Sport | Cricket
'Respect the senior pros'
When he was only 14, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar had sent him his pads and best wishes for the future.
- By D Datta, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:56 October 22, 2008
When he was only 14, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar had sent him his pads and best wishes for the future.
After 21-years, he had brought back both the world records of Gavaskar back in India - of being the highest run-maker in Test cricket and the man with the most number of hundreds.
Yet, Sachin Tendulkar confirmed that life has not changed a bit even after he had broken Brian Lara's record. Excerpts from an exclusive chat:
Gulf News: Has life changed after the 12,000-mark?
Tendulkar: Not at all! I am as I was before the world record. And I shall be the same.
At this hour, if you are to remember the first day of the first Test match you had played at Karachi...
It's almost 19 years now...feels good that I had survived all these years. As far as Karachi is concerned, I do remember that I had butterflies in the stomach!
I was just 16 and there were so many great cricketers around. But the excitement of playing for India for the first time was above every other thing. I remember those five days passed so fast...Lovely memories.
You have always been a perfectionist. After long 19 years of international cricket, would you say that perfection can be attained?
It's more important to adjust to the situations rather than being perfect. I mean, there were players who were not technically perfect, but they had done their job excellently, adjusting to the demands of the game. In international arena, you need to play the role assigned to you perfectly. Obviously, you should try to be as correct as possible, but first of all, you should be able to adjust to the demands of international cricket.
In the press conference following the world record, you said something about converting stones into milestones...
I was not thinking about myself only. I was thinking about all the senior cricketers present in the team. Honestly, I believe that the seniors deserve more respect.
In fact, there were too much talk on the seniors prior to the series...I think they had achieved a certain level because of the sweat and tears they had put in.
They did not take anything for granted, so nobody should put them down. They had been committed to their jobs. I believe people should show more respect to them.
How does it feel when somebody says something negative about them?
I would be disappointed if somebody says something about my heroes. I would definitely be hurt. I have seen things are said and written about Anil Kumble. He has been playing for the country for 18 years and look at his achievements. A player of his stature should never be subjected to what has been going on. That's what I feel.
They say region and religion is no bar for supporting Sachin Tendulkar. Your views...
I am fortunate enough to be able to bring people together. But one thing I must say, I have always been like what I am. There was never any conscious effort to do anything special. I did not have to try and change my attitude or behaviour.
How does it feel to be a
role-model?
It's because people appreciated my achievements, what I had done on and off the field. I am grateful to my followers who are thinking that way. I certainly feel I am blessed enough.
The legacy you would leave
behind...
See, this is not in my hand. It is something the new generation or the generations coming after will decide whether there was something special. If they find so, they will try to do the same. They can say whether my achievements would motivate them or not. I cannot say anything on it.
Any message for the youngsters...
Respect the game. When someone does so, the game will take him everywhere. To stay focused on whatever they are doing. The rest can take care of itself.
See also Page 69
ICC RANKINGS
SACHIN BACK IN TOP 20
Sachin Tendulkar, who had slipped to 24th place in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, his lowest position for 15 years, has clawed his way back again. The 35-year-old proved in Mohali that he was not finished yet and after his innings of 88 and 10 not out, has broken back into the top 20 batsmen and now sits in 19th position.
Tendulkar now has team-mates Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in his sights as both have lost ground in the latest rankings.
At the top, the news is not so good for Australia left-hander Michael Hussey, who has slipped from the No.1 perch to third position. His place has been taken by West Indies stalwart and ICC Cricketer of the Year 2008 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka moving up to second.
Ricky Ponting has dropped one place to fifth after scoring just seven runs in the match while Virender Sehwag (up one place to 10th) and Michael Clarke (up two places to 13th) enjoyed more success in the top 20.
Other big movers include Gautam Gambhir, who moves up eight positions to 29th place, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who progresses seven places to 37th, and Sourav Ganguly, now 23rd on the list.
- Staff Report
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