How Tendulkar looks at ODI vs T20 debate, ‘83 World Cup win & more

The Indian team played its 1000th ODI versus West Indies in Ahmedabad in February 2022As India became the first cricket team to notch up the milestone, we spoke to Sachin TendulkarTendulkar traced the journey of ODIs, and let slip nuggets that are gem for cricket loversDid you know that when Tendulkar played his first ODI in Pakistan, it was his father’s birthday?Tendulkar also took questions like whether the future of ODIs is at stake because of IPL and T20sSachin also listed his top five ODI matchesAs India took giant steps towards economic prosperity and satellite TV and live sport invaded people’s living rooms, Indian cricket fans were transfixed on every game that the team played. Because of the exploits of one man.Every run and record of his was learned by rote as if it was a nursery rhyme. Tendulkar and India’s ODI renaissance were almost synonymous. He took time out to celebrate India’s 1,000th one-dayer versus West Indies at Ahmedabad Narendra Modi Stadium and Traced India's journey in the format.Sachin, 1,000 ODIs and from relative strugglers in this format in the initial years to two-time world champions and one Time Champions Trophy winner. As someone who has played a huge huge role in how ODIs are played and having featured in 463 of India’s 999 ODIS and having played in. This is quite a staggering number, India’s 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800th ODI. How do you see India’s ODI journey?I remember playing the first game in Pakistan in 1989 and coincidentally that happened to be my father's birthday also. That is where it started in 1983 when I saw India win the World Cup, I wanted to play cricket for India. But after that, when my journey began, it was all about playing for India. I mean whichever format was.Obviously, the target was the Test cricket. I knew that if I did well in Tests then would be kind of an automatic choice in ODI cricket because I knew I could hit some shots and it kind of so you know, I was actually given an opportunity in Pakistan itself. Or when I say in the first game or in the second match I was there in the team, yeah? But in Peshawar, because of the rain, the game was washed off.And because there were thousands of people there, the Pakistan board requested Indian management over there. If we could play an exhibition game of 20 overs and that's where you know I got to show the Indian cricket team also that I could hit sixes. Before that I was playing Test cricket regularly, you know The focus was more on being more technical and playing along the ground. Those kinds of things were there. So when I scored 53 off 17 balls, everyone was kind of surprised that you know how a 16-year-old could clear the ropes.That's where I would say that I kind of cemented my ODI slot but for a number of years almost three to four years I batted.I started with number 6 number 7 and then slowly moved to number 4. In 1994, I started opening so the first half of my career was, you know who I would say with the red ball. The second half was with the white ball.Though on the first half itself there were few matches that I played with the wide ball, also there were many many games with the red ball and as late as 2000.So, in the year 2000, we played against Zimbabwe and we played an ODI match in whites.So things changed dramatically, you know from starting the game after 9:00 o'clock in the morning. Sometimes places like Bhubaneshwar, and Guwahati, you know the game would start at 8:45, which changed the dynamics completely, you know.So, so I had to play differently the first few overs because there was something on the surface and because the game would start early, there was a little bit of moisture on the surface like dampness. And also to speak about one ball. First, it was the red ball and fast bowlers could actually plan their wickets. I remember in 2000 we played against Zimbabwe and we decided not to shine the ball for good for the first 6-7 overs hours, and then we started shining the ball. And in that over itself, Zaheer Khan got Alistaire Campbell bold. Reverse swing was something that helped bowlers and they could actually come to pick wickets. I remember 1999 when we played the World Cup in England. It was different because the ball was reversing. Wasim Akram was bowling in the 47th over. So that you don't get to see in today’s cricket.Reverse swing is more or less non-existent because of two new balls. So with these two new balls rules and one additional fielder rule, the game has changed. Now you are either forced to have your mid-on up or mid-off up. Somebody has to be in the ring that increases the opportunities of scoring random boundaries. So the dynamics changed the game and then people were also introduced to the T20 format, which is a fast-moving format. So that is also practiced, bowlers are also trying different variations. So all these elements, when I was playing, power plays were there, and then things kept changing, so our strategies also kept changing.I think it's to do mostly with two new balls and field hostage. And the time at whichthe game starts. The timings for the day matches are slightly different. Even in certain places in India where there is a day match, the pitch does do something in the morning? I remember a game that India played in Chennai in 2012, which was a day match against Pakistan?Their left-arm swinger Junaid Khan picked for an early wicket, in the first 5 or 6 overs, he had picked early wickets in the morning.For the first church in the first of five or six hours, we had picked up for meetings.Correct, good morning. So, day-time matches make a lit of difference. So those kinds of changes have happened which added a lot of character to the game.Do you see the format struggling for relevance today in this day and age of IPL and T20? And even in a cricket match country like India especially post COVID?I don't think the format is struggling people are looking forward because a number of people have not been exposed to an earlier type of cricket. A number of people had to watch this format. So, for them, this format is relevant.So each generation will have its own relevance with each format, that is what it is.So if you see the average scores from the 80s, to the average causing in the 90s and beyond things have changed. And that is because the rules were changed.So today the strike rate of any batter is way higher than what it used to be in the 90s and today the same is the case with the bowlers. Bowler’s economy rate is much higher than what it used to be in the 90s because of the field restrictions and two new balls.How would you spice up the format? Three changes.Three changes would be of course I would bring the reverse swing back into the game. In the last 10 years, I haven’t seen any reverse swing.There’s hardly been any reverse swing, if at all post 45th over or so, which is in reality the 22nd, 23rd over with one ball. So then you know, 46-47% of the game that is played and still 53-54% of the game, you will have the support of reverse swing when the batters are looking to attack the bowlers. And when you have an extra fielder outside the ring, you start the in-game in the morning, it’s more challenging. The dew factor also plays a huge role sometimes.You know, so all these elements come into play, so I think we need to figure out how to bring the reverse swing back into the game.And the ball, while you swing also went discolored.So when the spinner was bowling or someone like Muralidharan was bowling, if the ball is in good condition then you can see which way is the ball spinning in the air.But if it becomes discoloured, it becomes that much tougher if you do not pick from the hand, then to see the ball in the air, it becomes that much tougher, and then to have a fielder in the ring.Since we have to add an additional fielder, it also puts more pressure on bowlers, which means we've got a 20% more chance of scoring a boundary.So, if a fielder is standing at long gone, the batter would think twice before clearing that fielder, but the same failure is on 30-yard circle back yourself most of the time to clear 30-yard so it's just the mindset.Also better when you know that you can clear this and go close also you have a new, almost new ball. So, when the spinners come into play after the 15th or 16th overs, the spinners are in the game. That means the ball is actually only seven or eight overs older. When the fielder is inside the ring, you'll back yourself to clear.The same thing with the old ball, it becomes that much tougher. So those elements is something that will come into play. But like I said that this generation is actually only following these rules, so, so that's how the game has changed over the years.The top five ODIs that you have featured in?Oh1 That’s a tough one. I think World Cup, obviously. The 2003 match against Pakistan, which was a big one. Centurian, Sharjah, Desert Storm… It becomes really difficult to figure out which one. And yeah, I would say in 2007 and 2008 when India won. We did the series first time in Australia, the two finals.And finally, of the 999 ODIs, you played 463 but an ODI you didn’t play in and given a choice you would play. Which one would that be?Of course, the 1983 World Cup final.One ODI knock that you would like to play again? I think the 2003 World Cup.Audio production: Basant SinghalNote: The podcast was recorded on Sep 16, 2022