Sachin Tendulkar Grabs opportunity to hit his critics for a six
Sachin Tendulkar Grabs opportunity to hit his critics for a six
Sachin Tendulkar prefers to hit back at his critics with deeds. This time he has decided to give them some lip service. Over the few years, Tendulkar, despite his heroics, has had his share of barbs. "I think my performances in the last couple of years have proven the so-called experts wrong," Tendulkar told The Independent newspaper in London.
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wow! Sachin Tendulkar is ecstatic after scoring a hundred against England in the Chennai Test last year. PIC/AFP |
"I am quite happy with where I am now. I think my reflexes are the same as ever," he said.
When the interviewer reminded Tendulkar that former Australian captain Ian Chappell (in 2007) felt that he had diminished as a batsman as compared to his younger days, Tendulkar took off: "If he says that then he's not watched enough cricket. There is no player who does not change over 20 years, and that depends on your changing role in the team. When I was 17 there were others to take the kind of responsibility I'm taking now, and at 25 I was playing differently again. One has to be wise and mature enough to understand this changing role.
Being a batting perfectionist doesn't mean that Tendulkar is a sucker for net sessions. It all depends on how he feels. "If I feel good I do not practise much," he said. Tendulkar was named player of the World Cup in 2003 and accepted his prize from the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers after India lost the final to Australia in Johannesburg. But he did not have extensive net sessions in preparation for the greatest show on turf. "Before the 2003 World Cup I had only one net session. But before the last New Zealand tour I hit thousands and thousands of balls in the nets, to give me confidence," he said.
Tendulkar will probably still reckon that his hundred against Allan Border's Australians on a bouncy pitch at Perth in 1992 is his best Test century. But ask him which of his 208 centuries he has scored in all forms of the game, gave him in the most satisfaction and he will refer to another one u2013 his last ton at home u2013 the unbeaten 103 against England in Chennai last December.u00a0
Tendulkar said: "After what happened in Mumbai (the terrorist attacks), the mood of the entire nation was low. Something was needed to put smiles on people's faces.
"I am by no means suggesting that the people who lost near and dear ones could forget their terrible loss, but if we as a team were able to make them smile for just a couple of seconds, that was an achievement," said Tendulkar, who alongwith Yuvraj Singh (85 not out) helped India to a six-wicket win.
He stressed on why cricket and cricketers are special in India: "Cricket in India brings the entire nation together, from the poorest child to a billionaire.
"We are in a position to make everyone happy, which is very special for me and the whole cricketing
fraternity."
