Sachin Tendulkar, 38 years old and hungry as ever for runs, answered questions from the media on a wide range of issues. Coca Cola and Adidas felicitated the maestro on his 100th hundred, Coke came out with a gold can and Adidas presented a special limited edition shoe.
Excerpts:
Q: Your view on people's perception that you play with an eye on records?
A: Many people have opinions on various things. Sometimes I get the feeling they have just opinions for me and nothing else. I don't know what people are thinking about me. My attention is not on opinions, I focus on how I can improve, what I can do to help my team win. When contributing to the team's cause, records happen. Records are created with a bigger goal in mind, helping the team win. If records don't happen and India wins, I don't mind. In team meetings, we discuss ways to win matches, not who is going to chase which record.
Q: After Rahul Dravid's retirement, questions about when Sachin Tendulkar will make way?
When I should retire is a decision to be taken by me. When I started to play cricket, the decision was not taken by someone else. My own courage, guidance from my coaches and family helped. Those who advise me on retirement did not bring me into the team. I dreamt about playing for the nation and perform as well as I can. I feel that as long as commitment and passion for cricket exists in me, I should keep playing. The day I feel something amiss in some aspect of my game, or my passion or commitment to get out there is receding, I should start thinking about retirement.
Q: Celebrating 100th century on a day of defeat for India, the loss which put us out of the Asia Cup?
I don't think we are celebrating that one match (loss to Bangladesh). Basically where I have reached in the game has taken me 23 long years, not just one game. Results are extremely important, the defeat was disappointing. After losing, there was no celebration. Throughout the tournament and even before, it was felt that other sides should do well against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. I would like to clarify that Bangladesh played good cricket. You may think they were a weak side, four matches they played, performances tell its own story. The opponent also plays to win.
Q: How did you handle the pressure between the 99th and the 100th century?
During the World Cup, after my 99th hundred, we played four World Cup games where no one raised the query about when the 100th hundred will come. You (media) created the build-up about my 100th, I did not. Then you turn around and ask me about the landmark. I was looking ahead to play cricket the way I always know. When batting, I looked ahead to scoring runs, the more the better for my team. In a day you meet about 150 to 200 people and if each one after wishing you mentioned about prayers, the thought stayed in my mind. If I liked it or not, whether I wanted to listen or not. I reminded myself to keep enjoying the game and not lose hope. From the cricketing viewpoint, it was a tough phase, the wishes kept coming.
Q: Your thoughts on playing the next World Cup?
When this question was asked in 2007 (about playing in 2011 World Cup), it was tough for me to answer. It's the same situation. I don't know what to say, if people keep praying for me, that means a lot for me. I will keep trying, the rest is in god's hands.
Q: Anything left to prove and the next target?
I don't think I need to prove to anyone. I started playing the game because I enjoyed it. My dream was to represent the nation and win the World Cup. I achieved both and I don't think there is anything bigger than winning the World Cup for India. Whatever happens beyond that, I don't know what is in store for me. I can't think about milestones. My focus is on enjoying cricket. I don't want to focus on what I have to achieve because I have already achieved what I wanted.
Keywords: Sachin Tendulkar
The way the media is making a hype about Sachin's retirement is little
annoying. Not only to the cricketer himself but also to his fans.But
truth always is bitter .He has rendered excellent service to the country
but now as anyone can realise that he is exerting himself too much, he
is only being requested to take rest nobody is forcing or nobody has the
prerogative to do so that too to such a great star as Sachin.
I see a growing disgust on most social network sites (largely amongst
the youth) towards Tendulkar and his utter arrogance. Presumably, the
younger generation are not under this Tendulkar trance. That self-
serving 100 against Bangladesh was what started it. Of course, the
mainstream media - as usual - has not caught on to it. I wonder how much
they are paid by his formidable PR team to lob softball questions at him
and not even make an attempt at questioning his conceit.
This is the mind set of most of our indians they will praise a man madly when he is doing good but suddenly they will criticize him with no reason. for those who want sachin to retire plz tell me who will replace his position. rightnow he is in good form let him play if he is not performing definitely he will retire. age should not be a factor performance should be. till now he is running fast between the wickets. really hats off to sachin. other countries are very jealous because they didnt have a bastmen like our sachin but in india we are criticizing him.
Sachin knows when to retire. He is in decent form and scoring runs. If he retires now people
will say he followed Dravid! He knows when to steal the limelight and hang the boots. In
couple of years we all will be celebrating 25 years of Sachin and (my guess) only player who
played a international match along with his son Arjun :-)
Sports journalism in India has not kept pace with other aspects of it, cricket journalists ask either wrong questions or the wrong persons.
Modern Indian cricket has the sort of money which very few other sports anywhere in the world can only dream of. Cricketers are not national heroes. Like movie actors, they provide us entertainment and we pay them money for it. While they are at it, some of them have the acumen to build vast business wealth out of it. Be it Amitabh Bachchan or Sachin Tendulkar, it is the same. These "stars" obviously build their fan base. A country devoid of real heroes run after film and cricket stars.
It is silly to ask Tendulkar to retire, although one is taken aback at his arrogance. What happened to Mr Ponting? Can Mr Srikkanth summon the courage and honesty of Mr Inverarity?
Cricket journalists should point their guns at Mr Srikkanth; not Tendulkar, or Laxman, Sehwag. Dravid retired; because, like the game he played, he was the only gentleman among them.
For once, Sachin has shown arrogance. Yes, may be he can choose his retirement. But it is for others/selectors to decide whether to pick him or not to play for India. Have a yardstick and measure - if he performs, good. Keep playing. If not, drop him. Let him wait for his turn - either perform well in domestic circuit or he is seen as better of the lot available.
Despite SachinTendulkar's poor scores compared to others , he is given the freedom by Krish Shrikanth to decide on his retirement . The other selectors should revolt and drop Sachin from test , odi teams .Sachin may enjoy playing cricket for another few decades but indian public / cricket fans are no more interested in watching him score poorly . After all , he managed to score 100th 100 against Bangala desh , comparativly a weaker side thogh they managed to reach the finals of Asia cup .
Sachin , you are the legend who carved a nice niche in cricket and espcially an Indian's name in international arena. We as proud indians do appreciate you for all the 100 milestones you have created in your nearly two and half decades of involvement in the game. You have the right to decide when to leave your place for the upcoming youngsters. It is easier said than done!!!!
The issue with Sachin is lot and lots of passion towards the game and his life is completely immersed in cricket. As a sports person, he never ever thought of enjoying his childhood like a common man.
He very well knows when to retire and better we allow him to play as long as he wants. In addition to it, even if we compare (though being ruthless) him with other players in the team, he is far far ahead of others like Sehwag, Gauthi, Raina, Rohit Sharma etc.. Hence he deserves to be in playing 11.
As 100th 100th relieved his pressure to max extent, sure shot, he will score more freely and will make a valued contribution to India's Win.
Ofcourse, we have lost few matches because of his pressure, but we have to be sportive too. Cannot imagine how Indian Cricket without Sachin in 90's till date.
Guys... Please dont talk about Sachin's retirement for giving chace to Youngsters. Just name a youngster in who is missing his spot in the national team, even though he is performing better than Tendulkar...
Please think before you criticise someone like Sir Sachin Tendulkar. It hurts a lot of hearts.
Totally agree with suman's comment....
If any yongsters have that level and class of cricket to replace sahin, then where are they? Nobody is performing good in domestic cricket so that they can make a place in indian side.. If there would be someone to replace him as an opner, sachin will stepdown by himself..
Hello !!!!! People who ask Sachin to retire must think that he is the most experienced person in the Indian Cricket Team. And he is still in prime form.You ask other players who don't perform well to retire from cricket .Not him and Not now!!!!!!!!
u r great sachin ji......the ability of playing cricket andproof yourself is so mind blowing i can't explain it.......
Dear All , Sachin is a legend in his game, dont give any suggestions to sachin , he knows very well rather than us...please stop criticising on sachin...every body saying taht give the chances to young blood , can any one give the name of that player who can replace sachin's place..
we should learn from him
Dear Sachin! You are absolutely right. Your achievement is not just in
your records. Because of you so many youngsters have jumped into
cricket. Nobody had adopted very successfully and popularized the "Saxaphone" in carnatic music as Shri. Kadiri Gopalnath. Now, just because there are plenty of musicians trained by him playing saxaphone rendering carnatic music doesn't mean that he should retire. Hence as long as Sachin enjoys, has passion for the game and perform he should be the deciding authority as to when to retire. Unfortunately, only in politics, people do not put forth this question to any one, irrespective of the fact whether they are performing or not. Their only performance is in winning the elections.
Though Sachin's caliber is undisputed one , it is high time for his retirement so that new comer may get opportunity .
After listening to what Sachin said, I was wondering as to why we should have a BCCI or a selection committee. My dear Sachin, a young, energetic and talented cricketer is waiting for this slot for sometime now. Please give him this space now. Or else, we will not see him in the field. If you are a sportsman, be a sport.
He has been playing for about 22 years without any controversial behind him. Let the inviolable soul decides when to retire. What is the point in saying give way for youngsters when he himself plays so.
sachin.. you are best in the world and always will be..
Sachin's explicit comment is understandable as he appears clearly frustrated and probably a little annoyed about his retirement calls. He alone has a right to decide the timing of retirement, provided he performs consistently without dragging the team's performance. He is still performing and may probably score more runs than the number of balls he faces in ODI. But I see a little bluntness in his statements, which we never see from Rahul Dravid. I am sure that he appreciates that he is here in this situation not only because of his own skills but also due to the excellent support systems, with fans inclusive, that he enjoyed in his 23 years of cricket so far. Many extremely talented crickets fell by the way side as they did not get as much support as he did (deservededly so).
It is high time Tendulkar retires and makes way for more talented, younger cricketers. He has achieved enough. As usual he rationalizes his selfish ideas behind the usual - "I am still enjoying my cricket". What about the audience? We have been suffering from Tendulkar fatigue for the last so many years. He could still play IPL and enjoy his cricket. He needs to quit playing in the Indian team.
"It will be selfish to retire now". Isn't it more selfish to deprive
budding talent from playing in the national team.
"I know when to retire". Tendulkar you don't! If you did you would
have retired after the World cup. Neither will the selector have the
courage to tell you to leave.
We would like to see a more yourthful and energetic Indian team soon!
Just one Australian debacle hastened Rahul Dravid's retirement. But sadly, no such problems for Sachin because of the Mumbai power!. It is high time he retired. He spoke very highly of not being selfish!!! If Sachin is really unselfish, he should retire and like Dravid, give place for an youngster.
Even in this supposedly bad patch, he has averaged better than many players. He is topmost rated Indian batsmen in icc test rankings. Some people have biased opinions against him. They need to be ignored.
What a dedication and interest towards a game? Everybody possess such a interest and dedication towards their goal or profession.Sachin is a great man.He is uncomparable.We want you to play for India as long as you can?.
It looks like he will never retire. He is simply not performing any more in comparison with other new player.
Dear Sachin, Please make it fast and don't spoil India's hopes, for your so called 'Records' as you have did in the Asia cup. You have got what you want and enough mileage to be accepted by the advertising companies for another 5 years which you may mainly looked for rather than India's win!!!
Sachin is the greatest. He has already done well for cricket. It is not so easy to break all his records. Even though he is in good form, he should step up from cricket arena and to pave the way for the youngsters. Sachin should not wait till he is shown the doors.
Sir,
After observation and careful evaluation of Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, the so called cricket fame of India, I would like to opine that, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar is playing for his self-interests; not for our nation. This opinion can be verified from the past records which will evidently show that, in none of the final matches, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar performed with credible determination to bring win to our team. I admire Mr. Srikanth, Mr. Kapil Dev, as opposed to Mr. Sachin Tendulkar. He is not patriotic ; but SELFISH.
Well said Sachin... All the answers from him were very genuine..
Sachin, truly a humble person.
Congrats Tendulkar. You are truely a hero and the greatest ever
sporting icon of our nation. Cricket became a household name in India
and had a huge price tag only after you got into the Indian team.
You not only won games for India but also gave great hopes of an
Indian victory so long you were at the crease. The dependency of
your countrymen on you was so high that the TV's set would get
switched on the moment you are batting and it goes off the moment you
are back in the pavillion.
In the midst of all this your simplicity, humbleness and child like
looks made you the darling of the nation. If Mahatma Gandhi is the
father of the nation, you are the really the Pride of the Nation.
Every game you played recently in Australia did indicate to us that
you were playing well but luck deserted you. We do believe that you
are even today amongst the best batsmen in both ODI and Tests.You are
contributing significantly and therefore there should be no thougt of
retirement anytime now.
No body can deny his contribution to and passion for cricket. He is
still performing and therefore retirement is not an issue. Bowing out on
a high is not selfish as his fans may not like him to bow out on a low.
It may leave a bad taste on everyone's mouth with Sachin inclusive.
Although he is in the current situation on the back of his own skills
and talents, let's not forget that the support system, with fans
inclusive, have played a big role in shaping his career.
Mr.Tendulkar well said. Now donate all the money you get playing cricket to the poor people of India. I am sure you have had enough. Act the words. Thanks. Please be the leader here too.
Bravo Tendulkar. Hats off to your patriotism. Let us see whether you
preserve your precious fitness by not playing IPL and do National duty.
It is just a game of Cricket. One can serve the country in other fronts as well. Sachin may be enjoying the game but clealy the team India is not winning on his contribution any more and many think loosing to Bangladesh may actually be due to Sachin's poor run rate, at least one of the factors.
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