13 years ago
Sachin Tendulkar awarded the Wisden India trophy for his hundred centuries in international cricket.
Century after Mumbai terror attacks is Sachin Tendulkar's 'personal favourite'
He has hundred international hundreds to his name but among all of them Sachin Tendulkar ranks his century against England in Chennai in 2008 as his personal favourite as it came after the Mumbai terror attacks.
He has hundred international hundreds to his name but among all of them Sachin Tendulkar ranks his century against England in Chennai in 2008 as his personal favourite as it came after the Mumbai terror attacks.
On balancing personal and professional lives: "I am still learning (laughs)... I am still learning to balance. One thing helps in that... I've known Anjali for a long time. She's seen my lifestyle, my various commitments and when there are cricket commitments, I don't look at my commercial commitments; I don't want to mix that, I just want to be focused on my game. And when it comes to spending time with my sponsors, I don't think about my practice sessions; when it's family time, it's family time. I believe it's about quality time, and not quantity time. And for that you need to switch on and switch off," says Sachin.
On his inspiration: "My father. Whatever I am today is because of him. When I got success at such a young age he told me, 'Success can fade away, the only thing that remains is your personality. So be a good human'. That has always remained with me," says Sachin.
His favourite 100: "Perth 1992 from cricket point of view. But personal favourite is the 100 vs England 3 years ago in Chennai because it came after the Mumbai attacks," says Sachin.
Sachin: "Mumbai was heartbreaking. But what disappointed me were the wrong headlines that appeared in a few newspapers - 'Sachin misses on his 100 again'. People conveniently forgot India had won the Test and I played a important part. Why discuss individuals when country comes first?"
When asked by Alan Wilkins, the host, if he is tired after making so many records and scoring so many runs, the master blaster said with a smile, "I think I can do better than this. It's been a joy to play cricket. And it's been a passion so you don't really count the number of hours spent on the field."
The 91 at The Oval in 2011: "I was batting well. Hit two boundaries in the first over. But got a rough decision," says Sachin.
Sachin: "I wanted to be like John McEnroe. I used to walk with headbands and wrist bands. So that people call me John McEnroe. But that didn't happen so I picked up a cricket bat."
Sachin: "There have been tough times too. You can't have a path without speed breakers. But all you need to do is change gears. My family has helped me during rough times. My wife Anjali, my brother Ajit because I can open up with them."
"It's good people expect things out of you otherwise it can get boring. But I don't feel people are putting pressure on me. In fact I feel they are with me," says Sachin.
On Yuvraj: "I just spoke to him a couple of days ago. He is shaping up well. Continue to pray for him."
Childhood cricket idols: "I grew up watching Sunil Gavaskar and he was all the way my idol. Then I started watching Viv Richards and was fascinated by him. So when I played in the nets and played a wrong shot my brother told me Gavaskar would never do that," says Sachin.
Speaking about his next series in England, Sachin on being asked whether he was sledged, says: "I was just 16, I was not suppose to understand what they were saying."
During the event, Sachin speaks about the bloody nose in Pakistan in his debut innings in 1989. He says, "It taught me it can't get worse so if I can face this, I can play international cricket.
Fidelis has organised a gala dinner to honour Sachin Tendulkar in Dubai. The gala dinner at the Inter Continental, Dubai Festival City is the first of the Celebration Series of events with 'An Evening with Sachin Tendulkar'.
