The Hindu : Sport : ‘I don’t want to put any pressure on myself’

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Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
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Sport

Sport

‘I don’t want to put any pressure on myself’

Special Correspondent

London: The only time Sachin Tendulkar sounded a touch sharp during the media session here on Tuesday was when a journalist asked him about recent criticism.

How did he react to those saying he needed to look in the mirror? “I don’t think I need to respond to such things,” said Tendulkar.

Otherwise he answered thoughtfully and generously.

Excerpts:

Extremely special: The first time I saw Lord’s on TV was when India won here in 1983.

I was only 10 then, and did not know what was happening but I joined the celebration. So there are a lot of fond memories and one would definitely want to make the most of the outing here.

Lord’s hundred — players’ dream: I don’t want to put any pressure on myself. In Test cricket I have not been able to do that, but in the game between MCC and Rest of the World I managed to get one. I mean this i s the ground all the players dream of getting hundreds, I am no different. I would want to get one. May be three hundreds in all the Tests here.

Targets are a secret: I don’t set targets as such and I know vaguely what has to be done in a series, but I would not let that dominate rest of the things.

You want to keep your mind as free as possible and that is what is needed. Setting targets is important as you know what to contribute to the team.

I never disclose my targets as such. Certain things I keep to myself and not even my family knows about it.

Last tour of England? Looks like it is. God knows what is in store, but the previous tour was in 2002 and the next one may be 2011 or 2012, and that would take some doing. We can’t take tomorrow for granted. Right now, I want to concentrate on this series. I don’t want to divide my energy in various directions.

We have taken responsibility: Off the field you may have a lot of things, but on the field we seniors have always taken the responsibility.

It really does not matter who the captain really is, what matters is that the seniors and juniors get together and put up a good show.

Better player: There are changes obviously since my debut. Everybody wants to get better. I think I am a better player. When you play 17-18 years, you learn a lot of things and you experience a lot of things. The opposition gives out p articular signals and your experience helps you pick those signals and handle them.

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