batsmen — Tendulkar kept surprisingly aloof.

Captain Anil Kumble talked about Tendulkar being in “fine touch”, and team sources argued why Tendulkar wasn’t asked to undergo a fitness test. “He has always maintained a very high standard of fitness. If he believes he is fine, we need to take his word,” one of them said.

Kallis also seems unperturbed by being on his second straight tour (after Bangladesh).

“We find it okay to be coming to India directly from Bangladesh. If we would have taken a break and gone to South Africa, it might have disturbed the tempo,” he said.

If their performance here can match their reputation and record, the first Test could be one to remember.