Thaindian News

Mumbai, Nov 13 (IANS) Even after 20 rigorous years in international cricket, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is still looking for improvement in his game.
Tendulkar, who will complete 20 years of international cricket Sunday, feels that right from the day when he got his first India cap till date he has always tried to make himself a better cricketer and has always looked for improvement.

“I have always tried to make myself a better cricketer and always found that there is a room for improvement. Whenever I go out for practice there is always a purpose and I have continued doing that till date. That’s how you keep moving forward,” he said addressing a media conference here Friday.

Reflecting on the years that have passed by, the 36-year-old Tendulkar said: “The most important moment of my life was the day I got my India cap (Nov 15 in Karachi). I was on cloud nine. After that there have been many great moments, but that day will always be special. Twenty years is a long time and right from the time I walked out to play my first Test in Pakistan and whatever I did after that was a mere reflection of my contribution to the nation’s cause.”

Tendulkar said that he never had a dull moment during his debut series in Pakistan in 1989.

“The tour was tough and we played some terrific cricket. It was party time there and that is something I will always remember. So many pictures were taken and every now and then you see those photographs. I never had a dull moment in the entire series. Lahore was a flatest track and in the remaining three surfaces (Faisalabad, Karachi and Sialkot) there was bounce and pace,” he recalled.

Tendulkar feels that a lot has changed since his debut series for the good of cricket.

“From third umpire to Twenty20, a lot has changed in cricket. But Twenty20 has been the most noticeable change. We have seen plenty of innovative shots now being played in Test cricket due to Twenty20. Even the average score in ODIs has gone up, and now Test matches are having some result and they are not boring any more,” he said.

Tendulkar thanked his family for always giving him the support.

“I have put in lot of hard work and there are certain things that all sportsmen have to follow, like setting priorities, dedication and determination. But I was always lucky to have a great family where my brother, father and mother always supported me,” he said.

“It was the combination of forces that always made me successful. Whatever I do and wherever I perform, I have more than a billion people to share it with me. When I go out to bat, I am not alone and represent all of them,” he said.