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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 08 July 2025

Never thought IPL would be so big: Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar said he never thought that the IPL would become so big since its inception in 2008 and lauded the tournament for spreading the game to non-cricketing nations.

PTI Published 06.04.17, 12:00 AM
VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in Hyderabad 

Hyderabad: Sachin Tendulkar said he never thought that the IPL would become so big since its inception in 2008 and lauded the tournament for spreading the game to non-cricketing nations.

"I can't believe that IPL has completed 10 years. This is a big achievement and it would not have been possible without the support of spectators.

"When IPL was announced in 2007 and when we played for the first time in 2008, honestly, I never thought IPL would be so big," said the icon during the opening ceremony of IPL X here on Wednesday.

Sachin and three other Indian cricket icons - Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman - were felicitated by the BCCI for their contribution to the game. Rahul Dravid was also to be felicitated, but he could not make it to the ceremony as he was busy with his duty as coach and team mentor of the Delhi DareDevils.

"It is a matter of pride that in India a big tournament like the IPL has happened and it's something the world has taken notice of. I had thought it won't be as competitive as it is right now.

"But as the tournament progressed, its competitiveness, sportsmanship have gone to a different level," Sachin added.

"The spectators are all enjoying it. The best part of IPL is that cricket has gone to those countries which previously had got nothing to do with the sport. That has happened due to IPL," Sachin emphasised.

Regarding the current edition of IPL, Sachin said all the teams are well balanced and the side that utilises its resources the best and can restrict injuries to its critical players to the minimum, can win the tournament.

Sourav, meanwhile, said that the atmosphere in IPL matches has not been inferior at all to the one experienced during football World Cups. "Hopefully, we will be there in the 20th edition of the IPL.

"Today, when a young player comes out and play in front of 30 to 40,000 screaming spectators, he has to score under pressure and it will only take his game to another level. IPL is taking Indian cricket forward and it will get bigger and bigger," said the former India captain.

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