Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Sachin Tendulkar
COLOMBO, July 17: Sachin Tendulkar is a pragmatist. He does not get easily rattled by an unfavourable past, nor will he worry himself to death about an ominous future.
“I’m here with an open frame of mind,” the Indian skipper said on the eve of his team’s opening match of the Asia Cup against hosts and World Cup champions Sri Lanka.
“I do not like to think what happened yesterday nor be unduly concerned about what is going to happen in the future. I like to take things as they come. Of course, my aim is to improve,” he said after India’s practice session at the Sara Stadium today.
Though there are obvious limitations with the resources at his command, he was not willing to utter anything negative more so after his comments about the team selection for this tournament created a huge furore.
That was very much evident when he said that he was happy with his bowlers who “really bowled very well at the nets” today.
The Indian skipper was non-commital about the composition of the side for the morrow saying that he would not like to comment anything before taking a look at the match rectangle.
Tendulkar conceded that Sri Lanka had the home advantage which, he rightly pointed, every country enjoys. But he was not willing to dilute his own optimism about his team’s chances. “We have beaten them after the World Cup at Singapore and I think we have a good chance tomorrow.” The bottomline, he stressed, was in getting a “big score”.
The Indian skipper said that his players have been able to recharge their batteries after the arduous tours of South Africa and the Caribbean Islands. “Being with the family helps, both mentally and physically. The break was welcome.”
Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga said that he does not believe that India is a weakened team following the exclusions of Nayan Mongia and Vinod Kambli. “Mongia and Kambli may not be there, but Azhar is back to strengthen the side. I think India is a good side and we are certainly not underestimating them.”
