India hope for Tendulkar ton in landmark Test

India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday urged Sachin Tendulkar to mark his third decade in world cricket with a century in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Dhoni also stressed the hype over Tendulkar's landmark with round-the-clock coverage on the world batting record holder in the Indian media would not distract his team from the task at hand.

"It's not a distraction, in fact it's an inspiration for all of us," Dhoni said ahead of the first of three Tests against the Islanders which opens at the Motera stadium here on Monday.

"What Sachin has achieved in phenomenal. He has been an ideal role model for all of us. I never dreamt of playing alongside him, so it's an honour to share the same dressing room with him.

"Hope he gets a century here. That will be the ultimate."

It will be the 160th Test for Tendulkar, the world's most successful Test and one-day batsman, since his debut as a 16-year-old on November 15, 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi.

Only retired former Australian captain Steve Waugh has played more Tests -- 168.

India last played a Test match in March-April in New Zealand and Dhoni said his team was excited to be playing the traditional five-day game again after a hectic round of limited-overs cricket.

"We are not under-prepared for this Test," the captain insisted. "We will have to shift attention and apply ourselves to the longer game, but all of us have been in good touch.

"Hopefully we will play to our potential and win."

Sri Lanka have never won a Test match on Indian soil on six previous visits -- losing eight while six were drawn -- but Dhoni said the pressure on the hosts was as much as before.

"Whether we are playing the world's best team or a side that is at the bottom of the rankings, the pressure remains the same. That is what Test cricket is all about," he said.

"Sri Lanka is one of the best sides and it will be an interesting series."

India, helped by a formidable batting line-up and quality spinners, have won three of their last four home series against Pakistan, Australia and England, while the fourth against South Africa ended 1-1.

Test regulars Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman are back to join Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh in a strong middle-order, with twice triple-centurion Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir opening the batting.

India's bowling will be bolstered by the return of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who was sidelined for five months with a shoulder injury. The 31-year-old left-arm seamer has 210 wickets from 65 Tests.

Khan and young paceman Ishant Sharma are expected to share the new ball, with seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and leg-break bowler Amit Sharma providing the spin options.

Dhoni said the brownish wicket was "very different" from the seaming track that was prepared for India's last Test here in March last year.

India succumbed to South Africa in three days in that game after being shot out for 76 on the first morning.

"The wicket is a bit sticky at the moment because it has been watered, but it will dry up in this hot weather and will be good to bat on."