The playing future of Sachin Tendulkar has come under severe scrutiny after the batsman failed to impress in either of India’s first two Tests with England this month.

Tendulkar’s career has been a subject of great debate on the Michael Vaughan tips page ever since the iconic batsman scored his 100^th international century in March.

Many still claim Tendulkar has a right to be in the Test side currently playing England, as his 54.60 average and +15,000 Test runs show class is permanent.

However, at 39, others want the cricket legend to step down before he harms his reputation, with the third Test in Kolkata his last chance to prove himself to selectors.

For, despite Tendulkar’s dominance in the game over the past two decades, it appears age has finally caught up with him, a factor that former teammate Sourav Ganguly this week claimed may bring his career to an end after the series with England:

“[Tendulkar’s] reflexes have gone down. But that is bound to happen with age,” Ganguly told FirstPost.com. “But what I feel is that Tendulkar is out of form and needs runs. I want to earnestly believe that he will get runs in the two remaining Tests”.

Indeed, the majority of Indian fans will be hoping Tendulkar ups his game in the remaining two Tests, not only for the player’s sake but for India’s status as a major force in Test cricket.

Tendulkar is currently guilty of underperforming in the Indian whites, with three innings against England yielding just 29 runs. The right-hander looks vulnerable against spin and has notched just one half century in 12 Test innings this year.

The importance of Tendulkar to the Indian psyche cannot be underestimated and, with him on form, the rest of the team will pick up too. However, if the 39-year-old cannot find runs during the third Test in Kolkata, selectors face the difficult decision of axing a national legend, possibly for good.