Tendulkar tweeted: “Brilliant batting by Rohit. Keep it going buddy!!!”

He also posted a picture of his injured finger on twitter. Tendulkar’s middle finger of his right hand got injured when he was playing first match of Indian Premier League 5 against Chennai Super Kings.

The legendary batsman was hurt after receiving a short ball from Bollinger and inspite of pain he faced another ball to end the over and after that he asked for medical attention. The iconic batsman scored 16 off 15 balls and hit a four and a six.

Harbhajan Singh has been ignored by the selectors in many matches organised recently. He didn’t play Test matches against Australia and even he was left out from ODI tri-series, Asia Cup in Dhaka.

Talking about Sachin Tendulkar’s decision about giving up captaincy, Ganguly said, “We have seen in the past that he [Tendulkar] is a reluctant captain. It’s his personal decision. And also it has got to do with Bhajji winning the Champions League.”

Pune warriors and Mumbai Indians are going to play the match against each other and Ganguly calls it an interesting match, he said, “Mumbai Indians are a good side. It will be a good game. They have started well, but we have some good players.”

Ganguly also said that the current team he is leading this season is better than the old one but did not compare Yuvraj and his replacement, West Indian Marlon Samuels. Ganguly said, “You can’t compare Samuels with Yuvraj as he is a foreigner and as the IPL rules do not allow more than four foreigners to be fielded in the eleven. Yuvraj has been ruled out of IPL and we will miss him. Hopefully he will recover fully and be back with us.”

He also praised Ashish Nehra and informed that he will not play tomorrow’s game against Mumbai Indians. Ganguly said, “Ashish is one of India’s finest ODI bowlers. He will miss tomorrow’s game but will be available from the next game.”

Earlier this month, Rahul Dravid has taken retirement from International cricket. BCCI felicitated Rahul on Tuesday. During felicitation programme Dravid said that he would miss being part of the dressing room but also showed his confidence in Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team that they will take the legacy forward.

“Mahi, you have to be proud of what you have done with this Indian team … it was a special moment for me to see the group of boys holding the World Cup last year after 2007 (when India were knocked out in the first round),” Dravid said.

“It was a memorable moment. It was inspiring, as a 10-year-old, to see Kapil Dev lift the World Cup, and to do it again in 2011, was special. I know you have inspired a lot of 10-year-olds. There are challenges ahead but you have the right temperament to take the legacy of Indian team forward.

“Some of my colleagues have spoken very eloquently and I thank them, it means a lot for me. I want to believe that we have left a strong legacy for Mahi to take forward and I have no doubt that they wll take it to greater heights.

“I may not be playing, but I will be watching with great interest, you are a very talented group, I hope Indian cricket will be a strong force both on the field and off it in future,” he added.

Dravid talked about being part of Indian Cricket team and missing the moment spent with them.

“I will miss being part of the dressing room, the banter, the camaraderie but not so much the rap music,” Dravid said.

“It has been a fascinating journey to see where Indian cricket reached since my debut in 1996,” he added.

Further speaking at the felicitation function, Dravid said that he had made a pact with himself about not crying in any of the function but it was “tested to the limit” in the last few weeks.

“This last three weeks since my retirement have given me the chance to sit and look back and take all what has been a dream for me. Cricket has given me life time of experiences. I have seen unbelievable victories and crushing defeats and it humbled me,” he said.

“When I look back I feel lucky, there are so many people who made the dream possible. For me to stand here in front of so many people I admire, is an honour.

“I thank my first coach KK Tarapor, the coaches I had in Karnataka and all the international coaches, each of them have added to my game and helped me to be a better cricketer.”

Dravid also thanked his senior players and colleagues and mentioned the name of few cricketers such as Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.

“I look at some of the senior players, I feel lucky to interact with them when as a young boy I only dreamt of just taking there autographs. I was conscious of the legacy that they left behind, something which I have tried to take forward.”

“I thank Anil, he said he will keep me busier after the IPL, I don’t know what he is upto. I thank Sourav. We had a great partnership. The relation between a captain and vice-captain is like husband and wife and we came out in flying colours.

“Thanks to Laxman, without you Kolkata (2001 Test) would not have been possible. It was a privilege to watch one of the greatest innings by an Indian from the other end. Thanks for your company at the second slip where many topics were discussed,” he said.

He also said that he feel blessed to get the chance to play for India for 16 years.

“I was like any other kid with the love of the game a dream to play for India. I am blessed that I could live the dream for 16 years. Obviously with IPL next month, I have to hit the gym and keep myself fit but after two months probably I will be unemployed,” he said.

“Playing for India gave me the chance to travel the world and play in grounds which I had only heard in radio commentary,” he said.

He thanked his family members, ground staffs and the organisers who were involved in cricket for making his journey possible.

“I would like to thank everybody who have played for India, cricketers who might not be considered great on the basis of statistics, but for me all of them are hero. They came back time and again and did it for India,” he said.

“I want to thank my parents and brother for providing me constant support and laying the foundation for me to play my cricket. They have made many sacrifices to allow me live my dream. My father is a lover of the game and I have lived my father’s dream and a son you can’t ask for anything more,” he said.

“I thank my wife, for giving me so much strength, my kids whose smiles made those defeats easier to deal with,” he said.

While talking to reporter, Tendulkar said, “I have always believed in god. My father was a believer and my mother is a believer. Even when I was a schoolboy and playing at Shivaji Park, during breaks, I used to run to a Ganpati temple nearby and drink water from the tap there every day. I got the feeling of getting positive energy after drinking the water.”

What Sachin did and felt after hitting 100th hundred, he said, “When I got to my 100th hundred, I looked at the bat and looked upwards towards God and said “it’s been a tough time for me, why? Where did I lack in my commitment?”. Finally it had happened and I was really thrilled and looked at the dressing room and pointed my bat to the players and also to the Indian flag that I have on my helmet. This is what I have done for the nation and everyone has been a part of it.”

Remembering his coach’s advice, the legendary cricketer said, “I remember my coach (Ramakant Achrekar) telling me when I was a kid, this game can be cruel at times… don’t worry, everyone goes through these patches. When you are doing well you don’t question yourself …why are these things happening to me. You feel you are doing well and I have managed all these things. Even a bad phase will pass by…nothing will stay permanently you will overcome these obstacles.”

Sachin added, “In my school days, I learnt a lot, these things have helped me…above all to respect the game – that’s something I have learnt… to respect the game.”

Sachin scored 99th hundred on 12 March 2011 and since then he played lots of matches but couldn’t score 100th hundred till March 16 this year when his dream was fulfilled. The champion batsman scored his 100th hundred against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

During a press conference, Dravid said, “I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first-class cricket. It is 16 years since I played my first Test match for India and today I feel it is an time to move on. Once I was like every other boy in India, with a dream of playing for my country. Yet I could never have imagined a journey so long and so fulfilling.”

“No dream is ever chased alone. As I look back, I have many people to thank for teaching me and believing in me. My junior coaches in Bangalore and at various junior national camps inculcated in me a powerful love of the game which has always stayed with me.”

“My coaches at the international level have added to my craft and helped shape my personality. The physios and trainers worked hard to keep me fit — not an easy job — and allowed me to play late into my 30s.

“The selectors, who rarely receive any credit in India, occasionally had more confidence in me than I had in myself and I am grateful for that. The various captains I played under offered me guidance and inspired me. Most of all I have to thank the teams I played with.”

Dravid shared his feelings about Indian cricket team. He said, “I was lucky in my early years to play for Karnataka team which was trying to forge itself into a strong side and they were years of fun and learning.”

“In the Indian team, I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era when India played some of its finest cricket at home and abroad. Many of my teammates have become legends, not just in India but in the wider cricketing world. I admired them, learnt from them and I leave the game with wonderful memories and strong friendships. It is a great gift to have.”

Talking about his approach to cricket, Dravid explained, “My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride.”

Dravid thanked his fans by saying, “Finally I would like to thank the Indian cricket fan, both here and across the world. The game is lucky to have you and I have been lucky to play before you. To represent India, and thus to represent you, has been a privilege and one which I have always taken seriously.”

Dravid was also captain of Indian cricket team in the past and under his captaincy, team played 25 Tests and 79 ODIs. Dravid holds the world record of highest Test catches. He ended his Test career with 13,288 runs.

When Dravid was asked that how long it took to him to decide about retirement, he said, “For a year now after each and every series I have assessed … when I came back from Australia I wanted to take the emotion out of it and look at it dispassionately … I have spoken to Sachin and to my team-mates and all of them were supportive.”

Dravid also said that he is not retiring because of his poor performance in Australia. The cricketer said, “I would like to believe irrespective of how the Australian series had gone, I would have assessed a lot of things and come to the same conclusion.

“I don’t think I based this decision on series, it’s a culmination of a lot of things. These decisions are based on a lot of things.”

“It was an honour and a privilege to play with the galaxy of cricketers I played with … fortunate to play in an era which was pretty successful in Indian cricket, for me to be sharing a dressing room with them was an honour.”

Talking about the high and lows in his career, David said, “When you play for 16 years, you will face highs and lows. There have been many disappointments and great highs. There is a huge sense of satisfaction that I have always given it my best shot. I have left no stone unturned in trying to become the best cricketer I can become. Absolutely no regrets.”

About retirement, he said, “I felt it was the right time for me to move on, for a next generation of cricketers to play and take the team forward …a lot of these decisions just come to you in different ways …I just felt the time was right. I needed to move on.”

He also said that calling it quits was difficult decision. “Yes and no. It’s all I’ve known, from that point of view it was a difficult decision. But I knew deep down the time was right. I was very happy and comfortable in what I had achieved and what I had done.”

About critics, Dravid said, “You have to deal with criticism and praise as well.”

Dravid was asked if there was a point which made him think of retirement, he said, “There was no eureka moment … for me it’s come with a bit of contemplation, a bit of thought with the family …

“If you make a decision during a series, then I think it is great. I have been part of nice farewells. But I made my decision now. Just to keep playing for the sake of playing one more match was not right. That’s not how I have played the game. The only reason I played a cricket match for India was to try and win a match for India.”

Dravid was given nickname “The Wall” in the field of cricket, when asked about it, he said, “I never took it seriously to be honest … it was a nice line for newspapers … I never thought of it, I know people called me that fondly so I respect it.”

On the point of playing further, Dravid said, “Not really, I believe we have a lot of young talents in Karnataka. I felt I’d just be blocking a youngsters place by playing Ranji Trophy.”

About his future plan, he said, “That’s for other people for judge, not for me to make that decision. What will I do? I have the IPL and then a couple of months to relax. I have not decided. Come June I’ll decide what lies ahead of me.

“A little bit of time away from the game will be good for me. A lot of people I respect have told me if you get away from the game for a while, it will give you a better perspective of it,” he said.

Though Indian cricket team did not perform well in the Test series in England and Australia but still Dravid believe that Indian team is in a good place, he said, “We are all disappointed about England and Australia. Having said that I believe Indian cricket is in a good place. There is a bunch of talented batsmen waiting in the wings. When I look back at myself as a 23 year old, I was no where near as talented as some of these kids. But talent alone is not enough. I hope two or three can establish themselves and play for the Indian team for a long time. It’s going to be a challenging and interesting time.”

But it seems former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev who also won World Cup for India during his captaincy days is not happy with MS Dhoni’s decisions.

Recently while talking to a leading newspaper, Kapil Dev expressed his views against MS Dhoni because he backed up RP Singh and Suresh Raina.

“A captain should not only be fair but also appear to be so as well. Of late he has given reasons to raise doubts about him,” Kapil said.

“Why was RP Singh chosen to play in England? Why is Suresh Raina given such a long rope? Why was Manoj Tiwary not played at all in Australia,” he added.

Kapil further explained that though Sourav Ganguly can become a good coach but players will not like him because Indian coach may interfere more into team.

“I know Sourav Ganguly can make a good coach but the Indian players would never want him or any other Indian coach, because they feel he would interfere too much. It is a trend started by Ganguly himself,” he said.

Dravid said, “The key for us is to keep them on the field for a long period of time. If we can keep their bowlers and fielders on the field for more than 100 overs. Then we can put them under pressure and some of their bowlers wilt.”

Australian team even did well on the third day of the match and India scored less. Experience cricketer said, “Sadly in the three innings we have played so far, we haven’t been able to do that. They kept up on the field for a long time today. We need to try and do that.

We have probably been in the field much longer. They put us under the pump. The real key for us is to keep them in the field for that long. They are coming in hard, running in hard.

The last spell they bowled really well. After drinks the last 15 overs they came in really hard. That’s one of the challenges.”

It is expected that Indian team would be able to bat after tea break on Friday, Dravid said, “That’s where the real challenge is. If we can hang in there, play out time, and have them on the field for a long time.”

But Dravid didn’t predict if India would save the Test series, He explained, “I don’t know we can think about saving the game right now. We need to go out there and show some fight. And bat as long as we can. Who knows what can happen? We have got quality batsmen who can bat long periods. I am sure the guys will go out and fight and do the best they can.”

In 2001 Indian cricket team revived home series when Dravid and VVS Laxman batted well and turned the series, Dravid hopes for the same, he said, “I would hope so. We need a lift. We need to perform better than we have. We have not played well in the last three days. We need some inspiration.”

Talking about the challenges Indian batsman are facing, Dravid said, “Part of the challenge is mental. Part of it is physical and technical. Physically you have to bat for long period of times. Technically, they have a good attack that is bowling well. So you have to counter them technically as well. It’s a combination of effort. If we are going to save the game, we need everything to work for us.”

About his own performance, he said, “I feel I have been batting well. Hopefully, in the next couple of Tests, I will be able to convert one of these starts. Sometimes you can’t read too much into things.

To be fair, there have been couple of pretty good balls.

It’s not like I have got out, you know, inner-edging. A couple of good balls, a couple of things, I could have done differently.”

Dravid also said that he is disappointed with his side’s effort, he said, “I’m a little bit disappointed in the sense. Okay in the England, we were not always with our best attack. Due to injuries and various other reasons, our bowling attack in England wasn’t the best possible attack.

“Here we had the best bowling attack we can possibly hope for. So it is obviously disappointing.”

Expressing his view about the Indian bowlers, Dravid “We are obviously disappointed. Once partnership develop, and runs go, we need to pull it back and try to control the runs. Having said that, it’s not easy. It’s something we need to consider. We can’t afford to give a lot of runs. Even if we don’t take wickets, we have to stop the run flow.”

Discussing about the Indian cricketers field placement which was criticised by the experts, he said, “It’s hard when you are under the pump, you have 190 runs to play with, and the game is running away from you. The wicket was pretty flat. You try and bring the field up and they were stepping out and hitting it over the top, or piercing the field. You try to push the field back to control the runs for a bit and may be get a wicket and bring it back in. We didn’t get a wicket all day. Sometimes it happens.

After Ponting got out, we brought the field up, but (Mike) Hussey came out and played a few really good shots.

Again you are forced to push the field back because the game is running away from you very quickly.”

Indian team decided to bat first and Dravid didn’t think it as a wrong decision, he said, “I don’t think it was a wrong decision to bat first. We didn’t bat well, that’s why we find ourselves in this situation. I think we knew it was going to be challenging. The first 35-40 overs on the first morning were always going to be a challenge. We didn’t bat particularly well. 190 are not good enough on that wicket.”

Dravid further said, “The wicket hasn’t changed too much. If anything it is a bit slower. There wasn’t much turn for Ashwin, not for Nathan Lyon in the couple of overs he bowled. Shot-making might be a little bit more difficult because of the slowness.”

Praising Australian bowlers, Dravid said, “Obviously they are pitching it up. The ball started to reverse a little bit. When you are pitching it up, and it is reversing, obviously they are looking to bowl…it’s pretty obvious. The ball is hard and swinging normally, you look to bring the slips into play.

“Once the ball becomes old, obviously they are looking to attack the stumps. I can understand that’s what they are trying to do. They have bowled pretty good balls.”

Dravid also feels happy about Gautam Gambhir who scored 68 (not out). He said, “I’m happy for him. He has worked very hard. Been under a lot of pressure obviously. He wants to score runs, keen to do well. He played positively. Later towards the end of the day, when things were tough, he gritted it out and hung in there.

Hopefully, he can convert into a big one. We know he likes batting for long hours.”

Sachin Tendulkar is playing Test series against Australia and millions of people around the world are waiting for him to complete his historic 100th century but he just wants to enjoy the game.

Sachin had an interview in Australia and said, “Well, it is easier said than done. It is just a number.

But yes, I mean, there has been lot of hype around that and I want to enjoy cricket and I think that is important.”

The master blaster said, “In the series, obviously focus would be on enjoying cricket and winning.”

During the World Cup in March 2011, Sachin scored his 99th century in Nagpur against South Africa.

India and Australia would play four Test series and second match have gone in the favour of Australian team because they performed well on the ground.

When Sachin was asked about his preparations before the game, he said, “I just pack my bags on the eve of the match. For me, the preparation starts may be a week before the game, if there is not much time between the matches, then you equally need to switch off and switch on before the game. So it depends on the time I have before a game.”

In his cricket career Sachin has broken all records in international cricket and he says his journey has been fantastic and he still loves to play this game.

The iconic player said, “I don’t remember picking up a cricket bat the first time. I must have been 4 or 5 years old, like just any other child in India.

It is fun to pick up a bat and hit the ball as hard as possible and that passion and love for cricket grew as time went by and it has been a fantastic journey and still madly in love with the sport.”

About his first experience of playing an international cricket, Sachin said: “It was quite an experience to remember. Well, I got out after scoring 15 runs and thought, probably, I was not good enough to play at this level and I was just hoping that I get another opportunity.”

Further Sachin talked about the most defining moment of his life, he said, “I was about 11-years-old. I scored some runs. I scored 24 runs in my first match and then followed that up with a couple of performances, nothing great, but my name came in the newspaper couple of times.”

“When I saw that, it changed everything. The first hundred that I scored changed everything and I would say that phase was the most defining moment of my life.”

Former Australian captain scored 62 in the first innings against India and he said that older players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid inspired him to do so.

Ponting himself is 37 years old said that he too gets inspiration from 38 years old Tendulkar like other cricketers does. Tendulkar scored 73 on Tuesday against Australia in test series.

Ponting said, “I think they (Tendulkar and Dravid) should inspire everyone.”
Though Ponting came into the match on the back of poor form but scored well and proved his critics wrong. He also believes that age doesn’t matter in the game of cricket.

The former Test skipper said, “I have always been a big believer that age in this game doesn’t mean much. I still have the hunger and desire and I am working as hard as I ever have.”

Ponting was also disappointed for not hitting a century. He said, “It was disappointing not to go on yesterday (Monday) to get a big score. That’s three of the last five innings I passed 50 that that is the game: it happens.”

He added, “My balance was a whole lot better yesterday. The roar I received when I went in yesterday was amazing. It is nice to know there is great public support out there.”

Kapil Dev who won world cup in 1983 said, “Ricky Ponting is the most important player. He is an experienced player and if India can control him then we can control Australia. Remember experience always comes in handy in the long run. He has scored enough runs against us and is due for a big score.”

Kapil said that now Australia’s cricket team is not as strong as it used to be because some of the important key players have been retired.

During ICC Cricket World Radio Show, Kapil said, “This time India has a better chance to win the Test series in Australia, there is no doubt about that. Australia were on top of the world cricket for 15 years. But now it is not the same team without (Glenn) McGrath, (Shane) Warne, (Adam) Gilchrist and (Matthew) Hayden.

They are not as strong as they used to be.”

He added, “We still have Sachin, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. Then there are young talented fast bowlers and spinners. We are getting strong everyday. We, therefore, have a better chance than ever before.

Earlier that was not the case because we were no match for Australia. Australia dominated world cricket and always bounced back. But this time we can go there thinking of not drawing but with a view to win the series.”

About Tendulkar’s most-awaited 100th international century, he said, “Sachin has served Indian cricket so enormously that at this stage this talk of this 100th hundred is not important. If India can win the series, Sachin’s 100th hundred will be taken care of.”

Kim Hughes, Former Australia captain believes that Tendulkar will score his 100th international century in this test series but he suggested to use lighter bats.

Hughes said, “Tendulkar always looks in good form. Using heavy bats on flatter wickets are fine but when the wickets have got a bit of a pace and bounce, then I don’t think heavier bats are a wise thing. I think lighter bats in Australia where you play more horizontal shots are a better option.

You would think in four Tests, Tendulkar will get an opportunity (to score a century). We produce good wickets in Australia for the batsmen and I would have thought Tendulkar will certainly get one hundred in one of those four Test matches.”

Hughes also feels that the Sehwag is another threat for Australia’s team.

He said, “I think Sehwag is biggest danger for Australia because he gets India off to such a good positive start and he likes playing well on our true wickets. Sehwag have always done well in Australia. India’s batting is far superior to Australia’s.

(Sachin) Tendulkar is still playing marvelously well, (Rahul) Dravid is in fantastic form, and (VVS) Laxman and (Virender).”

Hughes has played 70 Tests and 97 ODIs during his cricket career in Australia. He said, “India’s record away from home has not been very good. They got slaughtered by England (earlier this summer) and England are a far better side than Australia. But I would have thought that given Aussies injury worries and that we are an average side now, yes, this would be India’s best chance.”

He feels that Indian bowlers need to take the responsibility, Hughes said “Australia has got a young spinner in (Nathan) Lyon and it will be younger bowlers (James) Pattinson, (Mitchell) Starc and (Peter) Siddle who will have to carry the bulk of the bowling.

Our batting has been very, very brittle as evident in South Africa and against New Zealand albeit I think the wickets will be more conducive to batting in Mellbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.”