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NEW
DELHI: This weekend, TIMES NOW – India’s No. 1 general
English news channel presents its viewers with a special episode
of ‘Frankly Speaking’. In a candid interview with TIMES
NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, India’s God of cricket,
Sachin Tendulkar, discusses his retirement, memorable moments of
his career and shares exclusive insights into his personal life.
In
the interview Sachin reacts for the first time to statements made
by Sunil Gavaskar that state how he has been bowled twice consecutively
and how that is a bad sign for the batsman. Sachin responded to
the comment saying, “Sunil Gavaskar has also said positive
things about me. When there have been a lot of positive feedback
as well, why keep harping only on the negative comments? Ultimately,
if I am out, I am out. I can't get stuck on one article about me
and try to create something that the person is hoping to create
out of it. I need to stay focused on the game and constantly keep
finding ways to improve myself. There is no stage in which one ceases
to learn about cricket. One remains a student of this game for ever.
On
being asked about his plans for retirement, Sachin shared, “I
am 39 and I don't think I have plenty of cricket left in me. But
it depends on my frame of mind and my physical ability to deliver.
At this stage, I don't think I will be playing the next World Cup.”
Commenting
on the match versus Pakistan in 2004 where he hit 194 not out when
the match was declared, Sachin shared, “I was asked a question
in a press conference just after the match if I was surprised by
the declaration. I said yes. Then I was asked if I was disappointed.
I said, "Yes, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed."
But that is all that I had said. After the declaration, I got to
the dressing room, quietly put my bat aside and sat down. I had
my pads on. After a couple of minutes, I washed my face, went up
to John Wright, our coach then and said, "I will take some
time to get back on the field because my back is a little sore.
I will go after a while." That is all that happened.”
Discussing
the test match versus Pakistan in 1999 where India lost by 12 runs,
Sachin said, “It was disappointing. Yes I cried. I felt bad
because we were so close to winning the match but couldn't cross
the final hurdle. I have to admit that I was not able to receive
the Man of the Match award then because I was in tears.”
Responding
to accusations about playing the game only to continue commercial
endorsements associated with him, Sachin said, “My manager
tells me that there were a couple of articles about this issue.
As a matter of fact, there was an article in The Economic Times…
I'd call this irresponsible journalism by a journalist who has vested
interests.”
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