"Sachin had a small weakness against off-spin": Muttiah Muralitharan

Muralitharan dismissed Sachin Tendulkar 13 times in his career.

Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan has 800 wickets in Test cricket, 534 wickets in ODIs and is the highest wicket-taker in both the formats. He dismissed some of the greatest batsmen with his deceptive action and the big spin he extracted.

Muralitharan revealed that Indian Legend Sachin Tendulkar had a slight weakness against off-spin bowling. The off-spinner dismissed Sachin Tendulkar 13 times in his career, only Brett Lee had dismissed the batting great more times. 

The Sri Lankan also opined that bowling to Tendulkar was not scary but bowling to Sehwag was, as the opener would inflict more damage in short span of time. 

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"For Sachin, there was no fear to bowl because he won't hurt you. Unlike Sehwag who can hurt you. Because he [Sachin Tendulkar] will protect his wicket, he is a good reader of the ball and he knows the technique," Muttiah Muralitharan told ESPNCricinfo.

Muralitharan added that Tendulkar faced leg-spin bowling better than off-spin.  

"I felt in my career, Sachin had a small weakness against off-spin. With leg-spin he smashes but off-spin somehow, he had the difficulty because I got him out so many times. And lots of off-spinners also got him so many times, I have seen it," he pointed.

"I don't know, I never spoke to him regarding this, that why 'you aren't comfortable with off-spin.' I felt in my mind he had a little bit of weakness that's why I got a little bit of advantage compared to other players. Sachin is a difficult player, it's very hard to get him out,” he added. 

(With ESPNCricinfo inputs)