Aggression Should Be In Your Game: Sachin Tendulkar On U19 World Cup Final Spat

Recently, tense India U19 vs Bangladesh U19 ICC U19 World Cup final turned ugly after players from both sides got physical as soon as Bangladesh hit the winning runs to claim their maiden ICC tournament (across age group).

Speaking about the shoving and pushing on the field that followed India’s U19 World Cup final defeat, Sachin Tendulkar said in crunch moments players should be able to control their emotions.

Two Indians – Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi – and three Bangladeshi players – Md Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan – were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after a few players from both the sides nearly came to blows when Bangladesh beat India by three wickets to win their maiden U-19 World Cup title.

A lot depends on the character – Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar, commenting on whether young players need to learn about sportsman spirit especially in light of what happened in the U-19 World Cup final, said it should come from within.

The veteran cricketer said that one doesn’t need to be vocal and say foul things for showing his/her aggression.

“One can only make an effort to teach individuals, but then a lot depends on the character of an individual. In a crunch moment, one should be able to control certain things and not forget that the whole world is looking up to you. They are following certain things,” Tendulkar said in an interview to Hindustan Times.

“So, I think those are the moments where controlled aggression helps. One needs to be aggressive but being vocal and saying foul things doesn’t mean that you are aggressive. Aggression should be in your game, the way you bat or bowl-that aggression which helps the team and not goes against it,” he added.

Tendulkar believes a lot depends on the guidance and support that a player gets, recounting from his personal experience.

Former cricketers Kapil Dev and Mohammad Azharuddin had earlier urged the BCCI to take strict action against the India U19 players involved in the scuffle.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has charged five players including two from India with violating Article 2.21 of the Code of Conduct for the fracas that followed Bangladesh’s win over India in the U19 World Cup final.

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