Sachin Tendulkar shares wisdom with Mumbai team before Ranji Trophy quarter-final

Sachin Tendulkar (centre) with the Mumbai players at the MCA-BKC ground on Wednesday. PIC/MCA

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar visited the Mumbai dressing room on Wednesday and addressed a few queries from the players and coaches ahead of the 42-time champions' Ranji Trophy quarter-final against eight-time winners Karnataka, starting at the MCA-BKC ground on Friday.

Skipper Shardul grateful

Test pacer and Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur reckoned that the guidance from Tendulkar was very helpful. "We were lucky to be graced by Sachin sir's presence in the dressing room today [Wednesday]. Rather than just a pep talk, it was more of a Q&A session. All the players and coaches asked him a variety of questions about approach, preparation, winning mindset, handling pressure, etc. Sachin sir's guidance has always been vital for the Mumbai team and all the boys are happy to receive words of wisdom from the very best," Thakur said.

Batting great Sachin Tendulkar uses two bats, resembling a pitch, to demonstrate how bowlers should shuffle lines and lengths

During the hour-long interaction with Tendulkar, it is learnt that Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal sought advice on how to tackle left-arm spinners. "Jaiswal also told Sachin that whenever he was batting against left-arm spinners, mostly fielders were placed in the deep, to which Sachin responded, saying: ‘If fielders are fielding in the deep, you have to work hard to score runs. Keeping patience is important. You can score runs, but you have to play more balls, play a long innings and spend more time," a MCA source told mid-day on Wednesday.

Taking 20 wickets in the game is very crucial to win a Ranji match and when Thakur requested Tendulkar to guide his bowlers on how to bowl across different sessions, Tendulkar used two bats to resemble a pitch and demonstrated the perfect line and length bowlers should aim for. "Sachin placed two bats on the ground, resembling a pitch and pointed out to the line and length that bowlers should bowl. He said: ‘You can bowl on the stumps in the morning session [shown by placing the bat in the middle].' He then placed another bat vertically to show the side of the pitch and said: ‘You can bowl away in the second session or when the ball is not swinging'. Everyone listed with rapt attention," added the source.

‘I would prep one day before'

When Test batter Sarfaraz Khan revealed that he starts thinking about a match four-five days before it, Sachin felt it's a good thing, but warned that overthinking is not good. Sachin said that he used to prepare for a match one day in advance. He would iron his match clothes a day before the game and packed his bag and that got him into match zone and preparation," the source concluded.