Sachin Tendulkar names the ‘best cricketing day’ of his life
India’s legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the best cricketing day of his life. The Maestro with the bat considers the 2011 World Cup-winning day as his best moment on the field. On Sunday (16th May), the Master Blaster was speaking in Unacademy’s session aiming at Lessons in resilience during tough times.
“When I saw Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup in 1983, it was an unbelievable experience. I enjoyed it with my friends and I wanted to chase my dream. I decided what may come, I have to focus and chase my dream of lifting the World Cup. In Mumbai, at Wankhede, it was just unbelievable. It was the best cricketing day of my life…Many few things are there which the entire country celebrates,” Tendulkar recounted.
The Master Blaster also shared a heart-touching memory about the famous moment where his teammates lifted him on their shoulders and paraded him around the boundary.
“The victory lap had one incident when Virat and Yusuf Pathan lifted me. I told them to ensure that I do not fall down, it was not just the Indian team that won the World Cup, it was the entire nation. It is all of us who did it,” Tendulkar revealed.
Battling anxiety and fighting through the tough times
Mental health has gained tremendous significance in the COVID-19 times with uncertainty surrounding the players and the cricketing world.
Speaking about his mental preparation before the game, Tendulkar said, “Over a period of time I realised that besides preparing physically for a game, you have to prepare yourself mentally also. In my mind the match started long before I entered the ground. The anxiety levels were very high.”
“I felt the anxiety for 10-12 years, had many sleepless nights before a game. Later on, I started accepting that it was part of my preparation. I made peace with times I was not able to sleep in the night. I would start doing something to keep my mind comfortable,” the batting legend added.
Tendulkar explained his way of dealing with the ups and downs which every sportsperson has to go through some time or another. The Master Blaster emphasised that in such cases, acceptability is the key. Once a player accepts the situation, only then he will start looking for the solution. And then the solution can come from many quarters. Tendulkar narrated an incident of how a hotel staff member helped him in countering a critical batting issue.
“That person got me dosa in the room and after keeping it on the table, he offered advice. He pointed out that my elbow guard was restricting my bat swing, which was actually the case. He helped me address that issue.” Tendulkar added.
Tendulkar also thanked the frontline workers for their endless work ever since the COVID-19 outbreak last year.
“I think it is a difficult time for all of us…the entire medical fraternity, I cannot thank them enough. How they have stayed committed to saving lives, helping so many people, and nobody has complained. Nobody has said, today we do not feel like working. They are saving lives. A big thank you to all of them,” said Tendulkar.
He also appealed one and all to take due care and follow the COVID-19 protocols earnestly.
