No guarantee Sachin would score big in his last Test - MS Dhoni

No guarantee that Sachin would score big in his last Test – Dhoni

A day before Sachin Tendulkar‘s last Test match, Indian captain MS Dhoni has said that Sachin should look to enjoy on the field, and there’s no guarantee that he would go out on a personal high.

“I would like him (Tendulkar) to enjoy his last Test match. As much as you want him to score a hundred, double hundred or triple hundred, you can’t guarantee performance,” Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference.

“Since this is his last Test match, I would like him to enjoy it to the fullest and maybe get a few wickets for us. It will be fun as one expects some turn and bounce from the wicket,” said Dhoni.

“It will be one of the greatest matches in cricketing history as it is Sachin’s last game, we need to keep it as normal as possible. There are plenty of things going around. We have done our best to keep focus at the right place. For us, enjoying the moment is the key.”

Dhoni also refrained from comparing the greats of different eras, saying the kind of pressure Tendulkar faced was unique.

“With due respect to the greats of the earlier generations, they didn’t have to face the kind of pressure that Tendulkar did. It was not only about his success but how he handled it in all these years.

“I have seen a lot of foreign players who can handle on-field success but when it came to handling the off-field pressure, they buckle down. That’s what makes Tendulkar special.

“If you ask me about his body language, I have not seen any change. As far as doing anything special is concerned, we would like to keep things simple. As it is, everyone is trying to do something special. We do have a few things on our mind. But you guys need to wait and concentrate on the match,” Dhoni said.

On the transition period, and how India would cope without Tendulkar, Dhoni said the real test would come on overseas tours.

“Taiyari toh main yehaan pe India mein khelke bata nahin sakta. Woh to tab pata chalega jab yeh log bahaar khelne jayenge. (I can’t talk about how prepared they are playing in India. It will only be proved once they play abroad).”

“You can’t have a replacement for Sachin Tendulkar or a Rahul Dravid. But you have to accept these youngsters at face value. They will have their own characteristics. Virat Kohli should play as Virat Kohli. Cheteshwar Pujara, irrespective of how he bats, would bring a different dimension to the team,” Dhoni added.

On his experience of playing with Sachin, Dhoni said, “I played 8-10 years with him. He guided the youngsters and showed us how to perform under pressure. The most emotional moment with him was winning the World Cup. The boys found it difficult to control their emotions. I have spent quite a number of Diwalis with him on various tours. We burst crackers together.”