Lockdown helps reveal cricket's long-kept secrets

Even as the world of cricket grapples with the dilemma of when and how to return to action its long-kept (fun) secrets have started to leak through the custodians who had done well until now to deprive the fans of them. Thanks to interactive sessions on social media due to the current lockdown, we now know when Sachin Tendulkar lost cool on the field, or what was going through Mohammad Kaif’s mind during the famous chase at Lords.

What we know so far…

Sachin’s golden idea

Sachin Tendulkar revealed that he suggested the idea of promoting MS Dhoni ahead of Yuvraj Singh in the final of 2011 World Cup. Sachin said that he asked Virender Sehwag in the dressing room to go to the balcony and suggest this idea to coach Gary Kirsten and captain MSD. What happened later is documented in golden letters in the history of Indian cricket.

Tears, sweat, blood… and bladder

It takes a lot to win the world cup - sometimes more than the skills and strategies that are executed on the field. Virender Sehwag revealed that during the Indian chase in 2011 World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar decreed him to not move an inch from where the former was sitting, not even for the toilet break. Sehwag would have never thought in his dreams that the ‘pressure’ of playing in the world cup final could mean something so different.

Mohammad Kaif’s ‘hum kisi se kam nahi’ moment

Kaif, today, is credited with scripting the chase that ushered in the wave of New Team India. In many ways, the Natwest trophy final win in England was the first time Sourav Ganguly’s hard work as a captain had yielded an exceptional result the country had expected from the young squad. But during the final, Ganguly trusted Yuvraj Singh more when it came to big-hitting. Kaif said that Dada shouted from the balcony to get Yuvraj Singh on strike even as the required run-rate climbed up. Kaif hit the next ball for six and walked up to Yuvraj and said, “Hum Bhi Khelne Aaye hain.” (I am also here to play). It is believed that Ganguly did not instruct Kaif after that. However, he did jump on the hero of the match after he had seen India home.

When God got angry

In a career that lasted 24 years, there were very few moments when Sachin Tendulkar got angry on field on opponents, let alone his teammates. However, in 1998, during the Coca Cola Cup when India were chasing 285 against Australia for a place in the final, Sachin lost his cool. Maybe it was the pressure of the game or the heat of Sharjah, the Master Blaster ended up shouting at his batting partner VVS Laxman. Sachin revealed that later his brother Ajit Tendulkar scolded him for doing so.

The hopeful hop of Kangaroos

During the Adelaide Test, Australian bowling attack led by Glenn McGrath decided to bowl outside off to Sachin Tendulkar. The plan was to prevent Sachin from scoring boundaries and at the same time get him trapped by making him play from the body. But the master that Sachin was he told McGrath that he could bowl there the entire day. The plan failed as Sachin did not fell for the bait and returned the next day to score runs.

[ With HT inputs ]