Sachin Tendulkar's exploits with the bat don't need a retelling, nor his trademark straight drive or the paddle sweep that he made his own during the course of his 24-year international career. On his 53rd birthday, we decided to revisit another version of the Little Master that got lost in the lazy narratives set by a section of the media, and perhaps, some former cricketers. As a captain, he was a clear communicator, the leader his own dressing room swore by, but the outside world never quite grasped. That long-held myth was dismantled by his former Mumbai teammate Jatin Paranjpe in the simplest terms.
While speaking exclusively to Sports Now, Paranjpe, who had also played for India, stated that Tendulkar never quite got credit for the kind of captain he was and pointed out that he has been unfairly regarded as an ordinary captain, adding that Mumbai cricketers who have played under him would know his credentials as a captain and what an astute cricket brain he had.
"Every player, he spoke to differently. As for how he perceived the player, he spoke to the player in that way. So, really good captain. But I think he was unlucky that he could not come up with the results when he captained India," he added.
The numbers, however, betrayed him. Leading India during a transitional phase with a weaker bowling attack and brutal overseas schedules, Tendulkar’s captaincy never got the results that shape public memory. And in cricket, perception often hardens into a verdict.
"I think those were the times when our bowling was not as strong as it is today. And I think some tough tours also at that time. Overseas tours. So, I think he was just a little bit unlucky with the calendar as well. But I mean, my view will not change that he was a damn good captain," he stated.
Talking about his favourite Tendulkar knock, Paranjpe recalled the innings he played against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy semi-final in 2000 that helped Mumbai win by 8 wickets. He was unbeaten in both innings, scoring 233 in the first innings and 13 in the second.
"233 vs Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy semi-final. This was in 2000," he was quick to remind.
If Paranjpe picked Tendulkar's 233 in the Ranji Trophy semi-final as his best knock, his longtime Mumbai andIndiateammate Pravin Amre went back in time to pick his century on debut against Delhi in the Irani Cup as the best he had seen him play under trying circumstances when he was barely 15. Although it came at a losing cause, it earned him his India selection.
"I think it was the Irani Cup and I was the 12th man in that match. It was inMumbai. That famous story of Gursharan Singh playing with one hand to help him get a 100. I rate that innings very highly because of the pressure against Delhi and the kind of temperament he had shown. He was not sure whether Gursharan, who was injured, was going to bat. With wickets falling at the other end, it was difficult for him to get to his century. But then he did. A century on debut in Ranji Trophy, a century in debut in Irani Trophy," he concluded.
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