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Never mind Chappell, what about Kambli? 5 questions Sachin should answer in his book
by Jigar Mehta Nov 5, 2014 9:45 IST
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The excerpts from Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography 'Playing it My Way', have done their job. They have been moving – the revelation that he considered quitting cricket after failing as captain – and controversial, with Greg Chappell cast in the role of manipulative ring master.
Taken all together, they have whetted our appetite for the main course. Here's a list of things we hope to find when we get our hands on the book today.
How did the match-fixing scandal affect Tendulkar and why has he never talked about it?
For many fans of Indian cricket, the revelations of match fixing in 1999-2000 changed their relationship with the game forever. It cost India a captain in Mohammad Azharuddin and it took until that magical Test in Kolkata in 2001 for the joy to return. Tendulkar was the batting heart of Azhar's team but has always refused to comment on what he may have heard or seen during those years. Nor has he said anything about how the revelations affected him as a player and a person.
The book would be a wonderful opportunity to set that record straight.
What damaged his friendship with Vinod Kambli?
Tendulkar and Kambli will always be inextricably linked. It was actually Kambli who had the higher score in that famous 664-run partnership playing for Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier's High School in an inter-school match. The pair were known to be good friends.
Yet in Tendulkar's farewell speech, Kambli's name was conspicuous by its absence. Personal details are what make or break an autobiography. Explaining what happened with Kambli will help us discover a little more about Tendulkar.
Sudden Retirement from ODIs
Tendulkar's Test farewell was orchestrated and elaborate. Yet Tendulkar's one-day retirement came suddenly and without warning, despite his being arguably the greatest ever one-day player, having amassed 18, 426 runs with 49 centuries from 463 matches.
Tendulkar has talked about deciding to retire from Test cricket but there has been no such conversation around his one-day career. Did the BCCI force his hand? Did he just decide he didn't have it in him to play 50-overs anymore? What made him want to keep playing Tests but not limited overs cricket?
Tendulkar the bowler
We have all heard the stories about Tendulkar bowling in the nets. How he could just amble up to the crease and bowl inswingers and outswingers, offspin and legspin. Javagal Srinath once said he had to explain to Tendulkar that bowling outswingers did not come naturally to him, as they did for Tendulkar.
Imbued such natural talent, does Tendulkar think he could have made more of his bowling? Did he ever want to become a fully-fledged allrounder? Or is he satisfied with what he accomplished?
How did Tendulkar handle his World Cup disappointments?
For almost 20 years, winning the World Cup seemed like the one goal Tendulkar would fail to achieve in his career. There was the loss in the 2003 final and the trauma of 2007's disastrous campaign before there was the glory of 2011.
The way a player handles disappointment is often what shapes him or her. There is much to be gleaned from a look inside Tendulkar's mind when the cricketing Gods had laid him low.
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