The Hindu : Caught unawares by the timing: Sachin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

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Caught unawares by the timing: Sachin

By Our Special Correspondent

THE FEELING IS ALWAYS SPECIAL: Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 33rd Test hundred in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Monday. He is now just one three-figure knock short of Sunil Gavaskar's world record 34 centuries. Tendulkar went on to make an unbeaten 194 before Rahul Dravid declared the Indian innings closed at 675 for five on a day when Virender Sehwag (309) became the first Indian to score a triple hundred in Tests. Pakistan was 42 without loss at close. - Photo: S. Subramanium

MULTAN, MARCH 29. Sachin Tendulkar was "taken by surprise" by the timing of the Indian cricket team's declaration. Asked by the media about the declaration on the second day of the Test match with his score on 194, Tendulkar said, "Of course, I was disappointed because I was only a few runs away from a double hundred."

He said he was caught unawares by the timing of the declaration. "I wasn't sure about the declaration. I did not think it would come so soon."

"At tea time, we decided to play positively. If a side is scoring at four runs an over in Test cricket, I think it is positive batting," he said adding that there was nothing he could do once the declaration was made. "Whatever has happened has happened."

Tendulkar lavished praise on Virender Sehwag calling him an exciting player and a treat to watch. "Everyone enjoys his batting." He was also happy that an Indian batsman had finally got past the 300-run mark in Test cricket. "It was badly needed and Veeru did it for India. This feat was missing in India. It's better late than never."

On his part, Sehwag said that it was a thrilling experience for him to achieve the landmark in front of his childhood idol, Tendulkar. "It was my greatest thrill. Actually the feat is yet to sink in."

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