CRICKET
Tendulkar is hardly worried that India doesn't have a settled No. 4, saying the slot can be kept flexible as per requirement and match situation. However, he is not entirely happy with how the balance of ODIs is skewed towards batsmen, taking bowlers out of equation in white ball cricket with every passing day.
Stacking up staggering numbers with monotonic regularity may have become a day job for Virat Kohli, but he can in "no way" win a World Cup without support from his teammates, feels Sachin Tendulkar. In an exclusive interview with the PTI, Tendulkar spoke about a range of topics including Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal's role, the contentious No. 4 slot and how flat pitches in England is taking bowlers out of the equation.
"I think you will always have a couple of individuals stepping up every game but without team support, you can't do much. Just because of one individual, you can't win a tournament. No way. Unless, others chip in at every crucial stage. If that doesn't happen, there will be disappointment," Tendulkar said when asked if Kohli will carry the same burden like he did, specifically during the 1996, 1999 and 2003 editions.
Tendulkar is hardly worried that India doesn't have a settled No. 4, saying the slot can be kept flexible as per requirement and match situation. "I think we have batsmen, who can do the job. Number four is just a number and it can be adjusted. I particularly don't see No 4 as a problem. Our boys have played enough cricket to know their roles whether it is No 4, 6 or 8. Situational awareness is the key," the world's highest run-getter in Tests and ODIs said.
However, Tendulkar is not entirely happy with how the balance of ODIs is skewed towards batsmen, taking bowlers out of equation in white ball cricket with every passing day.
"It's become one sided with introduction of two new balls and flat pitches have made lives of bowlers much more difficult. One team is scoring 350 and the other is chasing down inside 45 overs," Tendulkar said in reference to the recent England versus Pakistan series where bowlers had a nightmarish time.
What Tendulkar finds even more disappointing is that reverse swing had been taken out of equation with two new balls. "The ball is staying hard. I mean when was the last time you saw reverse swing in ODIs?" questioned the iconic batsman. "When we played and there was one new ball, it would start reversing from 28th or 30th over. Some teams could get it to reverse even earlier. At the death, the ball would go soft, even get discoloured. These were challenges that batsmen faced. But now the ball remains hard and the bats are getting better," lamented Tendulkar, who played six World Cups.
Quality of the balls (white kookaburra in question) has also become a factor, felt Tendulkar, who sees no lateral movement on flat tracks to challenge the batsmen.
What's the solution then? He responded: "I think some thought needs to go into this. Either prepare helpful tracks if you have two new balls so that there is some help upfront. Or else go back to the old one new ball system which aids reverse swing. Whatever but do something for the bowlers." According to him, wrist spinners are the one breed of bowlers who will do well, and India have two in Kuldeep and Chahal.
The Australians read the duo quite well during the home series in India but the maestro said that it won't matter much in England.
"Let's understand this. There are a number of bowlers who have been read well by batters but yet they end up getting a lot of wickets. So Kuldeep and Chahal shouldn't be too worried about Australia series," he said, adding both will play a massive role during the middle overs. "Agreed the Aussies read them well but does that mean they wouldn't be committing mistakes or can't be forced to commit mistakes." For Tendulkar, the perfect example was Muttiah Muralitharan.
"Murali basically bowled two deliveries --- traditional off-breaks and doosra. It's not that batsmen never read Murali but he still ended up getting wickets," the 46-year-old said. "There is a thing called error in judgement and that can happen with best of batsmen. You may think ball would turn four inches but there is eight-inch turn. The distance between middling the ball and edging it is a mere deviation of less than two inches. Even when you know that an outswinger had been bowled, you still edge it," he said.
What Tendulkar liked about the composition of the World Cup-bound India team is the blend of youth and experience.
"There is a good balance in the side. We have a number of guys with 8-10 years of experience and at the same time we have talented youngsters like Kuldeep, Rahul, Chahal, Hardik (Pandya) and Jasprit (Bumrah) with a couple of years of international cricket. "So it's a perfect blend with all the makings of a wonderful team. I rate our chances very high," concluded Tendulkar.
West Bengal: 3 coaches of Shalimar Secunderabad Express derail near Nalpur station
Delhi-NCR update: No relief from pollution as AQI continues to remain 'very poor'
Viral video: Little girl's adorable dance to 'Ghani Bawri' wins hearts online, watch
Meet woman, sub-inspector's daughter who cracked UPSC exam in first attempt, Tina Dabi is her...
IND vs SA: Sanju Samson equals Rohit Sharma's massive feat, becomes Indian batter with most...
IND vs SA: Sanju Samson's century guides India to 61-run win over South Africa, lead series 1-0
DNA TV Show: Loudspeaker controversy erupts ahead of Maharashtra Polls
Another masterstroke by Mukesh Ambani, set to challenge Haldiram, Britannia
IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Sanju Samson creates history in Durban, becomes first Indian player to....
Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli make heads turn in Mumbai, watch
J-K: Police recover bodies of two village defence guards killed in Kishtwar terror attack
Bengaluru-Chennai expressway to slash travel time to 3 hours: 71-km stretch to open on...
Amid Champions Trophy row, India to face arch-rivals Pakistan on THIS date
BIG move by Gautam Adani, as Adani Power cuts Bangladesh supply by over 60% due to...
PM Modi attacks Congress in Nashik rally, says party wants to create rift among OBCs
Health Insurance Claim Process: A Step-by-Step guide
Ali Haider emerges as a young, driven digital disruptor with ConnectPR
ACIBADEM LabMed Laboratories ensures high standards in medical testing
THIS is world's highest-valued currency, not dollar, pound, euro
'Forgive me if...’: Justice DY Chandrachud's final message as Chief Justice of India
Watch: KL Rahul's brain fade leads to bizarre dismissal in India A vs Australia A match
Meme fest erupts after Biden delivers speech with smiling face, netizens say, 'He voted for Trump'
Viral video: Netizens react in shock as woman washes hair with toxic foam from Yamuna river, watch
How Trump’s ‘America First’ policy opens doors for India’s regional power
42-year-old retired player breaks silence on registering for IPL, says, 'I have never...'
'Main pairon mein gir gaya': Virat Kohli recalls memorable encounter with Sachin Tendulkar - Watch
Is kala namak really a detox? Shalini Passi swears by this simple health hack
BIG blow to Mukesh Ambani, as Reliance Industries loses over Rs 4 lakh crore in...
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph suspended for two ODIs; here's why
Himachal CM Sukhu's samosas, cakes served to security staff; CID probe on
'Conspiracy against Kashmir': PM Modi slams NC-Cong's Article 370 resolution
Meet Tamanna Bharat, who is all set to represent India at Miss Asia Global 2024 in Kerala
Bengaluru coconut vendor's viral ad challenges Zepto, Blinkit prices, netizen says 'let him cook'
Vvan: Sidharth Malhotra drops motion poster of folk mythological thriller, Kiara Advani reacts
Virat Kohli gets embarrassed as crowd sings 'Happy Birthday to you' in live event, WATCH viral video
Gym and fitness is all about overall health, not just good looks: BigMuscles Nutrition’s Suhel Vats
Station master's phone call with ex-wife led to Rs 3 crore loss to railways, know how
Uproar in J-K Assembly as BJP members protest over special status resolution
Aligarh Muslim University entitled to minority status under Article 30: SC
Collaborative global response a must to combat climate change effectively: Dr Sanju Purohit
Viral: Man rants about his GenZ colleague's leave to heal from breakup, gets trolled
Splitsvilla, Crime Petrol-fame actor Nitin Chauhaan passes away at 35 allegedly by suicide
Worrying signs for Mukesh Ambani's Rs 840960 crore company? Elon Musk will push Donald Trump to...
Have Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma moved back to Mumbai? Here's what we know
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani are fond of these five dishes which cost Rs...
Meet Indian-origin Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, who could be Donald Trump's likely pick for CIA Chief
Donald Trump's second term worries Elon Musk's transgender daughter, says....
Meet IAS officer, who was a disabled bangle seller, cracked UPSC exam, is now serving in...
Meet IAS officer, who is nemesis of criminals, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 36, she is...
SC to pronounce verdict on Aligarh Muslim University's minority status today
Happy Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones