Sachin Tendulkar chooses to walk

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Sachin Tendulkar chooses to walk against Westindies image/photo

CHENNAI: Sachin Tendulkar did not get his 100th ton on Sunday but even his early dismissal was evidence of the integrity with which he has played the game for over two decades.

Against the West Indies on Sunday, Sachin decided to walk off despite being given not out by Australian umpire Steve Davies.

A quarterfinal place had already been sealed, Virender Sehwag was ruled out of the game, yet the MS Chidambaram Stadium was jam-packed an hour before the game started. When India won the toss, the excitement reached its peak, "Will Sachin get his 100th hundred here?"

Kemar Roach was not there and the West Indian attack wore a pedestrian look. The stage was nicely set up for Tendulkar and the 39,000 present at the ground went wild with anticipation when they saw the Little Master walking out to bat. But a Ravi Rampaul delivery in the very first over beat the champion and as the West Indian fielders appealed vociferously, umpire Davies nodded his head in disagreement. There was a sigh of relief in the stands but Tendulkar had other ideas. He turned back and started walking back as a stunned silence descended on the ground.

There have been many Tendulkar hundreds and many dismissals, but this was something out of the ordinary. Not too many players have walked when the stakes have been this high, the last being the legendary Aussie wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist.

"That is the greatness of the man. But I don't think this is the first time Tendulkar has walked...I have seen him doing it before," former India player WV Raman told TOI. "Sachin has always been a gentleman cricketer and if he believes in something, he will do it," Raman said.

From the various replays that were shown, it was difficult to gauge whether Tendulkar had actually got the nick. With the Hotspot not being in use for the World Cup, it was a possibility that even if the decision was referred, it could have gone in Sachin's favour!

Did Tendulkar forget about that and thought that he would be given out if it was referred? Former international umpire VK Ramaswamy said, "I don't think so. I have seen Tendulkar walking before. He had walked because he was convinced in his mind that he was out. He is an honest cricketer and he always believes in maintaining the spirit of the game."

Sachin, score your 100th ton in Chennai says chairman of selectors Srikkanth

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Chennai: Chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth has urged Sachin Tendulkar to score his 100th hundred here.

The M A Chidambaram Stadium which hosts Sunday's India vs West Indies game is one of Tendulkar’s happy hunting grounds. In a career spanning 22 international seasons, some of his most memorable Test knocks were played here.

However, Tendulkar has played just five one-dayer’s here, and is eyeing his maiden century. "This is one of his favourite venues, he always gets a lot of runs here. It would be a memorable moment if he can create history here and score his 100th century. My best wishes, as always, are with him. It'll be the ideal ground to get such a milestone, the city will party for days," Srikkanth, Tendulkar's first India captain, said. "There's something about Sachin and Chepauk. He always seems to play well here. This ground has gone through a lot of renovation, and I am sure he would enjoy entertaining the crowd here. It's easily one of the prettiest venues in the world. The ventilation is excellent and players won't feel exhausted or dehydrated like they used to before. Earlier, it used to get very hot here because of the concrete. But the renovation work has made life simpler for both spectators and players," he added.

Meanwhile, Srikkanth got nostalgic while recalling India's one-run defeat to Australia in the team's opening match of the 1987 World Cup here. Chasing 271, India collapsed from 207-2 to 269 all out. Navjot Singh Sidhu (73) and Srikkanth (70) took the hosts to a position of dominance until quick bowler Craig McDermott wreaked havoc. "It was the victory that gave Australia confidence to go further in the competition. We were clearly the favourites and should have won it hands down. Even though Australia scored 270, we were off to a blazing start. Sidhu and I dominated their bowlers, but we collapsed," said Srikkanth.

"The Aussies had no chance of beating us those days, but somehow they clawed their way back. There is some connection between Chennai and Australia, they always do well here. Dating back to the tied Test in 1986, they have had a love affair with Chennai. It was a great game, a cult classic, and it was after this win, that Allan Border and Co believed they were good enough. And the final result was there for all to see ” they went on to win the World Cup," signed off Srikkanth.

Pakistan openers should learn from Sachin Tendulkar : Wasim Akram

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  Former captain Wasim Akram has called on Pakistani openers to seek inspiration and learn from the exploits of Indian senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Wasim, who is on the World Cup commentary team, also expressed his frustration over Pakistan's performance against Zimbabwe on Monday.

The former fast bowler called on openers, Muhammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad to learn the art of batting and building an innings from Tendulkar.

The two openers have failed to provide a single decent start to the Pakistan team in five matches of the World Cup and Wasim felt both needed to rethink their approach to batting.

"They should learn from Tendulkar, look at him he is 38 plus and yet he is still going strong. He just plays normal cricket in the first ten overs and does not gift his wicket," Akram said.

"Tendulkar is a role model for many others and the Pakistani openers should learn from him how to build an innings and how to tackle dicey conditions. Look at Shahzad he is immensely talented but the moment the ball does a little movement he either starts shuffling across the line or moving in his crease and is gifting his wicket. Hafeez is also getting out constantly shuffling across," he explained.

Wasim said the Pakistani openers need to learn from Tendulkar that even in One-day cricket one needs to build an innings.

"Even if you have scored 50 odds runs in the first 12 or 15 overs and have wickets in hand you are in a good position. And Pakistan's strength is that if they have wickets in hand they can go for quick runs in the final overs," he said.

He pointed out that Tendulkar was still going strong as he stuck to the basics well and didn't try anything extraordinary.

"His hunger for runs is astonishing," Akram told Geo Super channel.

Sachin Tendulkar's 48th century goes in vain

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Sachin tendulkar 48th century video click here
This is the 13th time Sachin's century went in vain.Out of 48 centuries 13 has resulted in loss for India.
Gayle, out of 19 centuries 9 has been resulted in loss for them. 

Sachin Tendulkar 48th ODI century;(hundred) (100) (video):99th century (100)

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Sachin Tendulkar scored his 48th ODI century and 6th World Cup ton against South Africa in Nagpur. Tendulkar hit 111 off 101 which included eight fours and 3 sixes.
Sachin is 47 short off 18000 ODI runs
1 century short of completing that magic 100 centuries overall.


Sachin Tendulkar 48th ODI century;(hundred) (100) (video)

Pieter Seelaar rejoices after getting Sachin's wicket

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Pieter Seelaar rejoices after getting Sachin's wicket

Little-known Dutch spinner Pieter Seelaar made quite an impression with three wickets against India but for him, the most special of the those scalps was undoubtedly the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

India beat the Netherlands by five wickets in a Group B match last night but Seelaar did well for himself by scalping three big names in Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and the big-hitting Yusuf Pathan.

"To get these three wickets is special. Usually you don't bowl to that calibre of player. It gets the best out of you and I think it's a very good experience," Seelaar said after the match.

Asked which one of the three was the biggest for him, pat came the reply, "It's Tendulkar, mate."

"He is the best player in the world. To get his wicket was a very special moment for me and obviously I didn't know what I was doing at that particular moment. I'm very happy with Tendulkar's wicket," he added.

Pieter Seelaar getting Sachin's wicket:video

I am Sachin: Tendulkar introduces himself to blind children

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In a rare sight, Sachin Tendulkar on Friday introduced himself to a bunch of visually impaired children after the Indian cricket team's training session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"Hi, I am Sachin," the champion batsman, whose popularity knows no bounds in the cricketing world, said to a group of visually impaired children who came to the stadium to wish luck to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men ahead of their World Cup match against Ireland on Sunday.

"How old are you?" asked Tendulkar to one of the children. "I am 12 years old," pat came the reply.

"You are 12 years old and you are so strong," Tendulkar said with words of encouragement to the child. 

Sachin Tendulkar says no to honorary doctorate by a Bangalore university

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LIVE CRICKET CLICK HERE

BANGALORE: In a rare sight, Sachin Tendulkaron Friday introduced himself to a bunch of visually impaired children after the Indian cricket team's training session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"Hi, I am Sachin," the champion batsman, whose popularity knows no bounds in the cricketing world, said to a group of visually impaired children who came to the stadium to wish luck to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men ahead of their World Cup match against Ireland on Sunday.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar promises more aggression this World Cup(2011)

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As he opens the door to room number 2033 at the ITC Royal Gardenia hotel in Bangalore, the demigod who resides in it apologises for the mess inside. It is instantly evident that Sachin Tendulkar is every bit the unassuming man the world knows him to be.

“These guys are crazy,” Sachin Tendulkar says softly, referring to his mates in blue who are now often talking about winning the cup for him. “They just talk about gifting me something.”
The nation wants to win this World Cup — but this time, unlike his five earlier campaigns, they want it as much for him as they want it for themselves. Surely, this is Sachin’s last chance.
He doesn’t want to exaggerate his importance in India .s World Cup campaign, but the more he avoids talk on it, the more it returns to haunt him. “I just want to go out there and play. The rest is,” he looks up as if there is someone else who decides.
And through his gestures he makes it obvious that he just can’t wait to take it on.
Sachin Tendulkar tries an aggressive pose for the camera, but gives up. “It is all inside. It will come out when I am facing the ball,” he says thumping his chest. “You will definitely see a lot of aggression during this edition.”
If that statement is a hint of his strategy for the next 40-odd days, it will rouse the expectant nation that has only now, finally come to grips with his recent measured, cut-out-the-risks approach.
Could he go back to his old, swashbuckling ways?
“Sachin’s aggression will be crucial to India’s fortune this time,” says former all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath