Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. (Getty Images)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s most successful Test captain and the winner of multiple mega events in the shorter formats, is one of those inspired by Sachin Tendulkar. A few days ago, in his suite at the ITC Gardenia in Bangalore, Dhoni spoke to The Telegraph exclusively on The Master, his idol beyond the world of ’keepers. The one-on-one continued for an hour.

Excerpts...

 

Q When did you first hear of Sachin?

A I was only eight when Sachin made his India debut... I can’t recall what my impressions were then, but I remember asking my father to wake me up whenever Sachin came to bat in the 1992 World Cup... Because of the time difference, most of those matches (in Australia, New Zealand) would begin rather early.

First look...

Actually, my earliest memory is of Sachin ducking a bouncer and the ball possibly going off the back of his bat.

What drew you to Sachin?

The fact that Sachin was then so aggressive... He loved playing shots, hitting boundaries and sixes... That made a big impression on somebody like me, coming from a small town (Ranchi)... The craze was to see Sachin bat, to see him take on the fast bowlers and master the spinners. He used to make our day.

Do you recall the first time you saw Sachin bat in person?

During a Duleep Trophy match in Pune in early 2001... I wasn’t in the XI, but part of the East Zone squad... Sachin scored big — 199. The four-day game ended in three, with West winning by an innings.

So, did you talk to Sachin?

No.

Why not?

Well, because I was and still am shy... I hardly spoke to my teammates, forget going up to the opposition, that too Sachin. I didn’t even look at the possibility of trying to strike a conversation with him.

The first opportunity must then have been in Bangladesh, before the ODIs on the 2004-05 tour...

Yes... At a team dinner... It wasn’t anything more than a ‘hi’ and a ‘hello’.

That’s all?

Indeed.

Quite unusual... When did you interact with Sachin at some length?

A few months later, during the ODIs at home against Pakistan... It was in Kochi that, before coming on to bowl, Sachin asked about the wicket... Whether he should bowl leg-spin or not... A ’keeper has the best seat and he wanted inputs... Sachin mixed it up and collected five wickets!

The ice, so to say, was broken...

(Smiles) You could say that, but it still took me more time to open up with Sachin.

Was it also because you were in awe of him?

Maybe, yes... Besides, there was my shyness... I would talk more to the Yuvraj Singhs and the Mohammed Kaifs... For a long time, my interactions with Sachin would be out in the middle only, if we happened to bat together or when he came on to bowl.

Over the years, how have you found Sachin as a person?

Sachin’s a fantastic human being... He’s so humble and has always been so.

What’s the one quality which has stood out?

More than one... Sachin’s ability to calmly carry the expectations of well over a billion people... The way he prepares for matches, giving himself every chance to succeed... Retaining the hunger despite achieving so much... His eagerness... These are amazing qualities and playing with Sachin has been a blessing.

You’ve been captaining Sachin for years. Did you feel a bit awkward the first time (in late 2007) you led him?

No... I’ve captained a lot of seniors... Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman... The good thing is that they all prepared in a similar manner, making my task easier... I’ve looked at the captaincy as a responsibility I have to discharge. Getting overawed wouldn’t have helped. I didn’t think in terms of captaining Sachin or somebody else. It’s captaining India.

Being in awe could also have been a distraction...

I agree... By not being overawed, I was able to concentrate better. I didn’t want to be pushed into a situation where I couldn’t give my best. That, quite simply, wouldn’t have been acceptable.

Do you recall instances of advice from Sachin?

Plenty, particularly in Test cricket... I’ve often spoken to Sachin and the others about the flow of the game... Times when it has been in the balance... It helps to take the view of somebody with so much experience. Sachin’s an excellent reader of the game.

It was 11 months ago that Sachin decided to retire from ODIs. Were you expecting him to leave when he did?

Sachin hadn’t played a lot of ODIs after the 2011 World Cup, so I knew the time would come when he’d concentrate wholly on Test cricket... It was, therefore, a matter of time... I wasn’t taken completely by surprise, for I had the feeling that he’d like to focus on Tests.

What about Sachin’s decision to retire from Test cricket? Did his rather emotional statement, a month ago, take you by surprise?

There had been speculation... I won’t say I was totally surprised... At the same time, it’s not something I was looking forward to... Sachin must have given it a lot of thought, for such decisions aren’t taken casually. At the end of the day, you have to respect the call made. It’s in our hands to make his last two Tests special... We’d like to win the series for Sachin and, hopefully, he’ll get loads of runs. We’ll do our bit, he’ll have to do his!

The impression one had is that Sachin would retire after the Test series in South Africa...

Isn’t it great that Sachin’s retiring at home? He’s giving fans the opportunity to bid him farewell and he’s also given himself the chance to say ‘thank you’. Look, we can get emotional, but there comes a time when everybody has to retire. Let’s focus on the ovation one should give Sachin.

But what was your first reaction when you learnt Sachin would retire after the series which begins on Wednesday?

It was some hours before the T20 match against Australia (in Rajkot), so there was plenty already in my head... There was no time to think too much.

Surely, you must have heard about Sachin’s decision before the Board put out a press release...

(Laughs) I did, but I won’t tell you who told me. My reputation with phones is bad, so it definitely wasn’t over the phone!

Will it be easy focusing on the job at hand and not getting distracted by everything around Sachin?

We have to keep it as normal as possible... There will be distractions, but we’d all like to make this series special. It will be an achievement if we succeed in not making Sachin feel as if the two Tests are his last... Basically, in the dressing room, we’ve got to keep things calm. We can control what happens there, we can’t control what happens outside.

Sachin completes 24 years as an India cricketer on November 15, so he’ll be retiring in his 25th year...

A quarter of a century... It’s amazing, what else do I say? Twentyfive years is long... Sachin’s had injuries, which led to treatment which was possibly even more painful, but he’s come back stronger.

Happy that two premier venues, the Eden and the Wankhede, will be hosting the Tests...

Of course... The Wankhede is Sachin’s home ground... He’ll be playing his 200th Test and retiring there. What a script! In Calcutta, people love sport, so a full house is expected.

The world is aware of Sachin’s records... What, for you, has been his biggest contribution?

Sachin’s raised the bar... He’s been the benchmark for those who’ve followed him... He made us dream big and showed that dreams could be realised... Despite the very high standards, he delivered... The expectations haven’t burdened him.

Your thoughts on Sachin as a role model...

One looks up to successful people, men like Sachin... Even successful businessmen... Like the Tatas, the Birlas and the Ambanis. Sachin’s appeal has breached geographical boundaries... Big cities, small towns... People from everywhere have looked up to him... Sachin’s been a brand ambassador for the sport, not just Indian cricket.

As the India captain, aren’t you worried about the vacuum after Sachin’s retirement?

For me, it’s important to see that the batsman who comes in (at No.4) gets the chance to perform to potential. You won’t have anybody replacing Sachin, it’s only that somebody will bat at his number. You don’t, after all, replace a Sachin or Anil Kumble or Rahul. Sachin’s successor shouldn’t be put under too much pressure. Hopefully, we’ll get somebody who is very good and succeeds at the top-most level.

In your book, from the time you’ve been playing for India, which of Sachin’s innings stand out?

It’s tough to pick and choose... In Test cricket, it will probably be the 103 not out in the second innings against England, at the Chepauk, five years ago... In ODIs, the two which come to mind instantly are the 200 not out (versus South Africa) in Gwalior and the 175 against Australia in Hyderabad. Sachin’s had many brilliant innings.

After a while, would you like Sachin to be involved with Indian cricket in some manner?

That would be good... Somebody with Sachin’s experience definitely has much to offer. Having said that, he’ll have to take the call. As we speak, his family must be looking forward to having a son/husband/father in their midst minus the tension associated with international cricket.

Finally... Sachin’s mother, Rajni, will be at the Wankhede...

I understand she’s never watched Sachin play in the India cap in person... Every day of that Test will be big... For Sachin, his family... For India.