Tendulkar, Ganguly in Warne’s greatest Indian Test XI

The iconic Sachin Tendulkar was an expected pick for the No.4 slot while Sourav Ganguly was preferred in the leadership position in Australian spin legend Shane Warne’s greatest Indian Test XI.

Warne, who has been naming his preferred XIs from different countries on his facebook page, turned his attention to India in the latest post. The criteria for selection was that Warne must have competed against the selected players.

Not surprisingly, cricket’s highest run-scorer Tendulkar was Warne’s choice for the No.4 spot in his side. The opening slots went to Virender Sehwag and Navjot Singh Sidhu followed by the ever-dependable Rahul Dravid at No.3.

Tendulkar, who scored a whopping 15,921 runs with 51 hundreds in 200 Tests, was hardly a surprise. But Warne said he was left in a dilemma on whether to go for V.V.S. Laxman or Mohammad Azharuddin for the No.6 position.

“This was the hardest team to select as I played against a few legends at the end of their careers like Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, Ravi Shastri, Manoj Prabhakar as well as current players like Zaheer Khan too,” Warne wrote on his Facebook page.

“The Indian side I’ve selected is a very strong one & would be tough to play against. The hardest position to select for me was the number 6 spot between my great friend VVS or Azharuddin.”

The maverick bowler said it was this confusion which prompted him to name a 12-strong squad for India.

“Hence I named 12 and would choose the 12th man on the day!,” he said.

Also making the cut in Warne’s squad were legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev and current limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dhoni has not played international cricket against Warne but made the cut owing to the IPL face-offs between the two.

Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath formed the bowling attack of Warne’s line-up.

Warne’s Greatest India Test XI: Virender Sehwag, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, Kapil Dev, M.S. Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath (VVS Laxman 12th).

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Viru thanks Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble at BCCI felicitation

Retiring legend Virender Sehwag on Thursday thanked his former India captains Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble along with Sachin Tendulkar for their guidance during his illustrious international career.

The BCCI on Thursday formally felicitated Sehwag before the start of the fourth Test match against South Africa with secretary Anurag Thakur presenting him with a glittering trophy for his achievements.

Sehwag was accompanied by his mother Krishna Sehwag, wife Aarti and two sons Aryavir and Vedant during the short ceremony.

In his brief farewell speech, Sehwag thanked everyone from BCCI to DDCA to his first coach AN Sharma and Satish Sharma, who first picked him for Delhi U-19s.

“I want to thank my father for allowing me to play the game of cricket and give me freedom to do whatever I wanted to. All my coaches, especially A.N. Sharma for making me the cricketer I am,” the 37 year old said.

He also had words of gratitude for his close friends, including Delhi U-19 coach Raju Sharma.

When it came to the captains, Sehwag said: “I want to thank my first captain Ajay Jadeja and other captains Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble. I want to thank Sachin Tendulkar.”

There was no mention of Dhoni, though, under whom he played for the national team for almost six years.

Sehwag also mentioned about the contribution of the physios and trainers during his 14-year long career.

In the end, he thanked the fans for “making him Sehwag”.

“I would like to thank all my fans for standing by me in my good and bad times,” he said.

While DDCA is yet to name a stand or gallery, the BCCI has temporarily named the far-end stand at the Ambedkar Stadium end as “Viru 319” after the batsman’s highest Test score.

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I haven’t travelled in a Mumbai local since 1988, says Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketer, and Sachin Tendulkar, the human being. In his first interview to a publication after his tour of the United States where he organised the Cricket All-Stars tournament featuring yesteryear greats of the game, Tendulkar opened up like never before to The Hindu: about life after retirement, his children, his love for Mumbai, and how he plans to give back to his country.

What explains the fact that the former India cricket captain continues to occupy India’s collective consciousness even without that heavy willow? Happily retired but just as busy as any other 42-year-old, Tendulkar says he is experiencing the other joys of life, like cooking for his family, catching up with friends, and taking his beloved game to the U.S., a country where cricket is not popular. But he knows there’s no escaping the pressures of fatherhood, especially because his kids are in their teens. “I haven’t travelled in a Mumbai local since 1988,” he said.

As much as he is synonymous with cricket, Tendulkar is tantamount to Mumbai. Yet, thanks to his immense fan following ever since he burst on the city’s cricketing landscape three decades ago, Tendulkar’s movements in his beloved city have been restricted. And he has no qualms about it.

In a freewheeling chat with The Hindu, Tendulkar opens up on his relationship with Mumbai, its rich cricket legacy and how despite two years of his retirement, he still cannot spend as much time with his children as he would have liked to.

It’s been a little over two years since you made that very emotional thanksgiving speech at the Wankhede Stadium on November 16, 2013. Do you still think about that speech/have you kept those pages?

I have kept the page. I had just written the names of all the people I wanted to thank and did not want to miss anyone out.

During that speech you said your father told you there are no short cuts to life and to success…

Yes, my father did tell me that there are no short cuts to success in life, while I have passed on these to my children as a guiding principle I have also endeavoured to not pressure my children much in the same way that my family did not pressure me. Family is key to an individual’s success and we must always be supportive and less judgmental on our children’s achievements. I am happy with any result as long as my children have done their best and know that we support them.

You mother must be obviously thrilled that you spend more time at home…

Yes she is happier as I get to spend more time with her. Although my travel has increased but they are shorter trips, so I get to return sooner and spend time with family.

Do your children still complain that you don't spend enough time with them? How do you deal with their teenage tantrums?

My children have never complained and have been very understanding of my career’s demands on my time. It is ironic though that when I have time now, my kids have grown and are busy with their schedules. However, whatever time we manage to spend together is really enjoyable and it is wonderful to hear what’s going on in their lives.

Sara and Arjun are now teenagers. How do they cope with being the children of Sachin Tendulkar?

Sara and Arjun were born into it, so I guess for them it’s normal to be Sachin Tendulkar’s kids. They haven’t known anything else to compare it with so they haven’t really had to cope with it. There have been a few funny incidences. When Arjun was around six-seven years old, he pushed a boy who criticised me for getting out early in a match, and Sara saying that even her father’s name is Sachin Tendulkar while discussing a news item about me during her nursery days.

Can you share your thoughts on Arjun’s development as a cricketer? Do you like to see him as a left arm-seamer or a batsman?

I don’t think it is appropriate on anyone of us to anticipate what he is likely to become. I think it is best not to pressure children or youngsters at the age that Arjun is currently at. Since he has taken up cricket, something that I know a fair bit about, I am there to answer all his questions and share my knowledge with him and we have long discussions about the game. But, I don’t pressure him and feel he should be allowed to enjoy his game and allowed to become whatever he wishes to become as long as he is doing his best. If that’s a seamer or a batsman, it remains completely at his discretion.

Do you cook for your family?

Yes, actually I do cook at times for my family, but this is usually only on my holidays due to paucity of time. I hope I cook well so you would have to ask my family on how they like the taste.

How much time have you spent with your friends post retirement. There must be many close friends?

I get to spend time with my friends, we get together at regular intervals and I make it a point to spend time with them during special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

How much do you think you about Mumbai cricket?

My development as a cricketer happened in Mumbai, from the colony to the maidans and eventually playing for the Mumbai squad amongst the stalwarts of Indian cricket. It was the best grooming I could have asked for. Even the foundation was extremely solid and the Mumbai club culture is a great budding ground for any young cricketer to blossom.

Do you miss the chant sachin, sachin, sachin...was it there during the three matches in the US recently?

(Smiles) I don’t actually miss this because people have never let me miss this aspect of my life. People all over the world have always showered me with utmost love and affection, which was again evident at US when we played three matches and the chants had returned. Anywhere I go, whether it is to the village in Andhra Pradesh or to a brand launch, people are always showering me with this kind of love and it reminds me of how kind God has been to me.

What does it mean to watch Centre Court matches at Wimbledon virtually every year?

I get invited to the Royal Box each year and I thoroughly enjoy watching tennis at Wimbledon. The experience of watching tennis at Wimbledon is unparalleled. I have followed tennis closely since childhood and among racquet sports it is my favorite.

What are your views on DRS?

DRS as a system is aiming to achieve perfection in decision-making. However, I believe that the use of technology should be standardized, regardless of which board you are playing under. Any system that brings accurate decision-making closer to 100% perfection should be supported.

What do you make of playing with a pink ball?

I haven’t played with a pink ball yet. But I am all for experimenting and innovating, so I think it should be tried out. They will need to test it in a few games to see how the evening conditions affect the pink ball. The Test conditions could be dramatically different under lights at some of venues.

How was it like winning the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai?

It was an amazing experience. Whenever I played for Mumbai, it was a special feeling. I have fond memories of my entire career as a Mumbai player. In fact, some of my best moments in cricket have been playing for Mumbai. Of course most of the team-mates were also close friends who I had grown up with, which made it all the more special. My last Ranji match at Lahli was an incredible experience and I am glad that I was fortunate to play a key role in that game. It was always special playing as a senior member as I enjoyed guiding youngsters and I have fond memories of my Ranji days.

What do you feel about India’s current batting line-up? Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Virat, Rohit, Ajinkya...

They are certainly the future of Indian cricket as they are extremely talented and age is also on their side. They will undoubtedly be playing together for a long time to come. I know Ajinkya for a long time. I like his work ethic. He has been a committed cricketer and his growth rate has been tremendous. I think we have a very capable young line-up.

Despite the interest and the money spent in fast bowling academies, we don't have a devastating fast bowler in our team. All other major teams have at least one. Why does India lag behind in terms of speed?

I think this is a misconception. India does and has produced quality fast bowlers who can bowl above 140kph consistently. I have played with plenty of guys in the ’90s who bowled consistently over the 140 range. And even today we have Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav who are all internationally acknowledged fast bowlers. The perception only exists in our minds, but I humbly disagree that we lag in terms of speed, as our bowlers have won matches abroad at places such as Perth, Durban and Lord’s. We tend to forget the performances of our bowlers when we have beaten the bowlers you have mentioned in their backyards.

When was the last time you travelled by the local train?

I think the last time I travelled in a train was between Delhi and Dehradun for a short holiday about six years ago. Otherwise, I haven’t travelled in a Mumbai local train since 1988.

Do people allow you to shop, eat, etc, when you go out in Mumbai?

I have not gone out casually in Mumbai in over 25 years, whether it is to shop or eat at a roadside stall. I do go out now but everything has to be pre-planned. Due to the love of our people, usually a crowd gathers whenever I go out. I have no complaints about it, this love of the people has given me everything.

Do you miss Mumbai street food? If you were able to eat the city’s street food without the fear of being mobbed, what would that be? Bhel? Sev Puri? Vada Pav? Pav Bhaji? Samosas?

I certainly miss going out with my friends and eating at roadside stalls but there are few people who help me by supplying these dishes at home. I do enjoy eating out once in a while but have no specific preferences on the dishes mentioned, as I love all of them equally in different ways.

How has been the response from the fans for your biopic? Has it been decided?

The response has been overwhelming; the fans have sent a lot of suggestions for the title. The title has not been decided as of now but we have got some great options to decide.

Any plans to write another book, maybe one in Marathi?

Not for any time soon. The first one was quite time consuming and took a lot of energy out of me to complete. One has to recollect every minute detail of my past with statistics and small anecdotes and doing it again would be quite taxing.

Are you a movie buff? Can you tell us your top three in English, Hindi and Marathi?

I watch movies in all the three languages. I generally watch a lot of movies and picking top three favorites would be extremely difficult as I have so many favorites over the years.

You have not started writing columns. Are you interested in donning the hat of a media expert?

Actually I have written a few columns in the past for a magazine during the 2011 ICC World Cup. It all depends on the appropriate opportunity and the time.

Which are your most favourite Marathi, Hindi and English songs?

Again, there are many songs over the years that have been there with me and with which I have a lot of personal memories. It also keeps changing with time. I listen to a lot of music and thoroughly enjoy music from the ’70s onwards as good music always stays with you. I don’t have any particular preference in genres. I listen to pretty much all kinds of music.

All time favourite male and female voice?

Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi as male singers. Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are my favourites as female singers.

Favourite Hollywood and Bollywood actors?

Amitabh Bachchan and Robert De Niro.

Favourite destination, in India and overseas?

Mumbai undoubtedly is my favourite city in India and London internationally.

You continue to be associated with top brands even after your playing days. How special is it to be in the collective consciousness of the masses even as a retired cricketer?

It is really special to be associated with brands of high repute. I can only thank my fans for the kind of love they shower me with, which enables these associations. If I think a brand has some value and is true in its value proposition to the end consumer I decide to associate with the brand.

You gave so much to India during the 25 years that you played, but the amazing thing is that you are not done. You continue to give back to the society in many ways. Can we say that Sachin, the retired cricketer, desires to do much more for a better India than Sachin, the cricketer, did for 25 years?

In the first innings of my life I did not get the time to do much of what I wanted. Now that I am retired, I am trying my bit to do something for the people who have given me so much love in life. The village adoption is one such instance where I realized that a lot that we take for granted is simply not present for a village in terms of basic infrastructure. So I thought something can be done in that aspect when the Prime Minister announced SAGY (Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana). Similarly light and electricity is something we take for granted again in cities, so the value of one light is something we do not know if we were villagers who have no access to the grid.

Spreading Happiness tries to bridge this gap albeit in a small way by providing portable solar lighting to villages that don’t have grid access. Small steps I guess can slowly make a difference, so my desire which was always there has got some wings now after many years. I just hope I can continue this and do much more in the next few years.

Tendulkar and Apnalaya, and other charities. What does it mean to you in life – Apnalaya plus Spreading Happiness?

I have always strived to impact lives of the underprivileged in the country and have been providing support in whatever way possible. It is fulfilling to see a smile when a child gets an opportunity or a lady gets light in the house even after sunset. Apnalaya works with the underprivileged in the worst slums of Mumbai and Spreading Happiness tries to provide portable lighting to homes, which have no access to the grid. They are both small initiatives but extremely close to my heart and I do my bit to support them and some other causes from time to time.

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Sachin was clearly ahead of his time but did not grow as I wanted him to’

Kapil Dev is pained that his compliment to Sachin Tendulkar has been misinterpreted and led to widespread criticism.

He recalled the “Kapil can’t get another Test fifty” remark from Sunil Gavaskar. “It was for my good. He was challenging me to raise my game. I got a fifty in the next match (a sterling 79-ball 69 in his next innings at Bombay against Pakistan) and one more two Tests later (a 98-ball 84 and 11 wickets as India beat Pakistan at Chennai too).

“Gavaskar used to say that I should have scored 5000 runs more than what I did. In hindsight, I agree I should have taken my batting seriously. But importantly, I didn’t take Gavaskar’s remark in the wrong sense. He challenged me and I accepted it.”

“Needless is the word. Sachin, I’ve always said, was a fabulous cricketer and more talented than Viv (Richards). He had the calibre to be as ruthless, or more, but did not deliver as much as I had expected. He got 100 international 100s but his potential was greater.”

“How else could I have described him? He was an underachiever and that I maintain was a compliment. He could have done better. Am I wrong?”

Digging into the past, Kapil recalled, “He was just about making waves and I was up against him. He drilled me over mid-off for a six. I was stunned. He hit me as if I was an off-spinner and I marvelled at his talent.

“Sachin was clearly ahead of his time but he did not grow as I wanted him to grow. I loved the Sachin of Sharjah 1998 when he clubbed the Australians. His dominance was complete and stroke-play so imperious. He made good bowlers look ordinary, could hit boundaries at will but that Sachin was lost somewhere as his career progressed.”

Praise for Mumbai cricket

As for the remark on Mumbai cricket and cricketers, Kapil explained, “I would be silly if I doubted their caliber. Has Bombay not won 40 Ranji Trophy titles and 15 in a row? What an awesome record!

Players from outside Bombay learnt to be professional from them.

The Bombay batsmen believe in playing correct cricket — technically supreme, no reverse sweeps or upper cuts. But the game has changed. You have to be ruthless now.

With the exception of Sandeep Patil and to some extent Vinod Kambli, Mumbai has not produced ruthless cricketers. Now we have Ajinkya (Rahane) and Rohit (Sharma) batting differently, wanting to dominate.”

Elaborating on his views on Mumbai cricket, “I respect Mumbai cricket and cricketers. They laid the base for the growth of Indian cricket but the game has changed and it is time we all realized and accepted it.

“We also need to rise above petty regionalism. Mumbai is mine too. We would like to see Mumbai cricket and cricketers to move on. It is not about Mumbai, Haryana or Delhi.. It is about Indian cricket... Also, (Ajit) Wadekar Sir should please understand that I am a true Indian and Mumbai is part of us. I am a Bombaywalah too.”

Remembering an anecdote with noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, he said, “I told him once I would have been more successful if I had worked harder because I got so much affection from my countrymen. He said an 80-year-old man could have lived to be 100 had he cared more for his body.”

“There comes a time when one says enough is enough. In Sachin’s case it was never enough.”

“He was worth much more and that is what I meant.”

“Does he not call me Paaji? Can an elder brother not say what he feels about his younger brother? I did precisely that.”

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Pain of not getting farewell game shall always remain: Sehwag

Virender Sehwag, who has recently called time on his glorious international cricket career, says the sadness of being “deprived of a farewell game shall always remain” in his mind.

“Had the selectors told me that they were going to drop me, I could have requested them to allow me to play my last Test in Delhi and then announce my retirement, but they did not give me that opportunity.

“A sort of sadness shall always remain in my mind that I was not allowed to retire while playing, but anyway, it’s all a part of life for a sportsman, who, while playing, never realizes when he should retire, but he starts thinking about it when he is dropped,” Sehwag said.

The explosive batsman made 23 Test centuries and 15 tons in ODIs.

“I would like to ask: Should not a player who has played 12 to 13 years for his country, deserves a farewell match?”

On organizers planning to give him a farewell during the forthcoming Test in Delhi between India and South Africa starting December 3, Sehwag said: “If that is so, it will be good. If BCCI cannot organised, at least DDCA should do. It’s not a question of me alone, every player who retires should get a farewell.”

The former opener said there should be fixed criteria for selection of players, whether senior or junior.

“If a player fails to perform in four or five consecutive matches, he should be dropped irrespective of whether he is a senior or a junior player,” he said.

Sehwag recounted an incident involving Australian player Michael Clarke.

“I and Sachin were batting in Australia. Michael Clarke had been inducted fresh. He was frequently telling Sachin ‘you’re too old, you can’t field, you can’t do this, you can’t do that’ I went up to Clarke and asked his age. He said, 23. I told him Tendulkar has made more centuries than your age”.

The 37-year-old further said, “Had India played two more Test series against Pakistan, I could have completed 10,000 Test runs. I have made 8,586 Test runs. We stopped playing home series or away series against Pakistan since 2006. If you see my batting averages particularly against Pakistan, you will find my batting averages between 90 and 100.”

Asked why he had been prolific in his performances particularly against Pakistan, Sehwag said, “It’s because of rivalry between both countries in sports. The grounds are always full, and the expectations among fans are high. This is because Pakistan was earlier a part of undivided India, that’s why the rivalry is big and everybody becomes excited.”

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Sachin didn’t do justice to his talent: Kapil Dev

Former India captain Kapil Dev says the iconic Sachin Tendulkar “did not know how to make double hundreds, triple hundreds and 400 though he had the ability” to scale such peaks and was “stuck in the Mumbai school of cricket”.

“Don’t get me wrong, but I think Sachin didn’t do justice to his talent. I always thought he could have done much more than what he did,” Dev was quoted as saying by the ‘Khaleej Times’.

“He (Sachin) got stuck with Bombay cricket. He didn’t apply himself to the ruthless international cricket. I think he should have spent more time with Vivian Richards than some of the Bombay guys who played just neat and straight cricket.

“Sachin was a much better cricketer but somewhere along the line he just knew how to score hundreds. He didn’t know how to make it a double hundred, or a triple or even 400s,” added the 1983 World Cup winning India captain.

The great all-rounder, under whose captaincy India won its maiden World Cup in 1983, said he would have advised Tendulkar to play like Virender Sehwag.

“He (Sachin) had the ability. He was technically sound but I felt he was there to get his hundred and that’s it.

Unlike Richards, Sachin wasn’t ruthless, he was more of a perfect, or rather correct cricketer. Had I spent more time with him I would have told him ‘go enjoy yourself, play like Virender Sehwag’. You will be a much better cricketer.”

The 56-year-old Dev made these remarks before a select crowd at the Cove Beach Club at Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai alongside three other cricketing icons — Shane Warne, Wasim Akram and Ian Botham.

Spin legend Warne remarked that Tendulkar was special.

“He is a wonderful player and in my 20-odd years of playing, he is the best batsman that I played against. The expectations he was under and the skill he had against fast and spin. The way he judged the balls. He was great for the game of cricket and he was a fantastic and wonderful player.

He dominated bowlers in the mid-90s and he was just outstanding against any bowler. He also played exceptionally well against Australia,” said Warne.

“I now see Sachin’s different side as I am now doing business with him. He is a wonderful friend,” he added.

Pace bowling great Akram regretted for having played much against Tendulkar.

“One of the regrets Waqar Younis and I had as a bowler is that we never played Test cricket against Tendulkar for nearly 10 years,” he said.

“We played against Sachin when he made his debut in 1989 when he was 16 and then, we played Tests against Sachin in 1999 in India. As Warne said, he was the best in the game and 100 international hundreds speaks volumes of his talent.”

When the former greats were asked to name the best they had played against, Kapil said: “I think Viv in my time is the best I have seen. More than his cricket, it was the way he played the game and his attitude. I loved to take his wicket all the time.”

Botham echoed similar sentiments: “Viv Richards is certainly the best player I have seen in all formats of the game. I don’t think there has been anyone better. I remember in Old Trafford we left him in the raps and Michael Holding came out to bat and 200 runs later, Richards was 189 not out — which was obscene. You bowl him outside the off stump with a packed field, and he will flick you into the grandstand on the leg side. He never read the MCC coaching annual.”

Akram added: “When I started out, it was the great Viv Richards and the Little Master Sunil Gavaskar. I got out him out only once. In the 90s, it was (Brian) Lara and Tendulkar.”

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