Tendulkar opts out of Twenty20s

Sachin Tendulkar does not want to disturb the settled India Twenty20 line-up

Sachin Tendulkar has ruled himself out of India’s Twenty20 matches against New Zealand later this month.

The record Test and one-day run-scorer of all time has played only once in the shortest format of the game for India, against South Africa in 2006.

"I will continue not to play Twenty20 internationals," Tendulkar said.

"When I had decided not to play the Twenty20 World Cup after the England tour in 2007, my body was a bit tired and I needed rest.

"It was a conscious decision and I thought it wasn't appropriate to go (to South Africa) and not give my best.

"After that the team did well. The team is now settled and I don't want to disturb it."

India are scheduled to leave for New Zealand next week for a full tour which includes three Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 internationals.

First up for India is the two Twenty20 games in Christchurch and Wellington on February 25 and 27 which are followed by the one-day series.

Tendulkar said India's toughest challenge would be to adjust to the conditions.

"It's going to be a challenge playing New Zealand in New Zealand, especially for the ones who have not played there before,” he said.

"It's a fairly new team and the conditions there will be an entirely new experience.

"It's going to be a learning experience for them.”

Tendulkar had a poor series in Sri Lanka, a victim of bad umpiring in all the matches in which he played. He was out leg before in all three games and was rested for the last two matches.

"I don't want to say anything because the entire world has seen it," he said on the decisions that were handed out to him.

"But players do find it disappointing sometimes.”

Tendulkar, however, believes the umpire referral system is not the answer to the problem.

"I did not particularly like the system when it was used on our last tour of Sri Lanka last year," he said. "There is still an element of uncertainty in the system.

"I still prefer the HotSpot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat."