‘Only time I doubted myself’: Sachin recalls facing lethal Akram-Younis-Imran line-up in 1st Test

[MenInG]

The only time I doubted myself in my entire career was in the first Test match I played, against Pakistan’s (cricket players) Wasim (Akram), Waqar (Younis), Imran (Khan) and (Abdul) Qadir,” legendary Indian batsman and former cricket team captain Sachin Tendulkar, said in an interview published in the Hindustan Times .

“After I got out in the first innings, I came back to the dressing room and asked myself whether I was good enough to handle this level of cricket,” he said.

Tendulkar added: “I questioned myself because I didn’t realise that I was playing possibly the leading attack in the world at that time”, going on to explain that “if I had played against a side that didn’t have a great fast-bowling attack, I could have still handled it, but I was exposed to express pace and I had not experienced that. Nobody had… At age 16, it was an acid test”.

The cricket legend who turned 50 Monday, was referring to a 15 November, 1989, match when India and Pakistan played each other in Karachi. Tendulkar had made his debut at the match, when he was only 16 years old.

In the second Test, he said, he did not look at the scoreboard, but only took stock of time. This worked for him and helped him score 59 runs.

Despite his initial misgivings, Tendulkar went on to play for India for 24 years, captained the national cricket team between 1996 and 2000, and came to be regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

He also became the highest run-scorer in both One Day International (ODI) and Test cricket and earned the title of ‘Master Blaster’.

Winner of numerous national awards, the cricket icon was nominated to the Rajya Sabha after having retired from all forms of cricket in November 2013, after playing his 200th Test match.

When asked if it was difficult to say goodbye to cricket after representing his country for 24 years, Tendulkar said that “it wasn’t”.

Explaining his decision to retire, Tendulkar said that one day, during an ongoing Champions League (Twenty20 tournament), he missed a couple of training sessions.

“I didn’t practice, I didn’t go to the gym. And I had never done that in my life before,” he said.

“It made me wonder whether my body and mind were telling me that these things didn’t matter anymore. I was comfortable sitting in my room and watching TV,” he said, adding that this was when he discussed the thought of retirement with his brother and wife.

“It is all about the experience, and that last experience was wonderful for me. I would not change it for the world,” said Tendulkar, calling himself a “content athlete”.

https://theprint.in/india/only-time...ram-younis-imran-line-up-in-1st-test/1535808/

 

[Saj]

What an attack that was.

Compare that to our bowling attacks of late.

Those were the days.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Sachin is quite a dull character and his interviews and statements usually present zero insights.

The only time in a 200 test career that involved multiple highs and lows, he ever doubted himself was on his test debut? ok mate.

 

[Major]

Sachin is quite a dull character and his interviews and statements usually present zero insights.

The only time in a 200 test career that involved multiple highs and lows, he ever doubted himself was on his test debut? ok mate.

Another thing, he tries to make cliche statements aswell.
To be fair, the guy wasnt really that much educated that you expect detailed answers from.

I was also wondering that if you are not gonna doubt yourself during your debut game than when?

 

[Champ_Pal]

Another thing, he tries to make cliche statements aswell.
To be fair, the guy wasnt really that much educated that you expect detailed answers from.

I was also wondering that if you are not gonna doubt yourself during your debut game than when?

You need to read the OP again. Tendu said he could have handled lesser attacks on his debut. But facing Akram and Waqar is very different. They are the best in the world and their pace will not let a teenager settle. Until then Tendu must have played school boy attacks and trundlers from Indian team.

 

[Major]

You need to read the OP again. Tendu said he could have handled lesser attacks on his debut. But facing Akram and Waqar is very different. They are the best in the world and their pace will not let a teenager settle. Until then Tendu must have played school boy attacks and trundlers from Indian team.

the next odi Tendu played, he ended up getting out for 0 only facing two balls of Shane Thompson. So it didnt really matter who was at attack as on debut you are most likely to suck

 

[Mamoon]

Sachin is quite a dull character and his interviews and statements usually present zero insights.

The only time in a 200 test career that involved multiple highs and lows, he ever doubted himself was on his test debut? ok mate.

You can’t hold more batting records than anyone else in history of the game if you are a self-doubter. Having highs and lows, peaks and troughs and doubting whether you are good enough or not are completely different things.

It is understandable and completely believable if playing Wasim and Waqar on his debut was the only time he questioned if he was good enough. When he had lows later in his career he backed himself to fight back and never questioned his capability.

Elite sportsmen have immense self-belief. Tendulkar was no different.

 

[Mamoon]

Another thing, he tries to make cliche statements aswell.
To be fair, the guy wasnt really that much educated that you expect detailed answers from.

I was also wondering that if you are not gonna doubt yourself during your debut game than when?

the next odi Tendu played, he ended up getting out for 0 only facing two balls of Shane Thompson. So it didnt really matter who was at attack as on debut you are most likely to suck

Doubting yourself has nothing to do with making your debut. Many players have had brilliant debuts. It is understandable that you will be nervous but that is different from doubting your ability to perform at this level.

Tendulkar was never exposed to such level of bowling before and it is understandable if he was shocked by what he saw. It can be argued that having such a stern test upfront helped him become a better player.

Not sure why people are taking offense to what he said and criticizing him for this. It is an insightful comment.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

You can’t hold more batting records than anyone else in history of the game if you are a self-doubter. Having highs and lows, peaks and troughs and doubting whether you are good enough or not are completely different things.

It is understandable and completely believable if playing Wasim and Waqar on his debut was the only time he questioned if he was good enough. When he had lows later in his career he backed himself to fight back and never questioned his capability.

Elite sportsmen have immense self-belief. Tendulkar was no different.

Wasn’t it Waqar’s debut too?

 

[Mamoon]

Wasn’t it Waqar’s debut too?

It was but he was already rapid. He was probably the fastest bowler in the world at the time and one of the fastest in history.

Facing a 95 mph fast bowler on your debut as a 16 year old batsman with no prior exposure to such pace would be an extremely daunting challenge even if that particular fast bowler was making his debut.

 

[Major]

Doubting yourself has nothing to do with making your debut. Many players have had brilliant debuts. It is understandable that you will be nervous but that is different from doubting your ability to perform at this level.

Tendulkar was never exposed to such level of bowling before and it is understandable if he was shocked by what he saw. It can be argued that having such a stern test upfront helped him become a better player.

Not sure why people are taking offense to what he said and criticizing him for this. It is an insightful comment.

yes it does. Everyone on debut is gonna be bad...

Tendulkar ever got a 0 against a pacer named Shane Thompson. So his statement that had it been somoene else doesnt hold much value.

No one is taking offense, its just that i agreed with the poster that while Tendu was a great batter, he lacks insight when analyzing the game.

Anyways, same series in his test game, he got a 50 and that had Imran and Waseem along with Saleem Jaffar

 

[Savak]

Imran was finished as a bowler at that stage. Waqar was a raw rookie, only Wasim was close to his prime at that stage

 

[DeadlyVenom]

You can’t hold more batting records than anyone else in history of the game if you are a self-doubter. Having highs and lows, peaks and troughs and doubting whether you are good enough or not are completely different things.

It is understandable and completely believable if playing Wasim and Waqar on his debut was the only time he questioned if he was good enough. When he had lows later in his career he backed himself to fight back and never questioned his capability.

Elite sportsmen have immense self-belief. Tendulkar was no different.

He is an elite sportsman for sure but he is still a human being.

I would imagine that he may have had doubts when he went through a poor run of form in 2007 and couldn't buy a run and his poor run of form in 2012 too. The tennis elbow issues would also have introduced doubts regarding his capability.

I mean did he not have doubts about his ability to captain especially during his second tenure?

I have read the autobiographies of many elite sportsmen and they all have a point where they question their ability.

 

[docteurmanish]

Tendulkar actually gives the best insight . His way of thinking is more street smart than any .

His captaincy was a good example . They call his captaincy a failure but I rate him high based on tactics he tried to use with limited resources.
I rate him as the best captain india had while india had the worst team - he still tried to use pinch hitters , change batting orders and get the best ( his bowling attack had Kuruvilla and dodda ganesh and batsmen including manju etc )

He did not get into arguements before or after a match . He let his bat talk . When asked , he would explain his prep . Like how he tackled Shane warne .

His only lack of insight was facing high quality off spin or cutters . Till his last match , he couldn’t overcome that technical vulnerability . Saqlain and hansie were his biggest nemesis .

 

[Mamoon]

yes it does. Everyone on debut is gonna be bad...

Tendulkar ever got a 0 against a pacer named Shane Thompson. So his statement that had it been somoene else doesnt hold much value.

No one is taking offense, its just that i agreed with the poster that while Tendu was a great batter, he lacks insight when analyzing the game.

Anyways, same series in his test game, he got a 50 and that had Imran and Waseem along with Saleem Jaffar

There is a difference between being bad on debut and asking yourself if you’re good enough for this level.

The fifty that he got probably gave him the belief and contributed to his later success.

 

[Mamoon]

He is an elite sportsman for sure but he is still a human being.

I would imagine that he may have had doubts when he went through a poor run of form in 2007 and couldn't buy a run and his poor run of form in 2012 too. The tennis elbow issues would also have introduced doubts regarding his capability.

I mean did he not have doubts about his ability to captain especially during his second tenure?

I have read the autobiographies of many elite sportsmen and they all have a point where they question their ability.

That is different, no?

Tendulkar might have pondered retirement when he went through a lean patch in 2006-2007 at 33-34, asking himself if he belongs at the highest level anymore, but obviously he wouldn’t question his ability to succeed in international cricket because he was already a legend of the game by the turn of the millennium.

Facing Wasim and Waqar at 16 when you have never come close to facing such pace and hostile fast bowling before must be a very daunting experience and it makes sense if it made Tendulkar question his ability to survive at the highest level.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sachin speaks up on his birthday, 10 years post retirement and people on Pakpassion are debating over him having a lack of personality. Some things sure never get old. Give this man a break, his records are here to stay and his legacy is only growing further looking at the way the modern day cricketers are continuously failing to maintain dominance across formats.

Sachin’s mental strength was incredible to have had performed at that level and with that sorry piece of unathletic body. How does someone like Kohli even stand firm in his presence now i wonder, doesn’t he feel getting blown away by the aura.

Geniuses are odd people. You don’t expect weakness from a guy who withstood that Pakistani bowling attack on his debut series away from home as a 16 year old. Floyd Mayweather was asked who of his 50 opponents gave him the toughest fight and he said no one really challenged him like that.

 

[TheSultan]

Waqar himself was making his debut and anyone who sees his action in that match knows it was not refined to his absolute quickest in late 1990-early 1992 season. He still even looked quicker in 1993/1994

So Tendulkar wasn’t even facing the proper express version of Waqar and he was found wanting. I shudder to think what Waqar and Wasim would have done to him 1990-1994 if the Indian board had allowed them to play. They knew what time it was.

 

[TheSultan]

Also surprised he hasn’t mentioned the time he quit Vs shoaib akhtar in 2006. For someone who wasn’t a known “walker”, he quite happily trudged off when he didn’t even nick it right when shoaib was starting to put the heat on him.

Next match shoaib smashed him on the helmet!

 

[Rajdeep]

Waqar himself was making his debut and anyone who sees his action in that match knows it was not refined to his absolute quickest in late 1990-early 1992 season. He still even looked quicker in 1993/1994

So Tendulkar wasn’t even facing the proper express version of Waqar and he was found wanting. I shudder to think what Waqar and Wasim would have done to him 1990-1994 if the Indian board had allowed them to play. They knew what time it was.

SRT would have handled him with ease just like he handled legendary Pak bowling attack of 92 World cup and scored a brilliant half century. I knw Waqar was not a part of that team but it still had great bowlers like peak Wasim, Aaqib Javed, Imran Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed etc. Waqar Younis never troubled any Indian batsman for most part of his career like a Wasim or Akhtar did. He was express even during 96 WC but neither could get early wicket of Siddhu & Sachin and then Jadeja took care of him in the death.

 

[Buffet]

Also surprised he hasn’t mentioned the time he quit Vs shoaib akhtar in 2006. For someone who wasn’t a known “walker”, he quite happily trudged off when he didn’t even nick it right when shoaib was starting to put the heat on him.

Next match shoaib smashed him on the helmet!

I think any bowler can hit on helmet, but I don't think many bowlers refuse to bowl to a batsman. Akhtar refused to bowl to Sachin after being thrashed in 2003 world cup. Waqar could not believe his ears and Pakistani team was sneering at Akhtar for this. I don't think Wasim or Waqar ever refused to bowl to a batsman when they were getting thrashed.

Waqar

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https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes....t-bowl-the-next-over/articleshow/21259696.cms


Given this background, I don't think hitting in helmet or anything would have changed how Akhtar was perceived. I mean how many bowlers refused to bowl to a specific batsman and then get sneered by their team mates?


Light hearted comment aside, I think self doubt comes before you prove yourself at highest level. BY 21 , Sachin has scored heavily against top class bowlers in all kinds of conditions. You are not going to have the self doubt after that. You may be out of form or you may have a tough time, but you don't self doubt after proving yourself as the best batsman in world. Your self belief will be very high despite having a tough time. Many posters are missing this simple fact.

 

[TheSultan]

I think any bowler can hit on helmet, but I don't think many bowlers refuse to bowl to a batsman. Akhtar refused to bowl to Sachin after being thrashed in 2003 world cup. Waqar could not believe his ears and Pakistani team was sneering at Akhtar for this. I don't think Wasim or Waqar ever refused to bowl to a batsman when they were getting thrashed.

Waqar
View attachment 119333
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View attachment 119334


https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes....t-bowl-the-next-over/articleshow/21259696.cms


Given this background, I don't think hitting in helmet or anything would have changed how Akhtar was perceived. I mean how many bowlers refused to bowl to a specific batsman and then get sneered by their team mates?


Light hearted comment aside, I think self doubt comes before you prove yourself at highest level. BY 21 , Sachin has scored heavily against top class bowlers in all kinds of conditions. You are not going to have the self doubt after that. You may be out of form or you may have a tough time, but you don't self doubt after proving yourself as the best batsman in world. Your self belief will be very high despite having a tough time. Many posters are missing this simple fact.

Great quotes but ultimately meaningless in this context. This thread is about Tendulkar not Akhtar.

And my point was that at that specific point in time Sachin definitely did doubt himself because he walked off without nicking it. He wasn’t in great form and maybe wasn’t seeing the ball well.

We’re talking about moments where he must have doubted himself. This is not about how great his innings at centurion was, it is about where he doubted himself. He must have at that time, and it was proved in the next match when he still couldn’t handle shoaib’s heat.

I’m not saying he can’t play express bowling, but that time he didn’t want to.

 

[TheSultan]

SRT would have handled him with ease just like he handled legendary Pak bowling attack of 92 World cup and scored a brilliant half century. I knw Waqar was not a part of that team but it still had great bowlers like peak Wasim, Aaqib Javed, Imran Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed etc. Waqar Younis never troubled any Indian batsman for most part of his career like a Wasim or Akhtar did. He was express even during 96 WC but neither could get early wicket of Siddhu & Sachin and then Jadeja took care of him in the death.

Waqar was definitely not the same pace in 1996, esp in the World Cup where he was feeling his way back after his second serious back injury. He got quicker as the year went on but even the summer that year Vs England where he was quicker than the World Cup even the commies were saying he’s not the same pace as he was before

Remember Sachin is talking about handling pace - and the example of 1992 is not a good one as wasim wasn’t firing on all cylinders early in that tournament and the rest were medium pacers, good medium pacers, but medium pacers nonetheless.

 

[Buffet]

Great quotes but ultimately meaningless in this context. This thread is about Tendulkar not Akhtar.

And my point was that at that specific point in time Sachin definitely did doubt himself because he walked off without nicking it. He wasn’t in great form and maybe wasn’t seeing the ball well.

We’re talking about moments where he must have doubted himself. This is not about how great his innings at centurion was, it is about where he doubted himself. He must have at that time, and it was proved in the next match when he still couldn’t handle shoaib’s heat.

I’m not saying he can’t play express bowling, but that time he didn’t want to.

Bowler chickening out to bowl to a batsman and after few years batsman is having self doubt against the same bowler and you find this out of context. Seriously? Players have good or bad phase.

Self doubt happens before they are best on the world because they don't know if they belong there. After that it's not self doubt, it's simply a bad phase.

You, me or anyone else can not say that surely, definitely or at that moment Sachin was having self doubt. Simple reason - none of us were in his head and he did not claim to have self doubt after his debut.

You can surely say that he may be having self doubt and you are entitled to your opinion. People have all kinds of opinions and it's fine.

 

[giri26]

It is funny how people jump on the bandwagon of criticising Sachin without even understanding what he meant. There are two things here:

1. Every player who makes their international debut is nervous but that is not what Sachin is talking about. Being nervous is normal as you want to prove your self at the highest level and not to be confused with self doubt.
2. Every time in a long career when you experience a low you don't doubt your ability. That is ridiculous. Players go through tough time in a long career, you try to work on your weakness and get back but you don't doubt your ability everytime you are out of form in a 24 year career. That is ridiculous.

Him getting out to Shane Thomson does not mean anything as any batter can get out to any bowler and that does not automatically cause self doubt.

Sachin said that the pace he faced made him feel if he was good enough to play at this level. He might have gotten out to Shane Thomson but that wouldn't have made him feel that he wasn't good enough at this level. He has gotten out to worse bowlers than Shane Thomson in his career that does not mean everytime that happens he will doubt his ability? That's not how it works. As a 16 year old coming from a country which did not have a great fast bowling legacy facing two pacers bowling in upward of 90 miles will be tough and that too in your first game you may feel if you are good enough to play at this level as you are unable to handle that pace. Why would Sachin think that when facing Shane Thomson?

Some people will go to any length to discredit anything which Sachin says. Also him struggling against Akthar has nothing to do with this statement. Batters through their career struggle against a particular bowler that doesn't mean they go to the dressing room and contemplate giving up the game before they don't feel they are good enough to play at this level. Sachin already had 10 years behind him when he played Akthar and he has had his success as well against him. So it is not the same.

 

[Major]

It is funny how people jump on the bandwagon of criticising Sachin without even understanding what he meant. There are two things here:

1. Every player who makes their international debut is nervous but that is not what Sachin is talking about. Being nervous is normal as you want to prove your self at the highest level and not to be confused with self doubt.
2. Every time in a long career when you experience a low you don't doubt your ability. That is ridiculous. Players go through tough time in a long career, you try to work on your weakness and get back but you don't doubt your ability everytime you are out of form in a 24 year career. That is ridiculous.

Him getting out to Shane Thomson does not mean anything as any batter can get out to any bowler and that does not automatically cause self doubt.

Sachin said that the pace he faced made him feel if he was good enough to play at this level. He might have gotten out to Shane Thomson but that wouldn't have made him feel that he wasn't good enough at this level. He has gotten out to worse bowlers than Shane Thomson in his career that does not mean everytime that happens he will doubt his ability? That's not how it works. As a 16 year old coming from a country which did not have a great fast bowling legacy facing two pacers bowling in upward of 90 miles will be tough and that too in your first game you may feel if you are good enough to play at this level as you are unable to handle that pace. Why would Sachin think that when facing Shane Thomson?

Some people will go to any length to discredit anything which Sachin says. Also him struggling against Akthar has nothing to do with this statement. Batters through their career struggle against a particular bowler that doesn't mean they go to the dressing room and contemplate giving up the game before they don't feel they are good enough to play at this level. Sachin already had 10 years behind him when he played Akthar and he has had his success as well against him. So it is not the same.

your focus is more on the some people criticizing your hero rather than focusing on your hero himself.

If any batter can get out to any bowler than why did he had self doubt against Pakistan but not against NZ where the scores were similar.

Waqar Younis was making his debut, is Sachin suggesting that a debutant Waqar Younis created self doubt in Sachins mind about himself? A debutant of bowler of all the bowlers?

 

[umerz]

Sachin is quite a dull character and his interviews and statements usually present zero insights.

The only time in a 200 test career that involved multiple highs and lows, he ever doubted himself was on his test debut? ok mate.

He has remained controversy free due to his boring statements and thats the way he wants it to be. On the other hand people like Vinod Kamble, Shoaib Akhtar provide you all the entertainment. I understand when he said that was the only time he doubted himself he meant that was the only time when he thought he didnt belong to internationa stage

 

[kingusama92]

your focus is more on the some people criticizing your hero rather than focusing on your hero himself.

If any batter can get out to any bowler than why did he had self doubt against Pakistan but not against NZ where the scores were similar.

Waqar Younis was making his debut, is Sachin suggesting that a debutant Waqar Younis created self doubt in Sachins mind about himself? A debutant of bowler of all the bowlers?

Probably because by then he had already scored a 50 against Pakistan's attack and another 50 in NZ. The self-doubt was gone.

Even if he got out to Shane Thomson in an ODI, Sachin could tell himself he had scored 50s at the highest level.

 

[giri26]

your focus is more on the some people criticizing your hero rather than focusing on your hero himself.

If any batter can get out to any bowler than why did he had self doubt against Pakistan but not against NZ where the scores were similar.

Waqar Younis was making his debut, is Sachin suggesting that a debutant Waqar Younis created self doubt in Sachins mind about himself? A debutant of bowler of all the bowlers?

He did not have doubt about playing a particular bowler, it was about the pace at which they were bowling. If you people read the article clearly you would not need so much explaining " but I was exposed to express pace and I had not experienced that". This is what caused the self doubt, NZ did not have express pace during that time and Sachin would have played medium pace in domestic cricket all through.

Waqar's standing in the game and his experience does not come into picture it was about his pace and a 16 year old not having experience facing that speed before in his life. Clear now?

 

[Major]

He did not have doubt about playing a particular bowler, it was about the pace at which they were bowling. If you people read the article clearly you would not need so much explaining " but I was exposed to express pace and I had not experienced that". This is what caused the self doubt, NZ did not have express pace during that time and Sachin would have played medium pace in domestic cricket all through.

Waqar's standing in the game and his experience does not come into picture it was about his pace and a 16 year old not having experience facing that speed before in his life. Clear now?

waqars standing and experience does matter. He was making his debut, so basically Sachin doubted himself when another debutant was bowling against him. You cannot ignore the fact that it was Waqars debut.

Like i said, his second odi, he was again a walking duck, it didnt matter who he faced.

 

[Major]

He has remained controversy free due to his boring statements and thats the way he wants it to be. On the other hand people like Vinod Kamble, Shoaib Akhtar provide you all the entertainment. I understand when he said that was the only time he doubted himself he meant that was the only time when he thought he didnt belong to internationa stage

not really, he was caught ball tempering.

 

[umerz]

not really, he was caught ball tempering.

i said due to his statements not acts

 

[Hitman]

I think any bowler can hit on helmet, but I don't think many bowlers refuse to bowl to a batsman. Akhtar refused to bowl to Sachin after being thrashed in 2003 world cup. Waqar could not believe his ears and Pakistani team was sneering at Akhtar for this. I don't think Wasim or Waqar ever refused to bowl to a batsman when they were getting thrashed.

Waqar
View attachment 119333

In Wasim Akram's words, "Mere se bowling nahin hon rahi hain".

 

[MenInG]

India great Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the inspirational message he passed on to teammates ahead of their cut-throat semi-final clash against Pakistan at the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

It doesn't get much bigger than an India versus Pakistan clash at an ICC event. Add to that the game being played in India at a home World Cup and with a place in the final up for grabs and it was the match-up of a lifetime.

The 2011 World Cup semi-final clash between the arch-rivals was much more than the battle between bat and ball. Among the thousands in the PCA Stadium in Mohali were the Prime Ministers of both countries, who were in attendance to witness the two teams clash for the first time in India in ODIs since 2007.

Speaking on the occasion of his 50th birthday, Tendulkar recalled the incredible build-up to the match.

"It wasn't exactly a lighter moment, because it was the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2011," Tendulkar said. "India was playing Pakistan. Both the Prime Ministers were going to be there. So it was very, very tight security.

"We got to the ground and the normal routine is, you know, once you get to the ground, you have pre-match lunch and then you go out on the field for your warm-up sessions and then slowly, slowly get in the game.

"Because of security reasons, you know, our food hadn't reached the ground, and the whole team was agitated. The whole team was like, ‘Lunch kidhar hai? Where is our lunch? You know, this is the World Cup semi-finals, we need to prepare ourselves’, and all that.

"And that continued for a while. Even when we went on the field for our warm-up session, there were still a couple of guys thinking about it.”

The leader that Tendulkar was, he used this as an opportunity to rally the troops and fire the team up for the big occasion.

"So we were in a huddle, and that's when I spoke briefly. I said, ‘The world is not bothered whether we've had our pre-match lunch or not. This is the World Cup semi-finals.

“If you are so hungry, show the world how many runs you can score or how many wickets you can pick. That is what they're interested in. Nobody is interested in knowing whether you've had your lunch or breakfast. None. This is the World Cup semi-finals. Go out there and express yourselves’.”

The words of encouragement certainly worked as India came out all guns blazing with the bat and ball. Tendulkar himself was the first to lead by example as he stroked a patient 85 off 111 balls and was the top-scorer on the day.

The lower-order support propelled India to 260/9, a target that proved to be 29 runs too many for Pakistan.

Despite a solid start, the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals and in the end, Misbah-ul-Haq had too much to do while hanging with the tail.

Tendulkar deservedly took home the Player of the Match award for his brilliant knock. Three days later, he achieved the lifelong dream of winning the World Cup; the occasion was made all the more sweeter by playing the final in front of his home crowd at Wankhede in Mumbai.

ICC

 

[Major]

India great Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the inspirational message he passed on to teammates ahead of their cut-throat semi-final clash against Pakistan at the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

It doesn't get much bigger than an India versus Pakistan clash at an ICC event. Add to that the game being played in India at a home World Cup and with a place in the final up for grabs and it was the match-up of a lifetime.

The 2011 World Cup semi-final clash between the arch-rivals was much more than the battle between bat and ball. Among the thousands in the PCA Stadium in Mohali were the Prime Ministers of both countries, who were in attendance to witness the two teams clash for the first time in India in ODIs since 2007.

Speaking on the occasion of his 50th birthday, Tendulkar recalled the incredible build-up to the match.

"It wasn't exactly a lighter moment, because it was the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2011," Tendulkar said. "India was playing Pakistan. Both the Prime Ministers were going to be there. So it was very, very tight security.

"We got to the ground and the normal routine is, you know, once you get to the ground, you have pre-match lunch and then you go out on the field for your warm-up sessions and then slowly, slowly get in the game.

"Because of security reasons, you know, our food hadn't reached the ground, and the whole team was agitated. The whole team was like, ‘Lunch kidhar hai? Where is our lunch? You know, this is the World Cup semi-finals, we need to prepare ourselves’, and all that.

"And that continued for a while. Even when we went on the field for our warm-up session, there were still a couple of guys thinking about it.”

The leader that Tendulkar was, he used this as an opportunity to rally the troops and fire the team up for the big occasion.

"So we were in a huddle, and that's when I spoke briefly. I said, ‘The world is not bothered whether we've had our pre-match lunch or not. This is the World Cup semi-finals.

“If you are so hungry, show the world how many runs you can score or how many wickets you can pick. That is what they're interested in. Nobody is interested in knowing whether you've had your lunch or breakfast. None. This is the World Cup semi-finals. Go out there and express yourselves’.”

The words of encouragement certainly worked as India came out all guns blazing with the bat and ball. Tendulkar himself was the first to lead by example as he stroked a patient 85 off 111 balls and was the top-scorer on the day.

The lower-order support propelled India to 260/9, a target that proved to be 29 runs too many for Pakistan.

Despite a solid start, the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals and in the end, Misbah-ul-Haq had too much to do while hanging with the tail.

Tendulkar deservedly took home the Player of the Match award for his brilliant knock. Three days later, he achieved the lifelong dream of winning the World Cup; the occasion was made all the more sweeter by playing the final in front of his home crowd at Wankhede in Mumbai.

ICC

what is soo inspirational about this lunch speech? Well duh no one cares whether Indian team had lunch, why would anyone care?

Tendulkar being captain obivious.
[MENTION=51465]DeadlyVenom[/MENTION] was right, the guy gives dull statements

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

For a person who added so much value to his team, Sachin adds no value to any cricketing discussion.

I shudder to think how difficult his book would be to go through - with truisms, bite sized patriotism and cricketing cliches.

Much rather read the back of a shampoo bottle.

 

[MenInG]

what is soo inspirational about this lunch speech? Well duh no one cares whether Indian team had lunch, why would anyone care?

Tendulkar being captain obivious.
[MENTION=51465]DeadlyVenom[/MENTION] was right, the guy gives dull statements

underwhelming is the word that describes most things Sachin says.

Fair to say, he won't do well on the lecture circuit where motivational speakers are needed.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

yes it does. Everyone on debut is gonna be bad...

Lol, what? Tons of players have scored 50s and 100s on debut. And a bunch of those players ended up being good or great and a bunch also went on to be nothing special and got dropped.

What kind of a blanket statement is this?

I hate also the idea that one should debut a player against a weak side - as I noticed you posted in another thread.