No one can talk about Sachin: Srinivasan

NEW DELHI: BCCI president N Srinivasan on Monday refused to be drawn into a debate on whether it was time for Sachin Tendulkar to call it quits from Test cricket, saying he is the "greatest batsman India has produced" and it won't be fair to the batsman to discuss about his retirement.

Asked whether the BCCI was giving special treatment to Tendulkar when compared to the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, both of whom are presently out of the team due to non-performance, Srinivasan said, "I don't think any one us can talk about Sachin (Tendulkar)".

"Sachin is probably the greatest cricketer India has ever produced. I don't think it is wise to sit and analyse his performance series wise," Srinivasan said.

Srinivasan's personal opinion was that Tendulkar has no comparison as he belongs to an altogether different league.

"Sachin is different from others. This is my personal view and I distinguish between selection matters and personal view," the BCCI chief said.

Srinivasan also refused to react to a column by renowned historian and cricket writer, Ramachandra Guha where he said that Tendulkar should have retired on a high, like Vijay Merchant, who quit international cricket after scoring a flawless century against England in 1951.

"It's not fair to be quizzed about Sachin because I am not a selector. I don't think we should be discussing this. It's not fair on Sachin to be discussed at all," the BCCI president said.

Tendulkar scored a solid 81 in the first Test in Chennai but failed to score any other big knock in India's historic 4-0 clean sweep against Australia in the four-match series.

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'BCCI's faith in team & captain justified'

NEW DELHI: The 4-0 clean sweep against Australia in the just-concluded Test series has justified the BCCI's faith in the team and its leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni, according to Board president N Srinivasan who said a "stern" test awaits the team when they tour South Africa.

Lauding India for its historic series victory over the Australians, Srinivasan said the Board "always had confidence in the team" despite its below-par performances in recent times.

"It is very nice to see India winning. We always had the confidence in the team. We understood that the team was going through a period of transition after some great stalwarts of Indian cricket chose to retire. But I think our faith in the team, the captain and the players have been justified," he told a news channel.

"Cricket is a sport. In sport you cannot be winning all the time. I don't think that the Indian players want to lose. They also want to win, they fought hard. Sometimes they had bad luck, circumstances were against them. But overall, we should be proud of our cricketers," he said.

Srinivasan was particularly happy with the way India bounced back after the 1-2 defeat at the hands of England at home in the previous series, but said stern tests awaits Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men when they tour South Africa later this year.

"Against England I thought may be were little bit unlucky at times, but the team regrouped and performed extremely well against Australia. But we will have tests in South Africa and New Zealand towards the end of this year and early part of next year.

"But all of that is part of building of a team and the character of the players will also come out," he said.

The BCCI chief, however, refused to comment on the selectors' decision to drop the frontline opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for under-performance during the series against Australia.

"I don't comment on selection matters. But I think overall the selectors have been very sincere and have been trying their best looking at the present and future of Indian cricket," Srinivasan said.

Without directly stating that Sehwag and Gambhir's exclusion was the correct decision, Srinivasan praised the performances of Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan.

"I don't have to say that," was his immediate reaction when asked whether the changes made in the team have borne out results or not.

"What we should be happy about is the performances of Shikhar Dhawan, Pujara and Vijay. The team is looking different, looking confident. The bowlers also have performed well," he said.

Asked whether it would be difficult for the likes of Sehwag and Gambhir to make a comeback in the team, Srinivasan said, "It is for the selectors to answer. All I can say is that the team looks good."

Srinivasan spoke highly of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is also the skipper of his IPL team Chennai Super Kings.

"He (Dhoni) has always been playing a good role. He has always been an outstanding player. We can't forget that he has captained India to two World Cup wins. He is an experienced captain. I think he has sailed well through all ups and downs," the BCCI president said.

Srinivisan also refused to give a direct answer when asked whether he backed Dhoni when the selectors at one point of time thought of replacing the wicketkeeper-batsman as skipper after the disastrous tour of England and Australia.

"It is not proper to discuss what happens in a selection meeting. But the constitution of the BCCI does say that the president has to approve the national team," Srinivasan said.

"I definitely believed that the team should be backed," he said.

Talking about the fate of Sri Lankan players, who are uncertain to play in Chennai in the upcoming IPL in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Srinivasan hoped that the matter will be sorted out before the commencement of the Twenty20 league on April 3.

"These are operational matters, we have got an event management company in IMG to deal with," he said.

"I believe the government of Tamil Nadu is extremely capable of handling any situation. There is absolutely no problem of law and order here. IPL is some time away and these are issues I think will get sorted out.

"India is a safe place. Every state in India is safe to play cricket," Srinivasan said.

Asked about the recent CBI raids at his residence regarding the non-payment of custom duties of 11 imported cars, Srinivasan said, "No car was taken away and its not 11 cars as stated. I was not even in India.

"I believe there was a visit, some checking took place because the CBI was possibly looking at some offender not directly related to us. They just wanted to verify some facts which they did," he said.

"India Cements has paid all duties on everything which are applicable. We never defaulted on anything," he added.

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Srini hints he stopped Dhoni's sacking

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket board president N Srinivasan hinted that the board's constitution gives him the power to approve any decision of the national selectors, including that on the captain.

When a television anchor asked whether there was substance in the media reports that selectors were under pressure to sack Mahendra Singh Dhoni after India lost four Tests in England and another four in Australia, but you had backed him, all that Srinivasan would say was "it is not proper to discuss selection matters. The constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does say that the president has to approve the national team."

When the anchor rephrased the question and asked: "So, you have the last word as president?"

Srinivasan: "That's what the constitution of the BCCI says."

Asked whether Dhoni should choose to drop the shorter versions of the game format, as suggested by some experts including former captain Rahul Dravid, Srinivasan said it is for the selectors to take the call.

"The selectors are there to take a call. We have an experienced group of selectors. It is for them to decide. But personally I feel that Dhoni is discharging the duties (captaining in all three formats) well," he said.

Former India selector Mohinder Amarnath had claimed that the last selection committee headed by Kris Srikkanth unanimously agreed to sack Dhoni after the team's whitewash in England and Australia. But Srinivasan reportedly didn't approve the move.

Asked if he spoke to Dhoni when the team was going through a tough phase, Srinivasan said: "All the Indian players are aware that the board is behind them. The BCCI has given confidence to the players that they should play their game. We will watch their back."

Srinivasan said Dhoni is very experienced captain and given the glorious uncertainties of the game he has sailed the team well.

"During this season, his innings against England and the double hundred against Australia were game changers. He has always been an outstanding player. He gave us two World Cups. He is very experienced captain. Everybody will agree that given the glorious uncertainties of cricket Dhoni has sailed well," he said.

Incidentally, Dhoni who captains Srinivasan-owned Chennai Super Kings is now also the vice-president of a Chennai-based corporate.

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'Yuvraj has inspired to climb Everest'

NEW DELHI: Arunima Sinha, who lost her left leg two years ago after being thrown off a moving train, says cricketer Yuvraj Singh has inspired her to make an attempt to scale the highest peak in the world -- the Mount Everest.

The fateful train journey ruined the career of a budding volleyball player who wanted to represent India. But, the steely resolve of the 26-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh could not diminish her interest in sport.

This time, though, its mountaineering. "The four months I spent at the AIIMS were like a bad dream. I have moved on. I have lot of unfulfilled dreams, out of which one is to climb the Everest. Hopefully, I will be able to achieve this feat," Arunima said, adding that she had decided to climb the mountain when she was still being treated at the hospital.

On an artificial limb now, Arunima says she has drawn inspiration from Yuvraj Singh, besides her family members.

"When I was training for this expedition, I used to think if Yuvraj Singh can battle a dangerous disease like cancer and play for India again, even I can climb the Everest being an amputee," she said.

Being an amputee, Arunima recognises the hardships that await her during the expedition and has been briefed by Mark Inglis, who is the only double amputee in the world to have climbed Mount Everest.

"I asked him about the problems I could face in the scaling of the peak. He was very kind in advising me and boosting my confidence," she said.

Arunima has undergone arduous training for over a year under the guidance of Bachendri Pal, who is the first Indian woman to have conquered the Everest.

"I have never seen a girl with so much determination. She is very focused towards her target and her mental strength is exemplary. I think she has all the qualities of being a successful mountaineer," Bachendri, who heads the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), said.

Susen Mahato, hailing from Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand will accompany Arunima.

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India keep ODI top spot, MSD in top-10

DUBAI: Team India maintained their top position in the latest ICC ODI ranking list with 119 points followed by England and Australia.

According to the fresh list issued on Monday, India is closely followed by England on 117 points and Australia are third on 116 points.

Since India top the table as per cut-off date, they will receive the shield and will collect a cheque of $175,000, while England will receive $75,000 for finishing second.

Rising star Virat Kohli and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni maintained their third and fourth rank in the list with 812 and 784 points respectively.

The other two Indian players in the top-20 list are Suresh Raina on 12th spot and discarded Gautam Gambhir who has gained three places to 15th.

South African batsmen AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla are first and second on the list.

In the ODI bowlers' list, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja moved two slots up the order to grab the seventh place with 663 points. The table is headed by Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

All-rounder Jadeja maintained his fifth position in the All-rounder's table with 333 points. Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan displaced Pakistan's T20 captain Mohammed Hafeez to get back his top ranking.

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India record 6th home series win vs Oz

NEW DELHI: Australia's 4-0 whitewash on Sunday is the sixth time that India have defeated the visitors in 12 Test series held in the country.

This was the first time India have won four Test matches in a series and the fourth time that Australia have suffered a whitewash.

Of a total of 12 Test series held in India between the two countries, the hosts have won six times, lost four and drawn two. In the last eight series, India have dominated the Australians winning six, losing just once and drawing one.

Following is the result of all the Test series held in India between the two countries:

1956-57, Australia 2 India 0

1959-60, Australia 2 India 1

1964-65, Australia 1 India 1

1969-70, Australia 3 India 1

1979-80, India 2 Australia 0

1986-87, Australia 0 India 0 Tie 1

1996-97, India 1 Australia 0

1997-98, India 2 Australia 1

2000-01, India 2 Australia 1

2004-05, Australia 2 India 1

2008-09, India 2 Australia 0

2013-14, India 4 Australia 0

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Team showed a lot of character: Dhoni

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday applauded his team for a 4-0 series whitewash against Australia, saying every player showed character to come out with flying colours of what has been a tough phase for Indian cricket in the last one and a half years.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

"It is a big boost to win 4-0 with this unit. Credit goes to every one. The last one and a half years has not been great for us in Tests, but they showed a lot of character, put in good performance and battled it out," Dhoni said at the post match presentation ceremony.

"You need to battle it out and that was the case in this series," he added.

India suffered a series whitewash against both England and Australia last year, before they went down to England 1-2 once again at their own backyard.

India, however, got their act together to complete a historic 4-0 clean sweep against Australia by recording an emphatic six-wicket victory in the fourth and final cricket Test, and Dhoni felt it was an important series from the team's point of view.

"I think it was an important series for us, there were a few changes in the side. It was up to the individuals to rise up and do well. I think they all did it, everybody performed."

The captain said the fact that India batted second in every Test on the series but still managed to come out victorious, says a lot about the current side.

"Almost all the pitches were turning, and on all the wickets we batted second, which meant we had to face the (Aussie) bowlers in the fourth innings, we all know how difficult that is," said Dhoni.

He said the Kotla wicket was slightly better on Sunday as compared to Saturday.

"This wicket I thought it got slightly better ... I may be wrong, but I thought yesterday was harder to bat on. The new ball did not turn as much," he said.

A satisfied Dhoni said the team would enjoy a little time off before regrouping for the Champions Trophy in June.

"We get some time off now -- no international cricket -- and can regroup before the Champions Trophy."

Man of the Series, Ravichandran Ashwin, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the four-Test rubber with 29 scalps, said he made a few changes in his bowling technique after the home series against England.

"Everything has gone pretty well, there were a few changes I had to make after the England series. Very happy at how it has come out. I had to work on my delivery stride. We had very little time, I was lucky to have a coach to identify it pretty quickly," said Ashwin.

"I definitely needed a kick on the backside and they gave me one," he added.

Talking about the Kotla pitch, Ashwin said, "It was quite a tricky wicket for both batsmen and bowlers. I thought (Cheteshwar) Pujara played a terrific innings today. (Ravindra) Jadeja managed to trouble the Aussie batsmen. "

Asked if he was satisfied with his performance in this series, Ashwin replied, "Satisfaction is not something intend to attain, hopefully I can build on this."

Jadeja, who won the Man of the Match award, said he was just looking to take as many wickets as possible.

"I did well in this game. The wicket helped the spinners so I was bowling well. Just wanted to get as many as possible.

"Unfortunately, I didn't score much runs with the bat, but I bowled well in the series. I'm used to playing on such wickets in Rajkot. I was bowling in the right areas and the rest the wicket was doing," Jadeja, who claimed seven wickets in the fourth Test and score valuable 43 runs in India's first innings, said.

Meanwhile, Australian stand-in-skipper Shane Watson said 150-200 on this track was a good total but his bowlers failed to do the job.

"It was a hard fought Test, going into the game this is what I asked of the team. We gave it everything we had. We were up for it, but unfortunately things did not go according to plan with the ball in the second innings.

"We always thought 150-200 on this wicket if we bowled well was going to be enough but we just did not bowl as well as we would have wanted to," said Watson.

He conceded that Pujara took the game away from the visitors.

"Pujara batted very nicely to take it away from us," he said.

Watson said that it was a great learning curve for an inexperienced Aussie side.

"This is really as foreign as you get to playing cricket for an Australian cricket team. It's been a great learning curve for all of us. Everyone has got a hell of a lot out of this tour," said Watson.

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Has Sachin played his last Test in India?

NEW DELHI: There was a certain buzz as Sachin Tendulkar walked to the wicket on this hazy Sunday afternoon; nobody was saying it loudly but on the minds of thousands of adoring fans there was a question -- has the batting maestro played his last international match in India?

For 24 years over 198 Tests, 463 ODIs and a single T20 match, every time he has come out to bat or made his way back to the pavilion he has been cheered in virtually every single cricket ground in the world. Therefore, the applause he got on Sunday in the final moments of the final Test against Australia was not unusual.

But there was little doubt that Sunday was different as the diminutive Tendulkar emerged from the pavilion, turned his head to look into the sun and slowly made his way to the wicket with India needing 32 runs for a historic 4-0 sweep against Australia. Was it his last Test innings on the Indian soil?

Many would have hoped that he would hit the winning runs. But that was not to be as Tendulkar lasted only five balls, falling leg before to Nathan Lyon for one run.

A hush fell on the ground but as he made his lonely walk back to the dressing room the crowd suddenly was on its feet and cheered him again.

Exactly a month from Sunday, Tendulkar will turn 40. There is little doubt that his reflexes have slowed in the last couple of years. There have been too many failures against fast bowlers in England and Australia and even against spinners at home by the lofty standards he has set for himself.

There are flashes of brilliance as in the first Test against Australia at Chennai last month when he played a solid knock of 81. But he has never gone past 50 subsequently and his average for the series is 32.

Given India's cricket calendar, the next home Test will be in mid-2014 when Tendulkar would be past 41. Prior to that the Indian team is scheduled to travel to South Africa this December followed by a tour of New Zealand in early 2014.

He would probably be in the team for these overseas tours because many believe that he lends solidity to a team that has lost some of its great players in recent months, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and in all probability Virender Sehwag.

But cricket pundits reckon that it was highly unlikely that we will see the great batsman play an international match in India. At the same time, they also utter a word of caution -- you never know about Tendulkar.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, at his post-match press conference, had a world of advice to the media: Do not speculate.

"Either I will tell you yes or no. You (media) had asked me the same question in 2005 also," he told a reporter who had asked Dhoni whether Tendulkar had played his last Test in India.

Pakistan's fast bowling great Wasim Akram said it's difficult to know Tendulkar's mind though he felt the Kotla Test could be the veteran batsman's last match on home soil.

"It looks like he has played his last Test on home soil. But it is tough to say anything about Tendulkar. It's difficult to day what he thinks and what is in his mind. You cannot speculate anything about him," Akram said.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar said it's for Tendulkar to decide on whether he is available when India next play on home soil or not.

"He (Tendulkar) is the greatest player India has produced. I don't want to comment on somebody's personal career. He's the best person to judge about his career. It's for him to decide whether he's available when India next play on Indian soil," said Vengsarkar.

India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev refused to speculate on the issue, saying that it's for the selectors or Tendulkar to decide.

"He might play for next three years or more, what's there for we, the formers players, to comment on this. It is up to the selectors for one series or more and it is upto Sachin to take the call. As far as we are concerned we will continue to admire whatever Sachin do in the 22-yard strip," said Kapil.

India's tour of South Africa in December would be a real test of character for the players and former captain Sourav Ganguly felt that the team would need Tendulkar's experience there.

"Selectors are probably giving Sachin Tendulkar an 'extension' keeping his 200th Test milestone in mind. It would have not been the case had it been someone else. India would look forward to his experience on South Africa tour. His top form would be quite crucial in South African conditions," he said.

Former India spinner Erapalli Prasanna, however, suggested that Tendulkar may retire from Test cricket shortly.

"Going by the schedule, it is obvious for anybody to guess it is the last Test match for Sachin in India. But entirely it is up to the selectors and Tendulkar to take the call to play more Test matches or not.

"I would advise millions of Sachin's fans to watch closely the maestro in live action in the IPL, where he represents Mumbai Indians. Perhaps this is the only time Indian fans could watch Sachin play live," said Prasanna.

Former India opener WV Raman also felt that Tendulkar might have played his last match on home soil.

"Considering the schedule, we do not have home matches in the next two years, therefore it could be considered that Sachin has played his last match in India," Raman said.

Giving a cautious response on the issue, former batsman and chairman of selectors Chandu Borde said, "It's a million dollar question. It's difficult to predict when it's Tendulkar. You know never know... Retirement is a decision best left to him. I'm sure he will take an intelligent decision.

Lalchand Rajput, former India coach and opener, said Tendulkar may take a call on whether to play on home soil or not after the Test series in South Africa.

"I think he will take a call after the tour of South Africa. India needs the experience of Tendulkar on that tough tour. India would need a good blend of experienced players and younger ones on that important tour," he said.

Former all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni felt that Tendulkar has gone past his prime but said that he should be allowed to take a call on when to retire.

"He does not look the Tendulkar of old. I don't know what is wrong. I think his reflexes have slowed down but I may be wrong. But it's his decision. A man as mature as Tendulkar should be allowed to take his own decision," he said.

Former pacer TA Sekar said Tendulkar should be left to decide on the issue of his retirement.

"It is left to Tendulkar to decide continue playing. He has achieved all the milestones, which are impossible to be equalled or surpassed by anyone in years to come. Will have to see whether Indian crowd as they are supporting him prepared to see an Indian team without Tendulkar.

"For the last 23 years, it has been the same situation where people come to see him play. In case he quits, he will be creating a big vacuum. Nobody can predict Sachin's association with Indian and world cricket is over," he said.

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If Sachin can struggle, so can we: Watson

NEW DELHI: The failure of Australia's top order with the bat was one of the main reasons why the men from Down Under were whitewashed by India 0-4 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which ended at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday.

In almost every Australia innings, the highest score came from a batsman batting below No. 6. However, stand-in skipper Shane Watson defended his batsmen by saying that if Sachin Tendulkar can struggle, so can they.

"The top order tried whatever possible but sometimes you just end up playing a bad shot. The conditions and wickets were also tough. You have to consider that one of the greatest batsmen of all time Sachin Tendulkar also struggled in these conditions and our youngsters can be encouraged and take heart from the fact that it is not just them who struggled," said Watson in the post-match press conference.

Watson personally took responsibility for not performing in the series, his highest score being 28.

"I should have scored runs considering the amount of cricket I have played here, but could not. My role as a specialist batsman did not work. I wanted to contribute for the success of the team, being a senior and experienced batsman but could not perform and I personally take the blame for this. However, it is good to see Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle bat beautifully throughout the tour.

Asked if 155 was a good enough target, Watson replied in the affirmative stating that he was confident even with India 20 runs away from victory.

"I thought we were definitely in the game with 155 as the target but things did not go according to plan. We were very close and one or two wickets earlier, we could have been in with a real chance. Even when India were 15-20 runs away I thought we could bowl them out as the wicket was playing tricks with some balls keeping low and some taking off," said the 31-year-old Queenslander.

Watson also lauded India opener Cheteshwar Pujara, who ended the series as the second highest run scorer and made a match-winning unbeaten 82 Sunday.

"Pujara batted really well and has done so throughout the series. He is on a roll and has been very impressive, playing with great concentration. I think he is a great future for Indian cricket."

Signing off, Watson concluded that this series was a learning experience for them and they can only look forward from here after an extremely disappointing loss.

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Don't speculate on Sachin's career: MSD

NEW DELHI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar left the cricketing world guessing by not announcing his much-speculated retirement after India whitewashed Australia 4-0 to lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday.

Even skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni asked the media not to speculate on Tendulkar, who retired from one-day internationals in December.

"Do not speculate on Sachin's career. In 2005, you (media) also said the same thing but that never happened," said Dhoni in the post-match press conference.

The cricketing world was abuzz with rumours that the fourth Test would be last time Tendulkar will bat in a Test match on Indian soil or ever. Over the weekend, the Kotla witnessed a healthy turnout.

Whenever he came out to bat or went back to the pavilion, the crowd gave Tendulkar a standing ovation.

Given that India will not play another Test match in India for more than a year, speculation is rife about when Tendulkar will call it a day as by the time he plays his Test on home soil, the legend will already be 41.

Of late, he has also struggled with his form, being among the least run scorers amongst the Indian batsmen with his last Test century coming in January 2011 against South Africa.

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