Ranji Trophy: This Mumbai team has ammunition, says Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar spent some time with the Mumbai players before the Ranji final. (Source: PTI)

HE might have retired from all forms of the game but Sachin Tendulkar has not missed to get updates from his beloved Mumbai team this season. As Mumbai celebrate their 41st Ranji title, Tendulkar talks about the win, his mentorship and why Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur should not lose their focus. Excerpts:

How do you rate Mumbai’s performance?

It was a fantastic performance. I have been following their progress all the way. I watched today’s entire day. Whenever I was out travelling, I spoke to Chandu (Chandrakant Pandit) or other players. They have played well as a team and there have been a few individuals who have performed really well throughout the season. Above all they played as a team. The greatest example is today. The last partnership put us in a fantastic position. For me the morning partnership was the crunch moment of the game. After the 35-run lead I thought we were going neck to neck, but that 100-run partnership changed everything. It changed the mindset above all. We started thinking differently and they started thinking differently.

You have been talking to these players, what questions did they ask you?

I spent some time with Shreyas (Iyer), Surya (Kumar Yadav), Dhawal Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur. I spoke to Sidesh Lad also about his grip. It will be better if you ask them than me blowing my own trumpet that I did this and that. I enjoyed sharing my experience and what I saw in the nets during batting or bowling, where they can get better. What are the areas they can make some changes which could help. It is just about tweaking certain things, here and there and not completely changing them. Little bit of tweaking can bring out those results. We discussed how to think and what to do at that stage, and some technical stuff.

How do you rate this bunch of players?

When I spoke to these guys I could see the spark in them. The ammunition is there, with experience they will learn how to play together. They have proven that. The one good thing about this team is they all are young, they will continue to play together for quite some time. More or less that core is set.

Is this new generation’s style very different, are they more attacking?

There are a few individuals who approach the game differently, but not all of them. Earlier also we had players who batted differently. The advantage of introduction of T20 is most of the batters know how to go after the bowlers. Today we saw the sudden shift of gear when Lad was batting and when Ballu (Balwinder Singh Sandhu) came to bat with him. He had no option other than to go after big shots. Suddenly, it changed his footwork, his bat swing, his body language which had a very strong effect on the opposition. A very strong message was conveyed there when he dealt in sixes and boundaries. That is definitely thanks to T20 cricket.

Talking of T20 cricket, we saw two players today — Pujara who doesn’t have an IPL contract, and Shreyas who has. Do you think the new generation will pick attacking approach than the defensive?

No really, I wouldn’t go by that. Don’t forget that Pujara has done really well at international level with the same style. It’s like the palm, all fingers are not the same. Each finger is used for a different purpose. As long as they come together and form a formidable force that is what is important. The beauty is you will have different type of characters who approach things differently, as long as the target, the destination for everyone is the same. I don’t want everyone to bat in the same style.

How do you see Iyer and Thakur shaping up. Where do you feel they are heading?

Very good, I don’t constantly keep telling them that you have to play for India. That will happen. After performances, the result will slowly go in that direction. Important thing is to not put pressure on them but allow them to play freely. Results will follow. Final destination for everyone is to play for India. They have shown a lot of promise. Right now I will like to focus what they have achieved and appreciate it now. Instead of thinking, oh, you should right now play for India.