FOR hundreds of millions of Indians all across the globe, the hurriedly arranged two-Test cricket series against West Indies in India starting next week is all about Mr Sachin Tendulkar.

Understandably so, since the ‘Little Master’, who made his Test match debut against Pakistan 24 years ago as a 16-year-old, has said that the second Test of the series — the 200th of his career — to be played in his native Mumbai, will be his last. Indeed, the West Indies tour was arranged by the all-powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — outside of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours programme — precisely because of the desire to have Mr Tendulkar play his final Test on home soil.

In the process, the Indian authorities have slashed the length of their scheduled tour of the world’s number-one ranked Test-playing country South Africa. This, after roundly chastising the latter for daring to attempt to determine a tour programme without what was considered proper consultation. West Indies captain Mr Darren Sammy and his men aren’t complaining — having been starved of Test match cricket since March when they overcame lowly Zimbabwe in the Caribbean.

Presumably too, West Indies cricket coffers will be much the stronger after this trip to India, which will be followed by a journey to New Zealand in December. The regional team’s job will be to try to spoil India’s Tendulkar party and also continue the West Indies Test-match winning streak dating back to July-August of last year.

Readers will recall that the West Indies have won six Test matches in a row — 2-0 over New Zealand last summer, 2-0 over Bangladesh in that country last November, and 2-0 over Zimbabwe in March. The statisticians make the point that the last time the West Indies won six in a row was back in the heyday of its great power in the 1980s.

The cruel realists say New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are all minnows, ranked below the West Indies. Victory or even a drawn series in India would provide concrete evidence that Mr Sammy’s team is well and truly on the rise. Indians are hoping that Mr Tendulkar will leave on a high, preferably with a century against the West Indies.

The fear is that the legendary batsman could struggle, especially since his performance has been way below par over the last two to three years, suggesting he is well past his best. Mr Tendulkar, the greatest Indian batsman of all time, has served cricket magnificently. This newspaper wishes him well as he prepares to say goodbye. But equally we wish the West Indies great success on this short tour of India.