Salaam Sachin conclave: Tendulkar was a changed player after the Perth century, says Javagal Srinath
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Mumbai: Nov 12, 2013
Javagal Srinath showered praise on Sachin Tendulkar while speaking at India Today’s ‘Salaam Sachin’ conclave. Srinath said that Tendulkar always set high standards for the team.
Srinath talks about Tendulkar after the 1991-92 Australia tour, “The first time I met Sachin was when Karnataka played Mumbai in the Wills Trophy 1989. We knew he was a cut above the rest. Later we went together to Australia. The ton that stands out is the ton at Perth. There was a big crack on the wicket and scored that ton against a good attack. That innings stand out I think. Then I can remember the World Cup, where he did well. He was a changed player after the ton at Perth.”
Srinath said, “Sachin had a sense of humour, although I have seen him more serious. He is such a big figure that even his not-so good jokes also got laughs.”
Bowlers certainly have to work hard against him at the nets. Srinath says, “Sachin and Rahul [Dravid] are such guys who set high standards wherever they go, whether the nets or in a match. If you bowled well to them at the nets before a game was a challenge and if you did well, it helped. We would try our best while bowling in the nets. Anything off-line, he would punish. Then we would have our own competitions where he would set targets. It was a great pleasure to bowl to him at the nets.”
Srinath recalls in India Today’s Conclave, “Sachin asking me to bat at No 3 was something. He came at 1996, he said, ‘Sri number three pe aaja,. Jo bhi karde maarde.’ I got a chance to bat with him at the centre a few times. The way he reads the bowlers is too good. What makes him stand-out is that he is able to get it right more often than not. Of course bowlers would have more plans for him than me. He would tell me what a bowler would do and 90 per cent of the times, he was right. When he got it right, I would look at him and say, “what was it?” He would say, “Tu khel. Then once I was backing away when I faced Allan Donald. Sachin told me he did not like it. The next match I scored and took a few blows. Sachin would never compliment you easily. That helped us raise the bar.”