The icon spoke to selected reporters on the day of the launch of his autobiography
The famous quartet of Indian batting Rahul Dravid (from left), Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar at the latter's book launch in Mumbai on Wednesday. - Rajesh Jadhav
Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar continues to inspire awe in India even after a year into his retirement from cricket. It’s impossible to conceive a bigger sports star in the country. The icon spoke to select reporters on the day of the launch of his autobiography.
Q) Motivation behind the book ?
I just wanted to share my life with everyone. It is impossible to share each and everything that has happened in my life but what matters is making sincere efforts in sharing my thoughts. So I just wanted to play it my way.
Q) Toughest part of writing the book ?
It was the relationship between Anjali and me. I have always kept that close to my heart and very few guys know about it including my family and her family.
Q) Controversies in the book?
All I have said is the truth. The book has everything. There are some funny incidents. There are also so called controversial things.
Q) Why did you never take a stand on major issues?
I have taken a stand on issues about which I was 100 per cent sure. I never spoke about things about which I didn’t have first-hand information. I didn’t want to make loose statements.
Q) Are you disappointed with how things turned out under Greg Chappell?
I remember precisely the first two tours I missed and there was controversy in Sri Lanka and in Zimbabwe. I wasn’t there on both those tours. Driving back from Mohali after playing the Challenger Trophy, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, possibly Harbhajan Singh and a couple of guys told me that they weren’t comfortable under Greg. I clearly told them he has joined us and we should be accommodate him and give him a chance. I said we should let him settle down, for any coach takes time to settle down. Later I realised the players were right.
Q) Why do you think Greg behaved the way he did?
I don’t know. I wish I could understand what he was trying to do.
Q) Didn’t you tell Dravid that Chappell wanted you to take over captaincy from him?
No. As far as I was concerned the matter was over right there because I didn’t accept captaincy.
Q) How tough was it writing about your team mates?
I don’t think there should be any problem because I am not hurting anyone. Whatever I have stated in my book I have been transparent with my team mates so I don’t think there was any animosity in the team. Except the Greg comment, everything was known to all.
Q) Are you surprised that Greg has said you are lying?
Anjali was with me then, so I need not say more.
Q) On Ian Chappell’s comments?
I don’t think much about him. I showed him the size of the mirror in the VB Series in 2007, so I don’t need to go out and prove to anyone. Sometimes I feel people are given too much importance. The guy asking me to stand in front of the mirror has possibly failed more times. I didn’t want to respond to that and fortunately by God’s grace my bat did that.
Q) Did he say sorry?
I don’t want that. But I spoke my mind to him when I met him in Durban in 2010 when I working out in a gym and he said "this is the secret of your success" and I said "you have conveniently changed sides" and I have put that in my book. Nitin Patel was standing next to me when I told him that.
Q) On the Mike Denness controversy ?
I remember when we met after the game, somebody told me after the game that they had asked 7-8 guys including myself to come. I was shocked to learn that it was about ball tampering. I didn’t know how to respond to the enquiry because I didn’t remember anything like that had happened. I also asked the umpires if they had found any change in the condition of the ball and the umpires said "no nothing at all" and they had not lodged any complaint to the match referee. I went to the match referee and told him that I was just cleaning the seam. He told me I should have told the umpires. I learned a lesson from that incident and from then on I would always tell the umpires when I was about to clean the ball.
Q) On the Barbados Test loss ?
It hurts. I remember having sleepless nights. I cried. I didn’t cry in front of everyone.
Q) Why did you quit captaincy ?
It started affecting me as a person. And every defeat hurt me even off the field. When I was back with my family I couldn’t switch off as I would be constantly thinking about it. Then I felt cricket wouldn’t be taken away from me if I played under some other captain.
Q) On why he couldn’t deliver as captain?
I never believe in criticising the players I have played with. If you go back and look at the scoreboard that itself would give a lot of explanations.
( Source : dc )
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