The Hindu : Sport : 'Why lose sleep over what people say?'

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Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Sport

Sport

'Why lose sleep over what people say?'

Vijay Lokapally

BATTLE SCARRED: Sachin Tendulkar is no stranger to criticism. But he has soldiered on bravely and delivered. - FILE PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM

NEW DELHI: Sixteen years is a long time but Sachin Tendulkar's memory is sharp. And he is not known to break a promise. On a sticky afternoon at the Wankhede Stadium, Tendulkar, 11 runs short of a century, watched Gursharan Singh emerge from the dressing room with his right hand cast in plaster. His middle finger fractured, Gursharan was in acute pain. He batted 16 balls with one hand and contributed to his 16-year-old partner's immense joy of scoring a century on debut in the Irani Cup.

To this day, Tendulkar remembers that eventful afternoon vividly. "It was a splendid gesture by Gush. That hundred meant a lot to me and I had told him then I would like to reciprocate his unforgettable act," said the master in a chat with The Hindu on Tuesday.

Tendulkar, on the basis of that brilliant century against Delhi, got picked for the Pakistan tour and grew into a legend with his batting exploits. By making an appearance at the Ferozeshah Kotla here for Gursharan's benefit match, Tendulkar was only repaying a debt.

"I owed it to him," he said. To accommodate Gursharan's request, Tendulkar did not mind delaying his departure to the US with his family by a day.

Long journey

It has been a long and trying journey for Tendulkar. Sixteen years of toil, under unrelenting scrutiny of fans and critics, very demanding, and at times unreasonable too. "I don't get rattled by what people say. I know what my job is. I know what I'm doing. As long as I'm convinced that I've done my job honestly, why should I lose sleep over what people have to say about my cricket. In any case, my team knows and judges me best. And that to me matters most," said Tendulkar in response to growing criticism concerning his batting form and the perceptible change in his style too.

Tendulkar has a simple explanation for the benefit of those who understand the game and value an individual's dedication. "It's a process that everyone experiences. In the past too batsmen have made changes when compelled by certain factors, like age. I can't fight these changes. They are natural. It's easy for these so-called experts to talk from outside. And who are these people. Look at their records. Honestly, I don't think we need to even discus them and their comments."

When probed further, Tendulkar opened up: "Look, I've played as I wanted to. Not to please some individuals but to serve my team and my country. I did what I thought was right for me and the team. I follow the same policy even today. It's difficult to please all the people. So why worry about them. I would rather do my job as long as I feel I have done right. What matters is the interest of the team and that's what I'll aim to serve. I'm enjoying my batting just as I did when I was 16."

Amazing insight

At 32, Tendulkar is a veteran with an amazing insight into the game. He defended his approach most emphatically. "I batted with a certain style when I was 16. At 20, I batted differently. It again changed when I was 25, and again when I turned 30. With age, my role in the team changed too. It's not that my batting has assumed a new character now. Please try to read my role and contribution in a team where I'm the senior-most. Like others, I too think differently as I grow. Today, maybe (Mahendra) Dhoni would think and do what I did at 20. When I was 16 I saw Kapil (Dev), (Dilip) Vengsarkar, Ravi (Shastri). They had a certain role to play, and I had my own."

Injuries have hit him hard in the last five years. Back problem, `tennis' elbow, fluctuating form have been challenging his endurance and consistency. But nothing really perturbs him. "I'm used to pressure because it is always present on and off the field. The pressure on me is not to score runs but to see that my side needs to perform. The pressures vary with time and why not? My philosophy is simple. If you're concerned about the team's performance, you're bound to attract pressure. And I don't mind such pressures at all," he said.

As a senior statesman of the team, Tendulkar has carved a role for himself. "I'm one of the main players in the team and need to take more responsibility. I love speaking to the youngsters and guiding them through healthy discussions."

Modest

The man is modest about his achievements. "I did what came naturally to me. But I must tell you that my learning process continues. I just can't sit back and reflect on past glory. I think Indian cricket is in a healthy state and hopefully things will be better in times to come.

The quality of our domestic cricket has improved and it augurs well. My only request to the BCCI is that it must improve the travel and staying facilities during domestic cricket."

Tendulkar was unhappy with the fact that South Zone stayed outside the city during the Duleep Trophy match at Hyderabad even though he praised the new stadium at Uppal.

"It's a superb stadium (at Hyderabad) and I must congratulate Shivlal Yadav for a job well done. Overall we have a long way to go in making domestic cricket very professional but lot of positive steps have been taken in recent times," Tendulkar observed.

Looking ahead, Tendulkar painted a rosy picture. "We have the potential to emerge the best team in both forms of cricket but need to be consistent."

Is there anything that rankles Tendulkar? "Yes, the behaviour of the spectators at times. They don't help the team by jeering at us. There's no harm in having high expectations but be realistic when we lose after our best efforts. I hope they realise that we try our best. And I really find it funny when our own people boo us. It hurts. I find it hard to accept. What sort of support is this! Ridiculous I must say. Let them remember that by insulting the present, you are also belittling the glorious past."

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