Opening burst on English tracks will be extremely critical – Sachin Tendulkar

With the 2019 World Cup just a few days away, we caught up with Sachin Tendulkar to know his thoughts on the mega event. The Indian legend realized his dream of winning the World Cup in 2011 and remains the highest run-getter in the competition’s history. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Your favourite World Cup memory other than winning the 2011 World Cup?

It has to be the 2003 World Cup match that we played against Pakistan at Centurion. The buildup for that match was terrific. I remember a lot of friends telling me, whatever happens in other matches is okay but you have to win this one. I said we are going there to win a tournament, not just one game.

On the match day, when we left from the hotels and got close to the stadium, we could see one side of the road full of Indian fans with flags in their hands. The other side was packed with Pakistani fans holding their flags. The buzz inside the stadium, I have never experienced anything like that. Things which happened before the match, during the match and after the match, make it a very special memory for me.

How do you rate India’s bowling attack at this World Cup?

I think India’s bowling attack is fantastic. We have Bhuvaneshwar Kumar who swings the ball beautifully. Mohammed Shami is a bowler who likes to attack, he is skiddier than you think. Jasprit Bumrah is deceptive. He has incredible variations like yorkers and slower balls at his disposal. I feel we have good seam bowling support in Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar.

Our wrist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have lots of variations up their sleeve, and they will play a critical role in those in-between overs. Ravindra Jadeja can bowl those quick overs and keep things under control. Adding Kedar Jadhav’s off-spin to that, it’s a brilliant package.

In Dhoni, Virat & Rohit, India has three players with captaincy experience. How do you think their presence will help the team?

To me, everyone in the team is a captain. One guy has to take the call, and that is, of course, Virat but I feel everyone has to take the ownership. Whatever comes to your mind, it is important to share with the captain. I feel the captain should have multiple options and then he can take the final call – be it the field setting, or choosing the bowler or the batting order. Whenever I played, I liked to share my thoughts with the captain.

Does a tournament of this magnitude place extra pressure on the players?

For me, it was a huge honour to represent the nation, no matter which tournament I was participating in. You just need to go out and do the basics right and the results will follow. Of course, it is easier said than done. I know the World Cup is a massive occasion and the whole world will focus on it but it is important to follow the basics.

Shikhar Dhawan has revelled in these high-pressure ICC tournaments. Your thoughts on his role in the World Cup.

Shikhar has been magnificent. The consistency he has shown is incredible. He is someone who can put a lot of pressure on the opposition if he goes through the early phase. He is equally adept at hitting boundaries and rotating the strike. His presence will also ensure the left-right combination at the crease which makes things difficult for the fielding side – fielders have to be on the move, bowlers have to adjust their lines and lengths constantly. So having Shikhar bat till 30-40 overs will be great for the team.

Referring to the Champions Trophy 2017 final, can one good bowler take the match away despite the flat pitches? 

I think the first spell will be really crucial. Upfront, there will be some movement for the bowlers with the seam sticking up. In the first 3-4 overs, if the bowlers have good seam position, the ball will swing and seam. In the Champions Trophy 2017 final, Mohammad Amir bowled an excellent spell. He removed Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli in just around six overs, you can’t ask for more. I feel the opening burst will be very critical and breakthroughs upfront will force the batting sides to think differently.

Who are your four semi-finalists for this World Cup?

My prediction for the top four would be India, England, Australia and…I am slightly doubtful about the fourth team. I think it will be one between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Which team according to you is the dark horse in this World Cup?

West Indies are a good team and if they gain momentum, they will be the team to beat.

What do you make of Afghanistan’s chances at this World Cup? 

Afghanistan has a wonderful bowling attack. I have not seen much of their batting, but I have seen a few of their players in the IPL. Their bowlers are capable of taking wickets in the middle overs. I think they should bowl as if it is a Test match and challenge the opposition batsmen to play risky shots.