Hero Cup 1993: Sachin Tendulkar Talks About His Best Bowling Moment Of His Career

Legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar went down the memory lane to share the thrilling moments of his career while bowling for India. In 1993, India won the Hero Cup, a multi-team tournament that also included the likes of West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

In the semi-final match, India defeated South Africa by two runs in a nail-biting contest. It was Tendulkar who bowled the final over to defend five runs for India.

I hadn’t bowled at all till the 50th over: Sachin Tendulkar

Kepler Wessels’ South Africa were chasing 196 to enter the final, but Indian bowlers showed great fight as they kept the visitors at bay. 

Anil Kumble and Ajay Jadeja picked two wickets each, and Tendulkar just conceded three runs in the last over to help India make their way in the final. 

“I remember I hadn’t bowled at all till the 50th over, not a single ball I had bowled so, and because it was a bit chilly, you know my body was stiff, my fingers were also stiff, and you know I had actually taken a lot of time to warm up, Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel.

“When we met in the middle, I told Azhar that I am more than happy to bowl, and I am confident that I can bowl this over and then it was decided that I would bowl. I had just made a suggestion that I am confident to bowl the last over. If you want me to bowl, I’m okay.

 “Once it was decided, then I said okay, fine. I’m trying to hit the ball on my fingers, and then I am warming up because every ball mattered. Every run mattered there. But the way the crowd was with us was incredible, you know. Each dot ball was appreciated, unbelievably, and that sort of mounted pressure on them,” he added.

I am obviously going to bowl a yorker: Sachin Tendulkar to Vijay Yadav

In the final over, Tendulkar bowled against South Africa’s set batter Brian McMillan(48*) and Allan Donald.

Tendulkar revealed that the final ball of the game, which he bowled a yorker, was already discussed with wicket-keeper Vijay Yadav. 

“When the last ball was to be bowled, till then the keeper was standing right up to the stumps. In the last ball, Vijay Yadav came to me and said, what do you think of the last ball, what are you going to bowl. I said I am obviously going to bowl a yorker.

“So, finally we decided that the keeper has to go back because if there is an inside edge, the keeper can obviously stop and actually there was an inside edge,” Tendulkar said.

India subsequently thumped West Indies in the final by 102 runs, and Tendulkar scored 28* in that game and also got the wicket of West Indies batting great Brian Lara.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Or Brian Lara? Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis Answer Whose Mind They Would Want To Read