He first ‘expresses’ anguish, clarifies, but by then match over

Between two soundbytes, one in print this morning and the other that was beamed on TV tonight, Sachin Tendulkar has apparently managed to do what some of the world’s best bowlers once struggled to: dislodge Greg Chappell.

Between two soundbytes, one in print this morning and the other that was beamed on TV tonight, Sachin Tendulkar has apparently managed to do what some of the world’s best bowlers once struggled to: dislodge Greg Chappell.

Stung by remarks allegedly made by Chappell against him, Tendulkar was quoted by The Times of India as having said: “What has hurt us most is if the coach has questioned our attitude. I have given my heart and soul for 17 years. No coach has mentioned even in passing that my attitude was not correct.”

But late tonight, by the time Tendulkar came on CNN-IBN to clarify that the operative word in that damning verdict was the ‘if’, Chappell had resigned.

Story continues below this ad

Not surprisingly, Tendulkar quickly clarified: “My nature is not to get in to fight with anybody. I have got nothing against anyone. I was merely asked a question to which I replied, ‘If the coach has said this, then it hurts.’ And from that it was blown up to something else.”

Tendulkar went on to stress that the team had always been united, and denied that he had a rift with Chappell. And that the entire team was shattered after exiting the World Cup.

But according to early indications, Chappell’s report to the BCCI, which will be presented to a select gathering of top office-bearers, including president Sharad Pawar, on Friday will present a different picture. So will the presentation by Sanjay Jagdale, national selector and manager of the World Cup team.

It may not take players by name but may point to the unhealthy influence wielded by senior players in team selection and their apathy towards the younger players. The report will, in effect, give a hardline section of the BCCI, which was been gunning for some of these senior players, enough reason to go for the ‘kill’.

Story continues below this ad

Sources said most of the senior cricketers in the side, except probably skipper Rahul Dravid, will now have to face extra scrutiny by a humiliated Board.

Interestingly enough, among them could be Tendulkar himself, whose performances in the two key World Cup games was a huge disappointment — 7 against Bangladesh, 57 against Bermuda and 0 against Sri Lanka in the World Cup. “The scores are disappointing no doubt but even more embarrassing is their inability to put up a fight. There’s no blaming any single player. But as a team, they’ll have to be taken to task,” says a former India captain who’s a part of Team Pawar to “revive Indian cricket.” Another official said: “The seniors had full access to all the Board officials but never did we hear anything about seniors vs juniors. Now all this talk after the defeat.” Well, Tendulkar has spoken, Chappell has quit, but this cricket story is far from over.