Sachin is the Key to India’s World Cup success

Ref: http://www.sportskeeda.com/2011/02/06/sachin-is-the-key-to-india%E2%80%99s-world-cup-success/

For the last two decades, Indian cricket has gained immeasurably from Sachin’s presence- on or off the field. Sachin Tendulkar, gifted with talent and temperament, has reached almost all heights that can be scaled in the record books of cricket. Even today in the last part of this golden hero’s career, there are many cricket fans in India who believe that once Sachin is out, India cannot win a match. Though many critics opine that Sachin is not a match winner as he has not won as much matches as many others in the team and many a times his innings go in vain, not bringing winning results for the team.

Everyone is entitled to their own view but one can never dispute the fact that Sachin has always remained the key to India’s successes in big tournaments; World Cup being one of them. And he will again be the ‘superman’ for the Team India when he plays his sixth World cup in a few days. The statistics are on Sachin’s side and point to an extremely crucial direction: Sachin has to fire if India needs to win the world cup.

Perhaps there are only two legendary cricketers of the modern era of cricket who have achieved everything except the world cup winning moment for their team: Sachin and Brian Lara. As the 2011 world cup will, most likely be, Sachin’s last world cup, he will surely like to win this prestigious title for the country. Indian team thinks (in the words of the captain MS Dhoni) to gift Sachin with the world cup but most importantly the India needs Sachin more to win the world cup than the other way around. Sachin’s performances in the past 5 world cups are given below. It is evident that whenever Sachin has performed well, India has done well in the tournament whereas his poor performances meant early departure of the team.

1992: Tendulkar was just 18 when he made his maiden World cup appearance yet true to his nature left a mark of his brilliance among fans. His performance was ‘average’(if compared to what he di in the next world cups) and India didn’t do well in the tournament either.

M: 8; Runs; 283; Hs: 84; Avg: 47.16; 50s: 3

1996: A mighty Tendulkar devastated most bowling attacks and led the team India to the semis. He finished as top-run-getter of the tournament.

M: 7; Runs: 523; Hs: 137; Avg: 87.16; 100s: 2; 50s: 3

1999: Came to the tournament after a lengthy injury lay-off and had to rush to India after the first match against India after his father died. He scored a hundred on return against Kenya, but wasn’t his fluent self.

M: 7; Runs: 253; Hs: 140*; Avg: 42.16; 100s: 1; 50s: 0

2003: The world saw Sachin at his peak. Top class performances once the team management (the best combo of Ganguly-Right) decided give Sachin his opening slot again. Ask Indian fans what comes to their mind while talking about the 2003 WC,most would certainly answer the moment Sachin hit that six off Shoaib Akhtar. Sachin became the top-run-getter and no doubt India was in the Finals.

M: 11; Runs: 673; Hs: 152; Avg: 61.18; 100s: 1; 50s: 6

2007: Sachin’s performance was as bad as all other batsmen (except Ganguly to some extent). He looked scratchy. Result: India’s worst WC performance, out in the first round itself

M: 3; Runs: 64; Hs: 57*; Avg: 32; 50s: 1

Total: M: 36; Runs: 1796; Hs: 152; Avg: 57.93; 100s: 4; 50s: 13.

Good or bad, it is a fact that India has still not got a replacement (at least partially) for Sachin. Sachin is still the pole of the Indian batting line up and the strategies are made around him. When the team plays without him, suddenly the batting line up becomes fragile. The series against New Zealand is a recent example. India with Sachin was at the top in the Test series but once he was out during the ODIs, the batting just didn’t clicked.

If this world cup is the last world cup for Sachin, it is also the last world cup for the Indian team with Sachin. Currently with the best team (talent wise) in the history, India is best placed to win the world cup. We only hope that the ‘Key to India’s World Cup successes’ finally manages to open the dead-lock with his performances. That is our, the Indian fans’, last demand for the God of cricket.

Tendulkar is all praise for his 'Fab' teammates

Ref : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Tendulkar-is-all-praise-for-his-Fab-teammates/articleshow/7432576.cms

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar says Anil Kumble is the greatest bowler he has played with, finds Rahul Dravid's technique and concentration excellent and VVS Laxman the most wristy, while Sourav Ganguly is one who figured out his game well.

Tendulkar, who has closely seen all the four who formed the Fab Five of the Indian team not long ago, elaborated on the the style and substance of the four players.

"From the manner in which Rahul and Sourav had batted in their debut Test match, it was quite evident that they were there to stay." Tendulkar said in a book titled 'SACH,' by Gautam Bhattacharya.

"Rahul's forte was excellent technique and he loved to occupy the crease for long hours. Rahul concentrated extremely well -- I mean, still concentrates very well. Sourav was somebody who figured out his game well enough. He knew which bowler to hit and which one to defend. Sourav liked scoring runs in boundaries. He was a boundary hitter.

"Laxman depended on hand-eye coordination. He was the most wristy player. And Kumble, of course, is the greatest bowler that I have ever played with. Apart from being a champion matchwinning bowler, his greatness lay in the fact that he would bowl the last delivery of the day with the same amount of fire irrespective of his performance during the day.

Tendulkar, who has been witness to the various contraptions that came into the game, feels, the computer has been the most important as it gives the opportunity to study the opposition. He, however, insists the electronic gadget cannot substitute the "skills" of a player.

"Your performance is the biggest indicator that skill can march well ahead of the laptop! The computer does play an important role in today's cricket. You forget so many things. With the computer you can store them. For me the biggest advantage is you can study the opposition. The computer helps and provides you with that vital two to three per cent difference. As far as I am concerned it is not overrated."

Thank my countrymen for showing faith in my integrity: Sachin

Ref : http://news.oneindia.in/2011/02/06/thankmy-countrymen-for-showing-faith-in-my-integritysachi-aid0126.html

New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) SACHIN TENDULKAR feels that hecan''t thank his countrymen enough for the amount of faith theyhave showed in his integrity during his 21 illustrious years in International cricket.

In the recently released book ''Sach'' written by notedscribe Gautam Bhattacharya, one gets to know the rareemotional side of the maestro as he spoke on a host of issuesincluding how the entire country supported him during theball-tampering episode in 2001 tour of South Africa.

He also spoke about how he dealt with the uglymatch-fixing episode, and the tragic 26/11 terror attack onMumbai.

Referring to episode of ball-tampering when match-refereeMike Denness handed him a one match ban on alleagtions oftrying to lift the seam during a Test match at Port Elizabeth,Sachin has been quoted as saying, "But despite the incident, Iwas so happy for the trust and faith that the entire countryexpressed in me.

"At times, it has been written that a nation walked withme every time I went out to bat. Here there was no bat. Yetthey showed such faith in my integrity that I was touched.

Till date I can''t forget that."

Tendulkar, who has been a picture of dignity during hislong international career did admit being "shattered" withallegations levelled by Denness.

"You know, I was completely shocked and shattered when hesaid the charge against me was for ball tampering. I triedtelling him what the truth was. That I was just cleaning thegrass on the ball. I was not picking the seam. At no stage didI do that.

"If someone is trying to remove grass, how can you levyball-tampering charges against him? But the match refereewould hear none of it. Since then, whenever I clean the ball,I keep the umpires posted."

When the murky episode of match-fixing rocked the nation,Tendulkar was like a picture of resilience.

When asked about his feelings during the entirefixing-saga, the holder of a world record 97 internationalcenturies, said,"I was just doing what every Indian wassupposed to do. I was just doing my duty and did not think itwas any different from what I had done in the past. I was justfollowing the same routine....

"Around that time, I received a certificate from IncomeTax department for paying my taxes honestly. That gives me alot of satisfaction. I was just hoping that my father had beenalive to see it," said the man who still looks heavenwards andutters a silent prayer in the memory of his father RameshTendulkar, everytime he completes a ton.

Talking about the tragic 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai,Tendulkar also spoke about the pain he went through asinnocent Indians lost their lives.

"We were playing at Cuttack (against England). At nightwe came to know about the attack. Of course, first you callhome and enquire about the safety of your near and dear ones.

"Then keep glued to TV to try and find out what exactly isgoing on. What was happening to the nation was difficult todigest.

"I felt very sad and couldn''t come to terms with it. Iwas almost numb and didn''t know what had hit me. It took awhile to get myself back on track. That must surely rank asone of the most disappointing days of my life," he said.