There has been a raging debate whether the next crop of Indian youngsters are passionate enough about playing Test cricket but Sachin Tendulkar reckons that players cannot be forced into liking the longer format.
“To make someone like Test cricket, it has to come from within. There is no set formula that you have to do certain things and then you start liking Test cricket. I grew up dreaming about playing for India — that was the biggest thing I wanted to achieve: to play Test cricket for India and to do well,” Tendulkar said.
“Every practice session I went out, I was prepared to work as hard as any of my coaches wanted me to; the only thing I wanted was an India cap. Yes, maybe there are individuals around who feel, ‘If I don’t play Test cricket I don’t miss much.’ You need not force them into something they don’t want to be,” he told ESPN’s Sports Centre programme.
“If someone wants to be in Test cricket, then he will find his way, will be ready to push himself as hard as anyone to realise his dreams. I don’t like to push someone to like Test cricket and make him like Test cricket forcibly. I would just keep those two individuals separate,” Tendulkar said.
Having played top flight cricket for 23 years now, Tendulkar has forged successful on-field partnerships with the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and now the next generation of players.
Asked how he has managed to bond with the players, he replied, “It’s important to know each other’s nature, each other’s personality, how they react to various situations... I have played with the current lot for some time, and there was one stage, when I was already a part of the Indian team for six years when Rahul and Sourav joined me.
“So in every generation this process has to take place. I can say that I have played with all of them, so that understanding is very much there,” he added.
The iconic batsman also said that he has never felt the need to prove anything to anyone.
“I never wanted to prove anything to anyone ever. Not that it is only post-World Cup, because that would send wrong signals. I never thought I am out here to prove anything to anyone, but yes, one big target was winning the World Cup.
“Other than that my only aim was to enjoy the game of cricket. I have grown up playing cricket. I haven’t done anything else in my life from a professional point of view. Cricket has been my life, my passion. I just want that to continue.”
Keywords: Sachin Tendulkar
The venue and context of the interview proves the real point- a shoe endorsement contract. Tendulkar got used to making millions of US dollars each year with product endorsements. He is one of the richest sportsmen in the world through this business that requires no capital and no effort- just banking on his past glory. The important condition in any endorsement contract is that he should be in the national team. Tendulkar's attempt to stay on in the team is not about passion of the game but genuine greed of US dollars. He will be in the national team as long as he can get away with it either through political connections or the pressure of his 'worshipper' base, you name it.
Politics, business, films, cricket, and the slavish Indian mindset of the 'fans' form a toxic cocktail. Media (like the Hindu newspaper) has become an ingredient of this poisonous concoction. It is just another curse and shame on India.
that we are a nation of senseless critics is evident from the comments above. each person is different. simply because dravid chose to retire does not impose such a requirement on sachin. he is the greatest player of the era and we should at least allow him the honour of retiring of his volition.
I want him and his son playing for international cricket
Please retire..
Problem with Sachin is, he is not able to asses his game properly and
time his retirement. He must take a leaf out of Sunny, Kapil and more
recently, Dravid. People should ask "Why?" and not "Why not?" when he
makes the decision. His dragging his career and denying a younger
batsman his rightful chance only makes people think him as
`materialistic'. He's not doing any honorary service to the nation and
he's paid to deliver in the cricket field which of late, he's
struggling to do. One may ask, "where's the quality replacement?". We
all know the current form of the little master. Had another youngster
been given these many chances to succeed (or, fail), he sure would
have settled by now. Tendulkar's laborious, painful, listless, least
convincing knocks in between in a losing battle here and there
needn't be given any merit. I do not understand why he's treated as
God? As much as Indian cricket benefited from Tendulkar, He too
benefited from cricket much more. It's time to look beyond!
gr8 attitute
Indian sports persons are their own enemies. Sachin would have had a
lot of respect had he quit 10 years ago if he was really interested
in Indian Cricket. Frankly nobody but Hindu cares right now.
Playing for India is NOT your birth right. You should quit and give
opportunity to young players
sachin is god .
make use of him to mentor the youngsters or we might end up like the west indies after viv, greenidge and haynes
Cricket has been my life,my passion. I just want that to continue".- sachin
Pls continue to play till 60 years because millions of rupees behind you from advertisements
to ipl team. Sachin always plays for record not for the country.
Yes......!!!!!!! That's great words by a God..
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