Sachin Tendulkar spoke about Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, and the 2nd India-New Zealand Test besides other important topics.
Friday’s delayed start to the second Test between India and New Zealand brought back memories of the 2004 Test against Australia for Sachin Tendulkar who had battled excruciating elbow pain to score a fighting 55 in a match India went on to win by just 13 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar Recalled The 2004 Test Against Australia Praising Mayank Agarwal And Shubman Gill For Starting Well
In an interview, Sachin Tendulkar talks about that 2004 Test, Mayank Agarwal’s brilliant century on Day 1 against New Zealand, and the current India pace attack.
“It takes me back to the 2004 Test against Australia at the Wankhede. It had rained before that match as well and the surface was covered. When the surface is covered there is a bit of sweating, a bit of moisture. So was the case on Day 1 against New Zealand as well,” said Sachin Tendulkar on bringing back memories of the 2004 Test vs Aussies.
“I felt it was a lovely start. Both Mayank and Shubman gave us a very good start. There was a bit of help for New Zealand bowlers and the openers were able to negotiate that. From New Zealand’s point of view, Ajaz Patel was their best bowler, ” said Sachin Tendulkar on Indian openers doing well.
Opener Shubman Gill scored 52 and 1 in the 1st Kanpur Test and was bowled by Kyle Jamieson both times. In Mumbai, he looked unperturbed on 44 before he got out to left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who finished with a historic 10 for 119 in the 1st innings. Shubman Gill scored 47 in the 2nd innings and batted at No. 3 before being dismissed by Rachin Ravindra.
Sachin Tendulkar Praises Mayank Agarwal For Capitalizing On His Start And Scoring A Magnificient Ton
The Karnataka star batsman Mayank Agarwal followed up his 150 in the first innings with 62 runs in the second.
“The way he capitalized on his start was magnificent because initially, it took him some time to get into a rhythm. He stayed there and when the time was right he attacked spinners quite consistently. On the whole, it was a magnificent hundred,” said Sachin Tendulkar on Mayank Agarwal’s ton.
“The 2004 wicket was slightly drier than this. When it started it had a bit of moisture but it wasn’t the same surface as this one. As the game progressed, it had more purchases for spinners. I think even this surface is going to help our spinners quite a bit as the game progresses.” said Sachin Tendulkar on the surface.
New Zealand was placed at 140 for 5 at stumps on day three, chasing a mammoth 540 after Ajaz Patel’s 14 wicket-haul. In the 1st innings, New Zealand was bundled for a mere 62 as India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped four wickets for eight runs while young right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj registered the figures of 3 for 19. Ravichandran Ashwin picked 3/27 in the 2nd innings as well.
“In the third innings of the match, I was batting with VVS Laxman in Mumbai on Day 3 morning. I had just started my innings and my elbow started hurting again. So I had to ask for couple of pain killers which I chewed so that it could get quickly absorbed in my system,” said Sachin Tendulkar about the 2004 Test
“Laxman and I had a crucial partnership and we were able to give some runs for our bowlers to bowl with. Not too many, it was 100-odd runs and we got them out for 93. On the whole, it was a superb Test match. Those are the kind of matches that stay in your head, ” aid Sachin Tendlkar recalling the 2004 Test.
“All the batters, once they get a start, they would like to go on and on and that is exactly what our seniors also told us,” said Sachin Tendulkar on building innings.
“Depends on the kind of bowling you are facing. Sometimes, you face bowlers who don’t give you enough time in the air and then there are bowlers who give you time in the air so against those bowlers you can step out and play those short.” said Sachin Tendulkar on batsmen trying to play from crease against spinners.
“Whatever my interaction with Rohit has been, he has a very smart cricketing brain. He doesn’t panic. He is able to absorb pressure is what I saw. That is important when you are leading the side, ” said Sachin Tendulkar on association with new T20I skipper Rohit Sharma in Mumbai Indians camp.
Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in IPL with five IPL titles for Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma, 34, has led India 10 times in ODIs and led them to victories on eight occasions. In T20Is, he has captained them 22 times, of which they have won 18 and lost four, after whitewashing New Zealand 3-0 at home in T20Is after T20I WC.
” felt the biggest change that happened in Indian cricket was from IPL onwards. Players, especially domestic cricketers, got lot of time to spend with international world-class cricketers. They think differently now which is so critical because if you are going to rub shoulders with top international stars, it make a big difference. “
“That is what I have seen happening from the start of IPL. That started a new phase in Indian cricket, the seeds were sown then. All these guys who are representing India now have, as kids, been watching all those guys and that inspired them.” said Sachin Tendulkar on IPL making a difference.
In the 2004 Test against Australia in Mumbai, India scored 104 in the 1st and 204 in the 2nd innings. Australia had scored 205 in the 1st but managed only 93 in the 2nd innings. India won by 13 runs as India defended the target of 107. MOM Murali Karthik picked 7 wickets overall in the two innings. VVS Laxman (69) and Sachin Tendulkar (55) turned the match in India’s favour with a 3rd wicket partnership of 91 runs.
New Zealand 62 and 140 for 5 (Mitchell 60, Nicholls 36*, Ashwin 3-27) need another 400 runs to beat India 325 and 276 for 7 declared (Agarwal 62, Pujara 47, Ajaz 4-106)