‘Indian cricket went through a dark phase’: Sachin Tendulkar’s big reveal on captaincy
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has offered insight into his failed stints as India captain, admitting that he was not always in complete control of team selection during his leadership years in the 1990s.Tendulkar, who has represented India across formats in an international career spanning 24 years, addressed the topic during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Reddit on Tuesday. He also named his favorite Indian captains and shared his admiration for South African captain Temba Bavuma.The batting great, who made his international debut on November 15, 1989 and retired on November 16, 2013, described leading India as a huge honour. However, he admitted that the role came with limitations, especially when it came to selecting the playing XI.“It was a great honor to lead the team as captain. But I didn’t always have the freedom to pick my team all by myself. The BCCI is a much more professional organization today than it was in the 1990s. Indian cricket also went through a particularly dark phase during that period,” Tendulkar said.
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Despite his status as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game, Tendulkar’s two separate spells as India’s captain in the 1990s did not produce the desired results.
Tendulkar names Ganguly and Dhoni as favorite captains
When asked about his preferred leaders, the former Indian captain picked Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni, both of whom played significant roles in shaping Indian cricket.“When it comes to my favorite captains, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni would definitely top my list!!,” Tendulkar said.Both captains shared memorable World Cup moments with Tendulkar. Under Ganguly, India reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa, finishing second.Meanwhile, Dhoni led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title on home soil, allowing Tendulkar to fulfill his long-held dream of winning the tournament.
Tendulkar praises Temba Bavum’s leadership
Tendulkar also had words of appreciation for South Africa captain Thembu Bavuma as he praised the right-handed batsman for leading his team from the front and producing impressive results.“I really admire the spirit of Temba Bavuma. He led from the front and achieved remarkable results for South African cricket. Winning the ICC in South Africa is great for world cricket!”Bavuma’s leadership has been backed by strong performances from the Proteas, including their 2-1 Test series win over Australia in the three-match competition.The South Africa captain played a key role in the turnaround, scoring a career-best 179 in the second Test. In the series-deciding third Test at Newlands, off-spinner Simon Harmer produced a match-winning performance, taking 10 wickets in the game, including figures of 6/16 in the second innings.Harmer’s effort helped South Africa dismiss Australia for just 111 on the final day to seal the series 2-1.
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