Tendulkar thought his debut match was his last
He has played 200 Tests in his two-decade career. Highest run-getter in Test and ODI history. He is the only cricketer to score a century in international cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar’s career is rich in many more records. But during the inaugural Test, he thought to himself, this is the end. There will be no chance to play any more matches!
Tendulkar made his Test debut in November 1989. It was the first Test of the India-Pakistan series in Karachi. Pakistan’s pace attack was great in that match. Wasim Akram and Imran Khan were accompanied by debutant fast bowler Waqar Younis. Legendary Abdul Qadir was on the spin.
Debuting at just 17 years old, the opponent’s murderous bowling attack. On top of that, the condition of the team was also bad. When Tendulkar took the wicket for the first time in Test cricket, India lost 4 wickets for 41 runs. Wasim and Walker were on fire.
Even then, Sachin, who was a teenager, could not give any fairy tale gift. Wasim and Walker’s pace and bounce have hurt him a lot. Walker was bowled for 15 off 24 balls.
Then he thought, this is the end of his career! Indian legend Sky Sports, who turned 47 in his innings on Friday, recalled his Test debut in a conversation with former England captain Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports’ Nasser Meets Sachin.
“I did not understand anything, I have to admit it. I played the first Test as if I was playing a school match. Wasim and Waqar were bowling very loudly, short ball. They were doing everything possible, terrible for them. I have never had such an experience before. The first innings was not so pleasant. ”
“Sometimes I was defeated by their pace and bounce. When I was walking towards the dressing room after being out for 15 runs, I felt very embarrassed. It was like, ‘That’s what you did, why did you play like that?’ I went into the dressing room and went straight to the bathroom, almost crying. ”
The storm was raging in Tendulkar’s mind then. How many thoughts were playing in his head, he said.