PTI 

Bangalore, Aug 10: The Indian team management continued to come out with contradictory statements on Sachin Tendulkar's fitness with coach Greg Chappell on Thursday suggesting that the ace batsman was still not fit as far as fielding was concerned.

Two days after physiotherapist John Gloster had given a clean chit to Tendulkar, Chappell gave a new twist to the fitness controversy barely a few hours before the team's departure for Sri Lanka for the tri-series.

Responding to a question on Tendulkar's fitness during a press conference here, Chappell said the Mumbai batsman is improving day by day.

"He is improving day by day. We have not pushed him more in fielding. He is fit in batting and bowling sides in as much as he is fit to perform to his past and his potential," he said.

"If he is not fit, at least his fitness is satisfactory for everybody," he added.

Chappell had earlier said that Tendulkar was not cent per cent fit and could not throw from the deep while fielding.

This created a flutter over the star batsman's fitness compelling Team India physio John Gloster as well as BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah to declare Tendulkar fit to play international cricket.

"Sachin has passed the fitness test to play in Sri Lanka. I can only say this much. He was flamboyant in his batting today (during the practice match)," Gloster had said.