‘Sometimes you feel Sachin Tendulkar will get out by mistake!’

Sachin Tendulkar is playing his farewell Test series against West Indies © Getty Images

By Shahbaz Nadeem
 
I had never met Sachin Tendulkar until the third season of Indian Premier League in 2009 when I played alongside him in the Mumbai Indians team. The first time it was just a ‘hi’ ‘hello’ meet but as the season progressed, I got to interact more often with him in the nets. He is as focused in nets as seen in match situation. Even when a bowler gets him out in the nets he gets extremely disappointed.
 
As far as speaking to others in the team is concerned he is often open to helping out others. When I played alongside him, he did have some words for me regarding the speed of the ball, the variations and more importantly how to bowl in a T20-like situation in IPL — which is where I succeeded the most.
 
I ended up playing in the fourth edition against him. It was a nice feeling to think you are bowling to such a great batsman. Somewhere down the line you often think that you should somehow get the wicket so that you can proudly say that I got Sachin out. And at times I even thought he will get out by mistake and I will get that prized wicket!
 
He’s such a fine cricketer. Apart from the passion and determination it’s amazing how he carries himself on and off the field, the way he behaves with others, humble and down to earth.

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— As told to Abhijit Banare

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(Shahbaz Nadeem is the captain of Jharkhand State team and represents Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League)