Sachin Tendulkar: T20 is the most challenging format of the game (Interview)
(Courtesy: CNN’s World Sport)
Transcript of the interview:
Mallika Kapur, CNN’s Mumbai-based international correspondent: Can you put into words, what this week has been like for you?
Sachin Tendulkar: I think from the time I announced my retirement on the 10th of October, things have been different. Wherever I went people wanted to express their feelings about me and say thank you very much for whatever you have done for the nation. ..and especially when I played my first class match in the last month in Lali from there on that match and then the match in Kolkata and obviously Mumbai. Mumbai was really special. It was just unbelievable feeling, feeling to travel everywhere and the kind of love and affection people expressed, I could just feel it, you know, this is more than just you know saying thank you. It’s a little more than that. There are no words to express what I feel but a script like this, we humans could not write. I think it’s the Almighty’s script and however will you plan, whatever you want to do, it doesn’t work out this way.
Mallika Kapur: Talking about the Indian public, I think it’s an under-statement to say that the Indian public adores you, they worship you. Why do you think you have such a special connection with the people of India?
Right from the time I started playing for India, last 24 years, people have appreciated my performances and it’s been a joy to go out in the world and give your best. When you know the entire nation’s with you it gives you a lot of strength to go out and perform even better every time. Whether it was a failure or a good performance. Obviously when you fail then you want to make sure that next time you go and better your performance but if you perform better then there was another reason to step up and then go a step higher. I thought it was the support, the well wishes of the entire nation which inspired me to go out every time and do something special.
Sachin Tendulkar: Winning the World Cup was a special moment
Mallika Kapur: Did it any time get hard to deal with the affection or the expectation of a billion people?
Sachin Tendulkar: Its difficult to live up to people’s expectations. there comes a time that you have to figure out what is it that I am capable of, what is it that I want for myself and my dream was to win the world cup for India and for the first five attempts it was impossible. We came very close to winning the world cup in 2003. We lost in the finals. I thought there was another chance for us in 1996 when we lost in the semis that was a great chance. And finally in Mumbai world cup was actually in my hands and that is what I wanted. when that actually turned into reality, life was different.
Mallika Kapur: The world cup, a hundred 100s, you’ve hauled more runs than any other batsman, you have so many records and milestones under your belt. Which one is most special?
Sachin Tendulkar: See, individual records have happened playing for India, you know. If I was not given a chance to play for India all those records would not have happened and I feel it’s just the reflection of what I’ve been able to do for the nation. You go out to play and give your best. You don’t think of records. You don’t think that, oh next time I am going to go out and break another record. You feel that this match, I’m going to go out and give my best. I’m going to win this match for the nation and while doing that the records are broken, it’s an icing on the cake but you don’t play for records. Records are meant to be broken but you don’t chase them. Never.
Mallika Kapur: The latest of course if the Bharat Ratna, which is India’s highest civilian honor, and it’s the first time it’s been given to a sportsman. How does that rank?
Sachin Tendulkar: What does one say, you become speechless. It’s like- yeah I remember I was sitting in my room, we had come back from the stadium. My wife was with me and I got a phone call from the PMO and The Prime Minister spoke to me.
Mallika Kapur: Himself?
Sachin Tendulkar: Yes and I got this pleasant surprise.