ICC World Cup 2019 | Just because of one individual, you can't win a tournament, says Sachin Tendulkar
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Sachin Tendulkar has stated that team India cannot win the tournament while banking massively on Virat Kohli and others need to step up as well during crucial times. Tendulkar has also asserted that India have enough ammunition in their artillery to solve the No. 4 problem in their batting line-up.
Kohli has been in an ominous form in recent times, especially in shorter formats. He has not only scored massive runs at the top but also carried the team single-handedly over the line on a regular basis. Kohli’s numbers in ODI cricket are mind-boggling and enter the tournament as the man in form for India.
However, Sachin Tendulkar has said that India cannot afford to bank on one player particularly and need other players to step up as well. He expects one or two players to step up in every game and if that doesn’t happen there will be a lot of disappointment in the side. As a matter of fact, India have banked heavily on their top-three while the middle-order hasn’t been very effective.
"I think you will always have a couple of individuals stepping up every game but without team support, you can't do much. Just because of one individual, you can't win a tournament. No way. Unless, others chip in at every crucial stage. If that doesn't happen, there will be disappointment," Tendulkar responded, reported TOI.
India’s No.4 batting slot has been the talk of the town for a while now and India enter the World without the problem being solved. However, Tendulkar feels there is no need to panic as India have enough players who can get the job done on a given day.
"I think we have batsmen, who can do the job. Number four is just a number and it can be adjusted. I particularly don't see No 4 as a problem. Our boys have played enough cricket to know their roles whether it is No 4, 6 or 8. Situational awareness is the key," Tendulkar said.
It’s a fact that the balance of the game is heavily tilted in the favour of batsman and life of a bowler has only become miserable. Tendulkar shed light on the issue and opined that the use of two new balls have made the life of a batsman easier.
"It's become one sided with introduction of two new balls and flat pitches have made lives of bowlers much more difficult. One team is scoring 350 and the other is chasing down inside 45 overs. The ball is staying hard. I mean when was the last time you saw reverse swing in ODIs?" asked Tendulkar.
"When we played and there was one new ball, it would start reversing from 28th or 30th over. Some teams could get it to reverse even earlier. At the death, the ball would go soft, even get discoloured. These were challenges that batsmen faced. But now the ball remains hard and the bats are getting better," Tendulkar added.
To counter-attack this problem, Tendulkar suggested that the tracks should offer some help to the bowlers if two balls are being used in ODIs. The pitches these days are extremely flat and no less than a paradise for the batsman. Tendulkar backs the idea of using just one ball in the ODIs, which will also bring reverse swing into play.
"I think some thought needs to go into this. Either prepare helpful tracks if you have two new balls so that there is some help upfront. Or else go back to the old one new ball system which aids reverse swing. Whatever but do something for the bowlers."
