"I am just playing for the team and while contributing towards the team's cause if it (a Test hundred) happens, it is a great satisfaction," Sachin Tendulkar told the media interaction at the end of the first day's play in the final Test against Australia in Nagpur on Thursday. Tendulkar, who scored three Test centuries in the old VCA Stadium in Nagpur, became the first to score a hundred at the new VCA Stadium.
Excerpts from the media interaction
On controlling emotions around the retirements of Kumble and Ganguly
Talking about emotions, they were in control. I am sure even Sourav was not thinking about all this once he walked in. All those thoughts come in your mind, but once you cross the ropes your thought process changes. He was focused today so were we, we were not thinking about all those things. Once you have crossed the line, you have to just focus on the game and nothing else.
On how he rated his 40th hundred
Each ton is a different one and has its own importance. Today was a little different; I tried to get it in a different style. I am not playing for these targets. I am just playing for the team and while contributing towards the team's cause if it happens it is a great satisfaction. I think if you look at the series, this match is very important. Obviously if you score a century in an important game it also benefits the team.
On his own batting today
I am delighted at getting the century. But there are said four more days to go, so the focus will be on that and not on what has been achieved. The focus is on the next innings. Lot of things have happened but the concentration is on the future. It was important that I got going because we had lost a couple of wickets and even Sehwag got out after that. Between Laxman and I, it was important that we put up a good partnership and we were successful in doing that.
On whether he played his 'natural game' today
First to clarify that opinion, I was playing my natural game earlier also. Probably your opinion has changed, your viewing has changed. Natural game doesn't mean going out bang, bang. Sometimes you got to play according to the merits and each surface is different, so you got to play accordingly.
On what was important today
I think it was just about keeping the head cool initially because when I walked in it was a critical stage. At that stage we had to make sure that we had a good partnership and took the game away from Australia because the momentum was with them initially.
On whether he lost concentration towards the end of his innings
I don't think I lost my concentration. Yeah, there was a patch in between but later on I felt I had sort of again changed the momentum and I just wanted to be there till the end today.
On his form
I think after Adelaide, I played around six or seven matches. I know I am batting well, but I was not getting to the three-figure landmark. But I don't think that is everything. As you have seen in this Test series, I have gone in at crucial at almost four or five times and I have been able to play. That is very satisfying when you deliver when the team needs the most and that is what I have been able to do in this series.
On the match so far
Right now I think there is a lot of cricket left in this match. I won't say we are in a brilliant position but definitely we are in a decent position. I think five wickets were too much today, three would have been okay. I think it is a good total but as I said earlier still four more days to go and we will want to be on our toes.
On batting first
Yes, batting first is definitely an advantage. But it is important to bat well when you get that chance and build up a big score. Then it is equally important to bowl them out early also. The momentum that builds up during the game happens when you bat first.
First to clarify that opinion, I was playing my natural game earlier also. Probably your opinion has changed, your viewing has changed. Natural game doesn't mean going out bang, bang. Sometimes you got to play according to the merits and each surface is different, so you got to play accordingly.
On what was important today
I think it was just about keeping the head cool initially because when I walked in it was a critical stage. At that stage we had to make sure that we had a good partnership and took the game away from Australia because the momentum was with them initially.
On whether he lost concentration towards the end of his innings
I don't think I lost my concentration. Yeah, there was a patch in between but later on I felt I had sort of again changed the momentum and I just wanted to be there till the end today.
On his form
I think after Adelaide, I played around six or seven matches. I know I am batting well, but I was not getting to the three-figure landmark. But I don't think that is everything. As you have seen in this Test series, I have gone in at crucial at almost four or five times and I have been able to play. That is very satisfying when you deliver when the team needs the most and that is what I have been able to do in this series.
On the match so far
Right now I think there is a lot of cricket left in this match. I won't say we are in a brilliant position but definitely we are in a decent position. I think five wickets were too much today, three would have been okay. I think it is a good total but as I said earlier still four more days to go and we will want to be on our toes.
On batting first
Yes, batting first is definitely an advantage. But it is important to bat well when you get that chance and build up a big score. Then it is equally important to bowl them out early also. The momentum that builds up during the game happens when you bat first.
On new opening batsman M Vijay
I thought he batted very well. He looked very good, calm and composed.
On the pitch in the new stadium
I feel it is a perfect track. It is on the harder side and it is quite good. There is a bit help for the spinners in that they are getting bounce. I think in a day or two it will be difficult to play the spinners.
On Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza who had three wickets:
I can say that he was a bit unlucky. He had a first wonderful day. As I said there is a lot more cricket to play, so we have to wait and see but he has had a good day. There were no specific plans to be aggressive against him. I saw the ball that is why I was trying a few shots, but there was no specific plan as such.
On the new VCA Stadium
I think the facilities at the stadium are excellent. We had heard a lot about the stadium, but it has turned out to be better than our expectations. The facilites like dressing rooms, viewing. areas while there is also a gym in the dressing room. So the facilities for the players are very good. Also for the spectators, , seating for the spectators are quite good, You can watch the match from the stands at any angle because there is less obstruction. The viewing areas from every point is good, so what more can you ask for?
I thought he batted very well. He looked very good, calm and composed.
On the pitch in the new stadium
I feel it is a perfect track. It is on the harder side and it is quite good. There is a bit help for the spinners in that they are getting bounce. I think in a day or two it will be difficult to play the spinners.
On Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza who had three wickets:
I can say that he was a bit unlucky. He had a first wonderful day. As I said there is a lot more cricket to play, so we have to wait and see but he has had a good day. There were no specific plans to be aggressive against him. I saw the ball that is why I was trying a few shots, but there was no specific plan as such.
On the new VCA Stadium
I think the facilities at the stadium are excellent. We had heard a lot about the stadium, but it has turned out to be better than our expectations. The facilites like dressing rooms, viewing. areas while there is also a gym in the dressing room. So the facilities for the players are very good. Also for the spectators, , seating for the spectators are quite good, You can watch the match from the stands at any angle because there is less obstruction. The viewing areas from every point is good, so what more can you ask for?
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