I know my body. I would do whatever is needed for the World Cup: Tendulkar

[mastana]

New Delhi: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said on Friday that he would like to focus on one series at a time rather than thinking too far ahead including the World Cup that will be held in the sub-continent, next year. "I am not yet thinking about the tour of South Africa and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. My immediate focus is on the upcoming New Zealand series and only when that is over, I will start talking about South Africa," Tendulkar said on the sidelines of a function that marked his association as a brand ambassador with a high-end watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet. However, Tendulkar admitted that he would be happy if India can maintain the winning momentum in the coming series. "The momentum is with us right now and we should not let it go. We are not taking anything for granted and want to be on our toes. We would be looking to keep on producing competitive cricket and stick to the basics." When asked whether he is currently enjoying the form of his life, the iconic batsman who recently completed 14,000 Test runs said that although he is happy but he is still not satisfied. "There is always room for improvement. I am happy with my current performance but not satisfied. I want to get better." In fact, in any profession one must strive to get better and better," said Tendulkar, adding, "I always want to remain a student of the game because that is when you grasp more and are always keen to improve." "It was fantastic to win the Test series against Australia. In fact, it was great to see some guys produced special cricket. (VVS) Laxman is definately one such special guy, who snatched the victory for us. He was struggling to even jog as he was injured but he went out there and produced such a brilliant innings. "Even Ishant Sharma, who shared a valuable partnership with him must get a lot of credit. I am extremely glad that we stuck to our No 1 position in Tests." Talking about the ICC award that he finally bagged this year by beating South African Hashim Amla, England's Graeme Swann and teammate Virender Sehwag, the Mumbaikar said, "Whenever an award comes it always feels good." He further added, "But no one plays for awards. You always set goals and want to achieve those goals as individuals. And in cricket you always want to achieve goals as an individual and as a team. "And when you succeed in achieving your goal and get appreciated for your efforts it always feels good." The cricketer, who was conferred with the Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his sporting achievements and contribution to the nation last month, said that "it was a great honour." "Becoming the group captain with the Indian Air Force was a great honour. It is extremly special because I am associated with a force who protect us. I salute them."

http://cricketnext.in.com/news/would-like-to-take-one-series-at-a-time/51383-13.html

[mastana]

:adore: :adore: :adore: :adore: :adore:

[DomainK]

He is still not satisfied. He wants to get even better. What a player!!

[SachDan]

I know my body. I would do whatever is needed for the World Cup: Tendulkar

MUMBAI: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday said his decision to skip India's last two ODI series, in Sri Lanka and against Australia at home, was not a pre-determined one and he knows how to adjust to various formats of the game. "The decision to skip the last two ODI series was taken at the last moment and was not pre-decided. My kit always contained coloured pads," Tendulkar said at a media conference to announce his tie-up with Pune-based reality firm Amit Enterprises Housing. "I have been playing cricket for some time now. If I was not playing cricket there would be something to think about. Having been around for some time, I know how to adjust to the formats," he added. The 37-year-old batting icon also said he would follow whatever was needed to keep himself in prime condition for the all-important 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent. "I know my body. I would do whatever is needed for the World Cup and it won't be pre-decided," said Tendulkar, who has often said that he is dreaming of being part of a World Cup-winning team. Tendulkar would be playing in his sixth World Cup and second in the sub-continent. Tendulkar, who last played a ODI against South Africa in February at Gwalior, where he became the first batsman to score a double-hundred in the 50-over format, said it was too early to think about the upcoming tour of South Africa. "It's tough to talk now about the South Africa series and the World Cup. The focus is on the the Test series against New Zealand (commencing at Ahmedabad on November 4). "We have got three Tests to play before South Africa. When we go there the focus would be on that. Before the World Cup, there's lot of cricket to be played," Tendulkar said. He emphasised the importance of keeping the focus on the job closest at hand and maintain the winning momentum going into the mega-event starting on February 19, 2011. "It's all about focus. We want to focus on the cricket before that. The momentum is important and we would like to keep that momentum." He also described the recent whitewash of Australia in the Test series as "unbelievable" and praised the winning knock by VVS Laxman at Mohali in the opener, that India won by one wicket, as "terrific". "It was extremely important. Against Australia, it's always a special series. We have players, who have done terrific things against them. To win 2-0 was unbelievable, especially in the first Test and win from that position. Laxman played a terrific innings. Ishant played well too," he said. Tendulkar said, to emerge as winners at Bangalore in the second match, after having allowed Australia to rattle up close to 500 runs in the first innings, was "unbelievable". "Even in the second Test, they had scored 475 in the second innings. To win from that position on the fifth day was unbelievable. It was special to have that crowd at Bangalore on all five days," said Tendulkar, who scored a double hundred and an unbeaten half century to lead the team to a seven-wicket victory and a series sweep. Tendulkar said, while the team had played remarkably well over the last few years, it was equally important to keep up the good work to maintain the top rank. "What we have been able to achieve as a team in the last few years is remarkable. (We) want to continue doing this. It feels good to be number one, but we want to continue playing well to stay there." Asked whether he was playing his best cricket ever, a run that has fetched him the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award, the batting genius said he would aim to perform even better. "I would like to do better, would like to work harder. I don't like to count the numbers. The closer I look at the ball is more important than the numbers (centuries, runs and the records). I believe in action, not talking and want to keep my fingers crossed," he said.

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[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[spectre]

He would do whatever is needed for the World Cup, by playing all IPL and CL tournaments, but skipping most international ODIs good logic :giggle:

[Precambrian]

He would do whatever is needed for the World Cup, by playing all IPL and CL tournaments, but skipping most international ODIs good logic :giggle:

So he was playing T20s all round the year when IPL came up? For a player like him, it's almost as easy as switching from formals to casuals to pyjamas as far as different formats are concerned... Also rest from ODIs will make him "Fresher" for that format... he is going to play in the SC, where he's been playing more than half of his career... and most of last year or more... I feel these "practise" ODIs for World Cups to be quite overrated... it all depends on how prepared u are mentally and how u perform on that particular day. Simple as.

[spectre]

Thats not the point These are international ODIs we are talking about, where you represent your country, and not some pratice matches. He is happy to rest most of ODIs, but find the fitness to slog it out in IPL and CL Atleast, he can be honest here instead of giving lame reasons, like these were last minute decisions, i wonder why didnt such last minute decisions didnt come for IPL/CL but before almost every ODI tournament.

So he was playing T20s all round the year when IPL came up? For a player like him, it's almost as easy as switching from formals to casuals to pyjamas as far as different formats are concerned... Also rest from ODIs will make him "Fresher" for that format... he is going to play in the SC, where he's been playing more than half of his career... and most of last year or more... I feel these "practise" ODIs for World Cups to be quite overrated... it all depends on how prepared u are mentally and how u perform on that particular day. Simple as.

[The Outsider]

Thats not the point These are international ODIs we are talking about, where you represent your country, and not some pratice matches. He is happy to rest most of ODIs, but find the fitness to slog it out in IPL and CL Atleast, he can be honest here instead of giving lame reasons, like these were last minute decisions, i wonder why didnt such last minute decisions didnt come for IPL/CL but before almost every ODI tournament.

When a person reaches a certain stature in any profession or organization, the organization places implicit trust in that person and lets him do things which would not be applicable to someone new or not as capable. Tendulkar has reached the stature where if he feels something is right, it is. Whistle podus like yourself can cry and moan all they want about everyone not getting the same treatment. Everyone will get the same treatment, if they make the same contribution.

[spectre]

I dont expect you to understand that I aint asking for same treatment to everyone, where did that come from...perhaps too much pwnage from madrasis Its about a player of his stature setting a wrong precedent. Just like he is within his right to do what he does, I am within my right to comment on it..get that

When a person reaches a certain stature in any profession or organization, the organization places implicit trust in that person and lets him do things which would not be applicable to someone new or not as capable. Tendulkar has reached the stature where if he feels something is right, it is. Whistle podus like yourself can cry and moan all they want about everyone not getting the same treatment. Everyone will get the same treatment, if they make the same contribution.

[The Outsider]

I dont expect you to understand that I aint asking for same treatment to everyone, where did that come from...perhaps too much pwnage from madrasis Its about a player of his stature setting a wrong precedent. Just like he is within his right to do what he does, I am within my right to comment on it..get that

Yeah, he is setting the wrong precedent by implying that as a 37 year old and after 21 years of international cricket and 31000 international runs, he knows what his body is best equipped to handle. Whistle podu?

[spectre]

He is setting the wrong precedent by showing he doesn't have the fitness (or in plain terms, urge) to play international ODIs these days, but can play N number of franchise matches in a month. You could skip one series citing rest, but not series after series. I would have liked to seen your reaction, if he had skipped test series for IPL He is an important cog in the wheel for the WC, so i am worried and want him to play as many matches before WC as possible and hit top form, whats wrong in that. and oh yeah, whistle podu's handed you a lifetime pwnage, so ?

Yeah, he is setting the wrong precedent by implying that as a 37 year old and after 21 years of international cricket and 31000 international runs, he knows what his body is best equipped to handle. Whistle podu?

[The Outsider]

^ Are you suggesting you know more about what Tendulkar's body is best equipped to handle than Tendulkar? Or are you saying that his commitment to do well in the World Cup has been clouded by IPL? Can you be a little more explicit and clear rather than whistle poding?

[spectre]

Its not about fitness, its about the intentions I just dont like the hypocrisy of him skipping ODI series, at the same time playing regular franchise cricket. If he needed rest, he should have skipped any form of cricket for a brief period and come back and play tests and ODIs, not selective resting periods. I think I have been clear from the beginning, you have been shifting poles, to argue that whatever he does should be accepted

^ Are you suggesting you know more about what Tendulkar's body is best equipped to handle than Tendulkar? Or are you saying that his commitment to do well in the World Cup has been clouded by IPL? Can you be a little more explicit and clear rather than whistle poding?

[The Outsider]

Its not about fitness, its about the intentions I just dont like the hypocrisy of him skipping ODI series, at the same time playing regular franchise cricket. If he needed rest, he should have skipped any form of cricket for a brief period and come back and play tests and ODIs, not selective resting periods.

There is no hypocrisy. Tendulkar feels his body can handle IPL, but not the surfeit of ODIs and that's good enough for me because : 1. He is experienced enough to know what his body can cope with and what puts him at risk. 2. He has accomplished enough to have more than a certain leeway to decide what he plays and what he skips. 3. He has shown his commitment to the Indian cause on uncountable occasions and specifically mentioned that the upcoming World Cup is a huge priority to him. In light of all this, it is best that he prepares for it in the manner he feels is the best.

I think I have been clear from the beginning, you have been shifting poles, to argue that whatever he does should be accepted

Problem with whistle?

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[ZodiaC]

SRT has no option but to play in IPL as ordered by BCCI ... infact it applies to all the big cats in Indian cricket ... otherwise the IPL would have fizzled out ... while SRT has the clout to say no to them but it would ruffle too many feathers and create un-necessary conflict ... so in light of all this he decided to play in the jujubi tontee-tontee and take equivalent time out by cutting down on meaningless odi's I cant believe people dont get such a simple thing. But what is hilarious is that tontee-tontee fans harping about "Representing the country" and all that heavy stuff.... Well if you care about those things the very first step you should do is to stop supporting the krap that is otherwise called tontee-tontee. Because while SRT has found a way to not compromise with Test cricket many of the yengsters will simply not bother about Test match skills if this tontee-tontee cancer spreads ... I will hold my breath for the whistle poodus and amchi mumbai baiz to answer my question.

POTW :two_thumbs_up:

[rahulrulezz]

I am the biggest Sachin's fan and supporter but that doesn't mean I have to agree with whatever he does... I don't agree with the fact that he decided to play ALLL matches in IPL and ALL the matches in Champions league but when it comes to lesser money while playing for India, he decides to give himself rest... Its quite pathetic to be honest

[Anakin]

Here we go again with the money :yawn2:

[Raghav_12]

He is setting the wrong precedent by showing he doesn't have the fitness (or in plain terms' date=' urge) to play international ODIs these days, but can play N number of franchise matches in a month.[/quote']

:haha: He has set enough right precedences to follow. If indian players can follow only some of those right precedences along with this wrong precedence, then indian fans will have no complains.