Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the best example that one player can’t always win you all the matches and tournaments. Despite breaking most of the records in his illustrious international career, Tendulkar still had to wait till 2011 to get his hands on the coveted World Cup trophy.
Team India seem to be in a similar kind of situation where they have their skipper – Virat Kohli – going great guns and on the cusp of multiple batting records while others are not at the same level. But Tendulkar has warned Team India, saying that “one individual can’t win a tournament”.
The Master Blaster also emphasised on his point, saying that players should step up during the crucial moments at the upcoming World Cup.
“I think you will always have a couple of individuals stepping up every game but without team support, you can’t do much. Just because of one individual, you can’t win a tournament. No way. Unless, others chip in at every crucial stage. If that doesn’t happen, there will be disappointment,” Tendulkar said.
Tendulkar is hardly worried that India doesn’t have a settled No. 4; saying that the position can be kept flexible as per team requirement and match situation.
According to him, wrist spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal – are the one breed of bowlers who will perform well in English conditions.
The Aussies read the duo quite well during the ODI series in India but Tendulkar said that it won’t matter much in England.
“Let’s understand this. There are a number of bowlers who have been read well by batters but yet they end up getting a lot of wickets. So Kuldeep and Chahal shouldn’t be too worried about Australia series,” he said, adding both will play a massive role during the middle overs.
“Agreed the Aussies read them well but does that mean they wouldn’t be committing mistakes or can’t be forced to commit mistakes.”
For Tendulkar, the perfect example was Muttiah Muralitharan.
“Murali basically bowled two deliveries – traditional off-breaks and doosra. It’s not that batsmen never read Murali but he still ended up getting wickets,” the Mumbaikar said.
India will start their 2019 World Cup campaign against South Africa in Southampton on June 5.
