Tendulkar Retires from ODIs

[icyman]

Today SRT has retired from ODIs


A lot of us wrote him off in 2007 citing that he would not make it to the enxt one,. But, he chugged on till 2011. Now the man does not know whether he will be available for 2015.

Sachin says that it would be selfish for him to retire now. "When this question was asked in 2007 [about the 2011 World Cup], it was tough for me to answer. It's the same situation: I don't know what to say about 2015"

"I feel those who say you should retire at the top are selfish," he said, "because when you are at the top, you should serve the country instead of retiring."

But, the main question is- Is he at the top of his game ?

Isn't he ,himself being a bit selfish by trying to say that he wants to continue playing at the expense of others ???

 

[SaiSrini]

What he is referring to as his "top of his game" is his own mindset when he goes out to bat. He still feels the same nervous excitement and the highs of batting. And yes, as he has said now a lot of times, the talk about his 100th ton eventually got onto him and pulled him down, but now with it off his back, we saw a free flowing Sachin against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

Its unfair to blame Sachin for not retiring. If the selectors can't drop him, blame them. Not Sachin. Even if Dravid had continued on to play, the selectors are the people to blame. And stop calling him 'selfish'. As if we would do it if we were in his shoes.

 

[pcfan123]

He is a selfish money grubbing pig. Should have left ages ago to let the youth come in. He plays for money only, but it figures.

Good riddance, I'll never forget how he lied to cover up Turbanmans racism

 

[Papa_Smurf]

A lot of us wrote him off in 2007 citing that he would not make it to the enxt one,. But, he chugged on till 2011. Now the man does not know whether he will be available for 2015.

Sachin says that it would be selfish for him to retire now. "When this question was asked in 2007 [about the 2011 World Cup], it was tough for me to answer. It's the same situation: I don't know what to say about 2015"

"I feel those who say you should retire at the top are selfish," he said, "because when you are at the top, you should serve the country instead of retiring."

But, the main question is- Is he at the top of his game ?

Isn't he ,himself being a bit selfish by trying to say that he wants to continue playing at the expense of others ???

Read the article on cricinfo. The eye-popping statement for me was when he said he no longer had any dreams. Then why hasn't he retired yet if he's got no more goals? Part of me is starting to believe that he's afraid of going. He's been batting internationally for 22 years now, and who knows when he first picked up a bat. This is all he knows how to do. It's what the majority of his life has centered around, and he doesn't know how to fill the void when the time actually comes.

 

[Adarsh]

See, I agree with his broader point that a player shouldn't retire when he's at the top of the game. That is selfish, because the moment is chosen just so that the player has good memories of his last game and when he left, etc. Retiring at the top of your game makes no sense to me.

Now, as to whether Sachin is at the top of his game is a different question. He never said he's at the top of the game, although I guess perhaps implied. I do think he's batting pretty well. Look, he's had a bad year, but that was preceded by an immense three years or so. And in this period he HAS looked good, he's made some good 50s, but not looked too scratchy.

As to the statement of "I'll decide when I retire" well, who cares what he says ? It's not in his hand, it's in the selectors hand. He has no say in that matter, so he cannot decide when he retires. However, let's put this into context. He's referring to taking advice from the media, and commentators. So, he meant that his decision to retire is not going to be based on advice or columns written in the media or by any ex-cricketers.

As opposed to not having any goals, does everyone constantly need a goal to keep wanting to perform well in life ? Goals and targets are all well and good...but his point is that he's enjoying what he's doing and that's more than reason enough to want to keep playing.

 

[shravi]

As to the statement of "I'll decide when I retire" well, who cares what he says ? It's not in his hand, it's in the selectors hand. He has no say in that matter, so he cannot decide when he retires. However, let's put this into context. He's referring to taking advice from the media, and commentators. So, he meant that his decision to retire is not going to be based on advice or columns written in the media or by any ex-cricketers.

Haha, I think you're a little naive. He meant exactly what it looks like. He will retire when he wants to retire.

 

[Adarsh]

Ganguly was a big man to drop. He was dropped by the selectors when he underperformed. Sehwag was dropped by the selectors, Harbhajan has been dropped.

If he's performing badly, he'll get dropped by the selectors, that's their job.

 

[harrisb]

Really? Do we really need this thread.

At the moment, if you're not raving about his 100 100's, you're speculating about when he'll retire, when he has clearly said that he has no plans to retire.

Personally, i think he'll go on for a year or two, and he'll retire from Tests. How long will he carry on in the shorter formats for? Only he will know. I think he might get to 2015, but it depends on whether or not he can maintain the form that he's in currently.

In 2007 when everybody said he was finished, he wasn't batting well, yet since about 2009, the guy has been in terrific form with the bat in all forms of the game so I don't see why, if he's playing well, he can't go on for a few more years.

 

[shravi]

Ganguly was a big man to drop. He was dropped by the selectors when he underperformed. Sehwag was dropped by the selectors, Harbhajan has been dropped.

If he's performing badly, he'll get dropped by the selectors, that's their job.

None of those players are Tendulkar. The selectors will never drop him, usher, or force him into retirement. I can assure you of that.

 

[puddleduck]

Interesting stat. That since 2007 Sachin Tendulkar is the second highest run scorer in test cricket behind Alistair Cook and just ahead of Kallis...

Essentially, there are 6 Indian batsman who have scored less runs than him in the last 5 years

 

[AbhishekS]

And since 2008, he has been at the top.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...8;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[SaiSrini]

Asking Sachin to retire from test cricket is downright ridiculous. People who suggest that (and more so just immediately after Dravid's retirement) are just placing too much hope on India's upcoming generation to fit seamlessly into test cricket and to replace Sachin.

 

[puddleduck]

They are also ignoring the fact he's the 2nd highest run-scorer in test cricket over the last 5 year period... Hardly a man in the doldrums.

 

[icyman]

I am not talking of Test cricket. I am centering on his ODI career. This, at a time,when he clearly isn't the force that he used to be in ODIs earlier. India has shown of late, that we can win without him in ODIs.

A few more reason as to why I wish that he calls it quits from ODI:
1. He picks and chooses his matches. This creates a lot of imbalance in the team,especially the batting order. You have a Gautam Gambhir,who does not know whether he will be opening the innigns or batting 1-down. Th eentire batting line-up goes for a toss.

2. His presence in the ODI setup means that he has blocked the potential entry of a budding new-comer. For starters, Ajinkya Rahane,who played so well in England failed to get into the Indian team for Australia/ Asia Cup.

3. World Cup 2015. That would be ridiculous. We need to build a team for the future now. 2011-the pinnacle of his career when we won the World Cup. He could have gone from ODIs then itself. However,if he wishes to stay on till the next cup in Aus/NZ, he ought to make his intentions clear right now- just like MSD.

 

[sifter132]

Isn't he ,himself being a bit selfish by trying to say that he wants to continue playing at the expense of others ???

Well it's an interesting one. I would answer yes to your question, but then again it's not up to Sachin to finally say whether him staying in the team is selfish or not. That's why there are selectors to pick the best team possible.

It's a similar stance to the one Ricky Ponting had been taking - I want to play, I'm not standing aside until I'm told otherwise. Some see that as stubborn and selfish, others see it as fine because it's the selectors job to make the decision - not Ricky's obligation to be a gentleman and stand aside.

I don't mind that Tendulkar/Ponting stance, but I've also got a lot of time for guys who retire when they feel they don't have that edge anymore and want to quit on a high.