Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly remembers his best moments with the Little Master, who turns 40 on Wednesday. Ganguly feels no cricketer will emulate Tendulkar's 100 international centuries in the next 50 years!
Audio Interview to BBC :
Sourav Ganguly Talks to BBC on Sachin Tendulkar - Sachin at 40:
Audio Interview to BBC :
Sourav Ganguly Talks to BBC on Sachin Tendulkar - Sachin at 40:
As Sachin Tendulkar turns 40, BBC 5 live sport speaks to those closest to him about what makes him so good, what he means to India, and how much longer he's got left in the game.
" The Hunger Will not Go Away " - Sourav Ganguly & Rahul Dravid on Sachin:
Exclusive Interview to The Telegraph on Sachin :
By LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI :
Calcutta: Sourav Ganguly spoke to The Telegraph exclusively on Sachin Tendulkar.
Owing to an illness in the family, the one-on-one, on Tuesday, had to be kept somewhat brief.
Incidentally, Sourav and Sachin still hold the record for the maximum 100-plus partnerships in ODIs — 21.
Sourav quit playing for India in late 2008, Sachin is now only available for Test cricket.
The following are excerpts
You turned 40 last July... Just how different did you feel that day and thereafter?
Maybe, had I still been playing, I would have felt a little different. Sachin’s bound to feel differently, for he’s playing and, so, needs to continue doing things which active sportsmen need to do.
Did you, in any way, take fresh guard?
No.
Is 40 just a number?
Depends on the individual... For me, it was just another birthday last year. Turning 40 didn’t mean anything very special.
In a few hours, Sachin turns 40...
I hope he has a good match (for the Mumbai Indians against the Kolkata Knight Riders) and I hope he has a good year.
What will you tell Sachin on Wednesday?
I’ll wish him a good year ahead.
You’ve known Sachin for over two decades. Has he changed as a person?
Sachin has changed, but I don’t mean in any negative way... He’s more mature and, with maturity, comes better handling of responsibilities. I suppose one’s thought process changes a bit on turning 40.
How?
At 40, the exuberance of youth isn’t there and, being more mature, you probably react to situations better.
What’s the one quality which stands out the most in Sachin?
On and off the field, he’s aware of situations and always knows how to respond to them.
You’ve had such a long association with Sachin... Where cricket memories go, what comes to mind instantly?
There are so many memories... We played together in over 100 Tests and, possibly, 300 ODIs... I can’t pick and choose... But to talk of Sachin as a person, well, his humility stands out.
Will you be at the Eden on Wednesday evening?
I think so.
Finally... Many believe that life begins at 40. What’s your take?
(Laughs) Life begins at every stage... At 20, at 30, at 40... The only difference, perhaps, is that one reacts to situations in a better way.
©TheTelegraph
Sourav Ganguly's TRIBUTE to Sachin - OUTLOOKINDIA :
Sachin and I go back a real long way. The first time I met Sachin was at an under-14 camp at Indore. Both of us were 13, Sachin eight months younger, and we were there at the camp conducted by Vasu Paranjpe under the aegis of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. Sanjay Jagdale, the current BCCI secretary, was instrumental in putting the camp together. The first thing I noticed was that the curly-haired boy from Bombay just loved to bat. He was the first at the nets and just kept batting. Such was his passion and intensity that Vasu had to eventually pull him out on occasions. Sachin would just bat, bat and bat. At the camp itself, everyone was talking about him and it was apparent to us all that he was blessed with special talent. He would hold the bat lower than the norm; this would mean that he’d not feel the pressure of his heavy bat. He already had all the shots in the book and timed the ball beautifully.
Read the Entire Column at OUTLOOKINDIA : Straight Batting Tales
