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Ajit Wadekar talks of Sachin's pranks, belly dancers, sensible bowling and opening for India

Ajit Wadekar, who led India to maiden Test series wins in West Indies and England in the 1970s besides guiding Bombay to innumerable Ranji titles, has his witty way of saying stories.

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Former India captain Ajit Wadekar (right) with former Mumbai Ranji player Kiran Mokashi at the Legends Club in Mumbai on Friday to mark Sachin Tendulkar's 42nd birthday.
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Ajit Wadekar, who led India to maiden Test series wins in West Indies and England in the 1970s besides guiding Bombay to innumerable Ranji titles, has his witty way of saying stories.

On Friday, he had plenty of anecdotes to share about his close association with Sachin Tendulkar when he was manager of the Indian cricket team in the 1990s.

“I was trying to mentor a chap called Vinod Kambli, and I failed,” Wadekar began his address as the key speaker at the Legends Club of CCI. The occasion was the 42nd  birthday of a certain Sachin Tendulkar.

“We all know Sachin's records. We never expected that he would get that far when he started playing,” said Wadekar before beginning to narrate one anecdote after another.

“There was this incident in New Zealand. It was my birthday (April 1). We had a practice session and were to play against New Zealand two days later. We had a lovely net session and retired to bed as the next day was April Fool's Day and only I used to fool others. I was half asleep when at 12 midnight, Sachin was at my room door with a serious look on his face. I asked him why he knocked my door at such an odd hour and he said something was wrong with Kapil Dev. I wore my pyjamas and went to Kapil's room two floors away. When we entered the room, I saw the entire team with a cake and champagne bottled. I was shocked and surprised. Suddenly, from the connecting room, belly dancers, six of them, walked in and started dancing. I wondered this must have been Sachin's idea as Sunny (Sunil Gavaskar), though a commentator on that tour, was not to be seen. Sunny is famous for his pranks but this must have been Sachin's. I enjoyed the belly dancing and two pegs of champagne and before I realised, everyone started going out and I was suddenly left with one belly dancer. Being the manager of the team, I had to observe the code of conduct and retire to my room.”

The CK Nayudu Hall was left in splits before another story came from the former Indian left-handed batsman.

Wadekar always remembers Tendulkar as the one who would reach where people would not.

Recalling another instance, Wadekar said: “We were playing in Sri Lanka and he would come up with ideas. After team meetings, he would come to my room and have dinner so that he did not have to pay for it. On one such occasion, he came up with the idea of us starting to attack by bowling only on the middle and leg stump line. I said to him, 'if you can show me how one can bowl all six balls on middle and leg, I will take it seriously'. Next day, he did bowl six balls on middle and leg. That is Sachin Tendulkar. He is someone above all.”

Among the great examples of Tendulkar's presence of mind and the willingness to take the responsibility for the team's sake, his last over in the Hero Cup semifinal against South Africa in 1993-94 and the way he opened for the first time in ODIs in Auckland the same season are legendary. Wadekar was the manager on both the occasions and recalled them in his typical manner.

Over to Wadekar. "Before the Hero Cup semifinal against South Africa in Kolkata (then Calcutta), it was decided in the previous evening's team meeting that if it came to the last over and we were bowling second, it has to be Kapil Dev, the most experienced guy. As it turned out, South Africa needed six off the last over and captain Mohammad Azharuddin went to Kapil. Something was wrong with Kapil's shoulder and he was in terrible pain. Azhar was puzzled as to whom to give the last over. Even as Azhar was looking at the dressing room for instructions from me, Sachin had snatched the ball from his hand, set the field and started bowling. We happened to win that game by two runs and eventually the final."

About the events that led to Tendulkar opening for India for the first time ever, when he smashed 82 off just 49 balls with 15 fours and two sixes to help India to seven-wicket win at Eden Park. Wadekar recalled: "After warming up on the day of the match, we were discussing how to go about after the toss. Sachin had just finished his knock at the nets and came in. Sachin was always part of the team meeting, we used to consult him. Navjot Singh Sidhu turns up limping and said to me, 'sir, I just twisted my ankle and won't be able to play'. I did not know whom to send to open and was looking at Azhar and Kapil. Sachin said, 'sir, is it okay if I open?'. Azhar and Kapil nodded and the way it happened not just in that match but over the years, a good discussion had taken place that day."

While legend has it that Sidhu woke up with a stiff neck that morning, Wadekar revealed on Friday that it was an ankle injury that led to Tendulkar opening for the first time.

Wadekar also said that Tendulkar was very particular of his fitness. "When the decision to step down from ODIs came (in 2012), I thought what Vijay Merchant used to say. Vijaybhai used to say 'you retire when people ask 'why' and not 'why not'. Sachin could have played for another couple of years because he knew the game so well. But he also knew exactly well what fitness he had to do. Whenever he was not fully fit, he used to ask me, 'sir, would you risk me playing?' He was very particular on fitness. Age was telling on him."

It was an evening that was dedicated to the little man who brought joy to millions the world over in the near 25 years that he played for India. And importantly, influenced a generation of people not just in cricket but in all walks of life.

Wadekar had the last laugh when he wished Tendulkar many happiness in his family life, social life and political life.

 

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