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Exclusive: Sachin looks back
Published on Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 19:03, Updated on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 08:39 in 
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Sachin Tendulkar was 16 when he made his debut for India 20 years ago. The nation expected him to score a record haul of centuries and be the greatest batsman of the world. He has done all that and more. “I want to thank the entire nation for all the support and for all the love--I will continue to enjoy the game and what has to happen will happen,” he told CNN-IBN in an interview on the day of his career’s twentieth anniversary.
New Delhi: So much in India has changed since 1989 that you can now virtually not recongnise the country, but there has been one constant indulgence and that person's name is Sachin Tendulkar. CNN-IBN's Sports Editor Gaurav Kalra spoke to the Indian batting maestro, who completed 20 years of international cricket on November 15, 2009.
CNN-IBN: Do you still remember the Karachi morning of November 15, 1989?
Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, I remember. I remember that we fielded first and after the first day, I was so tired that I went to hotel and went to sleep at 6:30 and then woke up at 8:30. I had dinner and then again went on to sleep. Salil Ankola was my room partner and I remember discussing with him that how tiring the first day in Test cricket was and I never thought it will be that tiring.
CNN-IBN: At 16, you were a Test cricketer.
Sachin Tendulkar: Yes, at 16 I got an opportunity and I was grateful but it was an experience. That match was something. It was Kapil Dev's 100th Test match and also Waqar Younis' debut Test.
CNN-IBN: Did you experience stage fright at that point? Did you ever think this is not where I belong just yet?
Sachin Tendulkar: I definitely felt that way. When I was going out to bat in the first innings, the entire stadium was going berserk and it was Wasim Akram bowling from one end and Waqar Younis charging in from the other. I didn't know what was happening.
For a good six-seven minutes, I had no clue what was happening. That entire innings is kind of a blur now. I don't know precisely what happened on each ball. Normally, I do remember but I don't remember much of that innings. But I remember when I got out and came back inside I told myself: 'what have you done? This was not expected out of you. You were supposed to go out there and do well.' I was extremely disappointed and I started doubting my ability and I started thinking if I really belong here.
CNN-IBN: What will you say have been the highest and the lowest points in your international career of 20 years?
Sachin Tendulkar: There have been many wonderful moments. But if I have to single out one, it has to be the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan. The entire atmosphere was something special. Exactly a year before that, people had started counting the number of days left for that match. So that has to be the special match. And the lowest point probably was the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
CNN-IBN: Twenty years is a lot in modern sport. You have to play so much that you have been ravaged by injuries. Has there ever been an occasion where you have said: 'this hurts too much. I have done enough and now I need to give up.' Has that thought ever come into your mind?
Sachin Tendulkar: Not like that. At no stage, I have felt that I should stop and I have had enough. There have been occasions when I have felt that my body is not feeling great. I need to work harder in the gym and get myself in a good condition.
I precisely remember the tennis elbow injury. It was the worst injury I have had so far. It was a difficult phase. I tried every possible treatment but nothing worked. After getting operated which was the last option, and I was pushed to an extent that I had to undergo a surgery.
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Sachin is a great cricketer and more than that the legend
is a real sportsman taking all sorts
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Of course it requires total focus for anyone to achieve what Tendulkar has done...
All other professions
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Tendulkar is playing cricket for 20 years and most of the records are in his name. No other cricketer is
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Why does the Indian media go gaga over these cricketers? There are better and more important things to cover. Cover
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