Sachin Tendulkar On Test Debut: Was Almost "In Tears, Embarrassed"
Published - 26 Apr 2020, 02:06 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:05 AM
Sachin Tendulkar made a ‘clueless’ beginning to his Test career but went on to represent the national team in 200 matches in the longest format. It was pure discipline, belief and skill which enabled him to reach the distance. His Test debut came in 1989 on India’s tour of Pakistan at Karachi.
Sachin Tendulkar was straight away served with plenty of challenge on the face as he had to face a formidable Pakistan bowling attack, in fact the best in business till date. Years from then, in an interaction with Nasser Hussain on Skysports, Tendulkar opened up on the challenges, embarrassment he faced on his Test debut.
Sachin Tendulkar: I was clueless as if I was playing a school match
Sachin Tendulkar walked in the middle after Manoj Prabhakar was cleaned up by pace legend Waqar Younis. Facing the big names on debut was a challenge for the youngster, which he admits left him embarrassed. Tendulkar felt like he was playing a school match on his Test debut.
“I was clueless, I have to admit that. I played the first Test as if I was playing a school match,” Sachin told Nasser Hussain during the ‘Nasser meets Sachin’ episode on SkySports.
Tendulkar gave away his wicket to Waqar Younis in the first Test for 15 runs. He recalled, the deadly pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis bowling out their skins, delivering short balls and leaving him in tatters. However, Tendulkar returned in the second Test, and left a mark with a gritty half-century.
“Wasim and Waqar were bowling quick, and they were delivering short balls and all sorts of intimidating things they could do. I had never experienced anything like that, so the first outing wasn’t a pleasant one.
“Occasionally, I got beaten by their pace and bounce, and when I got out on 15, I felt embarrassed when I walked back to the dressing room.
“I was like ‘what have you done, why did you play like this’ and then when I reached the dressing room, I went straight to the bathroom, and I was almost in tears.”
The embarrassing start went on to be converted into historic figures. Tendulkar retired with 15921 Test runs at an average of 53.78 laced with an extra-ordinary 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries.
