Sachin Tendulkar

Chandigarh: Sachin Tendulkar didn’t wake up feeling any different, on Saturday, but the country continues to toast Test cricket’s No. 1 run-getter.

Sachin has always been pressed for time and the demands have got more after he eclipsed Brian Lara’s record. Late on Friday, though, he found some time to speak to The Telegraph at the Taj.

The following are excerpts

Q After such an exhaustive media conference, there’s little left to ask... However, is perfection possible?

A Look, you can always try and get close to being perfect... But I’d say that perfection isn’t everything... I know of players who haven’t been absolutely correct, or perfect, technically, but have still been able to adjust to the demands of big-time cricket... For me, then, adjustment is more important than perfection.

What about excellence?

It can be achieved, yes... It won’t come on a platter, though.

After almost 19 years, what are your memories of your Test debut in Karachi?

It’s all a blur and it has been that way for quite some time and not related to everything that has been happening after this record... About the only thing I remember is that I was so, so excited to play for India... Remember, I was just 16... Those five days went by so fast... (After a pause) What I also recall is that I’d been tense and nervous while batting.

At the media conference, you spoke of having converted the stones thrown at you into milestones. What exactly did you mean?

(Emotionally) It’s not only about me... I was also thinking of the other seniors (in the present team) when I made that comment... I think people need to show more respect to the seniors... We’ve achieved a certain level because of the sweat and tears we’ve put in and nobody should run us down... We’ve never taken anything for granted... We’ve been committed to our job and, to give a personal example, I’d be very hurt if somebody said and wrote (negative) things about my heroes... I’m so disappointed at what’s being written and said about Anil Kumble... He’s been around for over 18 years and his achievements do all the talking. Should he be subjected to what has been going on?

If anything, the seniors have always tried to raise the bar...

Absolutely... We’ve tried to put up a better performance... Getting better, irrespective of the achievements, has been our driving force.

So, what’s the legacy you’ll be leaving?

That’s not for me to say... If the next generation of cricketers find something that’s useful then they’ll try and do the same thing... It will be for them to say if they found something in me to motivate them.

Your message for young cricketers...

Take to cricket wholeheartedly and respect the game... Indeed, if you respect cricket, the game will take you everywhere. I didn’t take to cricket so that I could do certain things and go to certain places, but the game has done everything for me... I’ve stayed focused and being that would be my advice to others.

The final one: You’re seen as a unifier, among the few Indians whose following cuts across regional and religious lines. Does that, in a different way, add to the pressure?

I consider myself very fortunate that I’m able to bring people together... I stay the way I am 24x7... I don’t make an effort to do anything special, don’t try and change my behaviour... If I am a role model, it’s because people have appreciated the things I’ve done and, yes, I’m grateful to them. I guess I’ve been blessed.