Tendulkar defends team: we are still No 1

[don_corleone840]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/T...ill-No-1/618690 While the Indian team’s disappointing performance in the World T20 has come under criticism from all quarters, Sachin Tendulkar has thrown his weight behind his team mates, saying players should focus on their strengths to forget the disappointment of crashing out in the Super Eight stage. In the city for a meeting with one of his sponsors, Tendulkar spoke about India’s performance in the event and said the team needed a fresh start. “We are still the number one team in the world. We don’t need to see only the negatives. Ups and downs are a part of cricket and the players need our support,†Tendulkar said on Thursday. “The team needs a fresh start and we should focus on our strengths. Every team have their strengths and weaknesses but we should be particular that our weaknesses should not be exposed to other teams,†he added. Tendulkar also insisted that people should not only see the negatives of IPL but also the positives of the competition, one of them being helping the players to regain form. “The IPL comes with its advantages and disadvantages. People who criticise it for too much cricket should understand that it is also a platform for players to regain form. We have found many young players due to the IPL and many senior players also regained their form,†said the Mumbai Indians’ skipper. The 37-year-old reiterated his decision not to play T20 internationals, saying it was his personal decision. “I had decided before the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup that I will not play in this format in the international arena. I wanted to give youngsters more chance and did not want to come in their way. I have no regrets about the decision. I never thought I will play so long. It was in the second Test of my career that I got the confidence that I belonged to this level and I have been fortunate after that,†said Tendulkar.

[vvvslaxman]

Nobody is obsessed with India becoming no.1 in T20s. But least tha they could do is not getting humiliated in ICC events like this losing all the matches.

[asterix]

Tendulkar is mixing things. The Test team is no. 1 which included players who don't play the shortened version of the game. Tendulkar shouldn't mess around now in the 'clensing process'. Let the clensing process and kick in the backside of some of the Prima Donnas happen. These are not 'Ups & Downs'. These are attitude, dicsipline, commitment, fitness, professionalism issues and has nothing to do with Players form. Player's forms (up & and downs) has nothing to do with pathetic running between the wickets, trying to stop a ball by one hand at the bowlers end, village level bowling catching and spilling and actually asking the coach to allow partying etc. Tendulkar shouldn't meddle in it. We know he has soft corner for a Northie/Punjabi/Delhi/Party-going/Bindas group of senior players...This is not the time to save their arses. Let the cleansing process start..

[don_corleone840]

Tendulkar shouldn't meddle in it. We know he has soft corners for a Northie/Punjabi/Delhi/Party-going/Bindas group of senior players...This is not the time to save their arses. Let the cleansing process start.. common.now u are going too far.it is just a pyjama cricket and nobody cares about it.we are still by far best team in test cricket.

[Dinx - the Jinx]

This time, i dont think there was huge reactions from the public like effigy burnings or smashing windows... atleast the public and media are not over reacting.. similarly, the powers that be should take a professional approach. There should be a prper enquiry into the report submitted by Kirsten and if its true, some actions should be taken... we have some serious test series coming up in the latter part of the year and we need to build a team for the WC next year... high time we start doing something about the attitude and in discipline