Bengaluru, Oct 6 : Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday credited coach Gary Kirsten for the consistent performances by Team India over the last couple of seasons. Tendulkar said that the former South African opener was largely responsible for the improvement shown by his team and has been instrumental in tracing grey areas and working on them to yield positive results.
BCCI.TV caught up with the legendary batsman at the ICC Annual Awards in the Garden City of Bengaluru where he was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2010.
Excerpts
On Gary Kirsten’s contribution
I think we all have been working really hard. I would say that Gary Kirsten has been instrumental in making all the batters play plenty of deliveries in the practice sessions. He himself throws thousands and thousands of balls at us. He has been tremendous. Gary is an important member of the Indian squad and along with him the other support staff has also worked hard. Obviously, an individual has to work hard and there is no substitute for that. I have also worked hard and enjoyed my game. I am not trying to say by any means that earlier I had not worked hard but probably Gary has been able to help us get in the right frame of mind and has worked on whatever areas we had to work on. He has really put in a lot of effort in making sure that those areas are addressed in the right and the best possible manner.
On what took him so long to win the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award
I think it is better late than never. I am really excited. It is just a reflection of what I have been able to perform and contribute for India and that is what I play for. I feel something special when I play for India. It feels wonderful to have these trophies. Both the awards are important (ICC Cricketer of the Year and People’s Choice Award). One is from the cricketing fraternity who have been part of this wonderful sport and the other one is from the people around the world who support this wonderful sport. Both are important to me. As I have said earlier, I feel good [to receive] every award that comes my way.
To get these awards is special. I think [the ICC Awards] started six years ago and I think it is better late than never. It is a way of appreciating somebody’s performance. If any sportsmen, or for that sake, any person is appreciated in such a fabulous manner, it is great. Today I am sitting with these couple of trophies and I am very happy about it.
On Team India’s journey to No. 1 Test ranking
The last season for the entire team has been special and we would want to continue with our performance. I think right from the start of the season, when we won in Sri Lanka, [we’ve made good progress]. The conditions were tough; I scored a hundred in the final and from there on the season took off for us. In the month of December, we became No. 1 in Test rankings which is what we all wanted. We worked hard for that and we have been able to retain that for the last 10 months now. Right till the last game, each game I have been part of is fantastic. The Test match in Kolkata was a superb one against South Africa and then the double hundred, which was the last game of the last season for me.
On the thrilling win in the Mohali Test against Australia
I thought [VVS] Laxman and Ishant Sharma showed tremendous character and got us those crucial runs. All these moments have been special ones for us. As part of the victorious team, you would want to keep these memories lifelong. When the Laxman-Ishant partnership was on, I was sitting with MS [Dhoni] and Viru [Virender Sehwag] and we were talking about one particular topic and we continued doing that out of superstition even when we ran out of stories.
On how he makes the youngsters and fans-turned-teammates comfortable in the dressing room
It is very natural that when a youngster steps in the dressing room for the first time he feels different. Even when I started in 1989, I used to feel the same. But a lot of my teammates made me feel comfortable and made me feel part of them. I too try to do the same with all the youngsters. But things are obviously different with those whom I have played with for around 10 years or so. We share a lot of jokes with everyone. It is never one-sided – we pull their leg and they too return with jokes. I think it helps in building team-spirit. In the same vein, when we are on the ground, the suggestions are two-way- there are times when I suggest something and then there are times when they also give me suggestions. I don’t believe in one-way traffic.
On cricketers he would pay to watch
I have been fortunate to watch two of my role models live - Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Vivian Richards. So, I would like to watch maybe Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Don [Donald Bradman]. I have watched them play on television but never live.
On the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
Obviously, it is a big tournament and it is not only my dream but an entire nation’s dream to win the trophy. And we will really work hard for that. We still have about five months for that. We will focus on the tournament before the ICC World Cup and will try to take the form in the tournament.
Message to fans and supporters of Team India
I would like to extend my good wishes to all my fans. I would like to thank all the fans for their support and wishes over the years. I get inspired by their support to do well on the ground. I think this is a different kind of strength. I would request all to continue their support and good wishes for me and my team.
