India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, thanks to his captivating magic with the bat.
However, he was also a useful and multi-talented bowler as well and contributed significantly to India's success with the ball on multiple occasions during his legendary career.
Notably, Tendulkar claimed 154 wickets in 463 ODIs, while he took 46 scalps from 200 Tests. Tendulkar also picked up a sole wicket in the one T20I that he played for India.
Recently, Tendulkar took to his YouTube channel to recall his heroics in the Hero Cup 1993 semi-final against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He also revealed what was going through his mind in the final over of the semi-final against South Africa.
Tendulkar, who had not bowled a single over in the semi-final until the final over, was called on by the Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin to defend 6 runs off the final over.
And he did a fantastic job by defending the 6 runs and he labeled his performance as an “unbelievable” highlight of his career.
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Interestingly, the then 20-year-old Tendulkar conceded just three runs from the final over to help India register a memorable 2-run victory over South Africa in the semi-final of the Hero Cup 1993.
Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel, “I remember I hadn't bowled at all till the 50th over, not a single ball I had bowled so and because it was a bit chilly, you know my body was stiff, my fingers were also stiff and you know I had actually taken a lot of time to warm up.”
He continued, “When we met in the middle, I told Azhar that I am more than happy to bowl and I am confident that I can bowl this over and then it was decided that I would bowl. I had just made a suggestion that I am confident to bowl the last over, if you want me to bowl, I'm okay.
Once it was decided then I said okay fine. I'm trying to hit the ball on my fingers and then I am warming up because every ball mattered. Every run mattered there. But the way the crowd was with us was incredible, you know. Each dot ball was appreciated, unbelievably, and that sort of mounted pressure on them.”
The 48-year-old further revealed that until the last over, India wicketkeeper Vijay Yadav was standing right behind the stumps, but after discussion, he decided to go further back for the final delivery.
He further recalled, “When the last ball was to be bowled, till then the keeper was standing right up to the stumps. In the last ball, Vijay Yadav came to me and said what do you think of the last ball, what are you going to bowl. I said I am obviously going to bowl a yorker.
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So, finally, we decided that the keeper has to go back because if there is an inside edge, the keeper can obviously stop, and actually there was an inside edge. The keeper stopped the ball. I don't think it would have gone for a boundary but still, I mean we didn't want to take that chance. The keeper was standing back and once we won that match, it was just unbelievable.”
He also thanked the fans for their support and love in Kolkata.
Tendulkar signed off by saying, “The way people celebrated inside the stadium even while going from the stadium back to the hotel. People were going mad in the stadium and that kind of feeling was unbelievable, you know. You play cricket for all those moments and then once again a big thank you to all the people from Kolkata.”
