Tendulkar feels India could have got close to Australia's 359 in 2003 WC final if it were T20 age

05/24/2017

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Sachin Tendulkar has said T20 cricket has changed batting in ODIs so much that India could have got close to Australia's mammoth 359 in the 2003 World Cup final had it been now. Tendulkar also heaped praise on former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur for his support in his early days.

India were bundled out for 234 and lost the 2003 World Cup final by 125 runs in Johannesburg. "I feel if we were allowed to play that match today, the players will approach that game differently," Tendulkar was quoted as saying by PTI.

"We were all charged up, we went out to field and right from over one, it was that big moment, unbelievably charged up. (If the) same players are given an opportunity, we will approach it (that game) differently."

During a special screening of the highlights of his upcoming biopic Sachin 'A Billion Dreams' for the media, the 44-year-old said, "(Players would have approached) differently only because of introduction of T20, in those days 358 (359) looked (a) Herculean task, it will be today as well but it will be closer than 2003.”

"We have also on number of occasions got 325-340 runs and that is because the format has changed, the rules have changed a little bit. The conditions have also changed (than) what we got there, I just feel the mindset has changed because of the introduction of T20 and the calculations are different.”

Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan as a 16-year-old schoolboy and remembered how the late Raj Singh, a former BCCI president and chairman of selectors, didn't pick so that he could focus on his exams.

"Raj bhai clearly told me focus on your exams, you are not going to West Indies (in 1989). This was during semi-finals of Ranji Trophy, we were playing Delhi and I was having a net session in the morning. (I) clearly remember Raj bhai walking up to me and said Sachin, after this Ranji Trophy, you focus on your SSC exams. You will play for India, but you are not going to West Indies. Raj bhai has always been extremely supportive. Raj Bhai has played huge role in my life," remembered the Master Blaster.

Tendulkar also revealed that his childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar will watch the movie on Wednesday.

Did you know, Tendulkar is the only player who has 40 wickets and more than 11000 runs in Tests.

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