Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar hosted a no-holds-barred Ask Me Anything (AMA) for Reddit on Monday where he ducked no deliveries, including his opinion on umpire Steve Bucknor, who had infamously given him out in a 2003 Test against Australia at the Gabba and in the 2005 Test against Pakistan at Eden Gardens. So honest and witty was Tendulkar in the AMA that a cheeky fan asked him if he was the real Sachin Tendulkar. To this, the cricket legend replied: “Abhi Aadhaar bhi bheju kya?”
When asked by a fan whether he had any thoughts about Bucknor, Tendulkar wittily replied: “When I am batting give him boxing gloves to wear (so he can’t raise his finger) 😜”
Replies like this evoked suspicion in one fan who cheekily suggested that it probably wasn’t the real Tendulkar replying to fan queries.
“Sach mein Sachin Tendulkar hai kya? (Are you really Sachin Tendulkar?) Please share a voice note for verification,” the fan asked.
To this, Tendulkar posted a photo where he can be seen pointing to his query on the big screen, with the reply: “Abhi Aadhaar bhi bheju kya? (Should I send my Aadhaar card also?)”
Highlights from Sachin Tendulkar’s AMA
Tendulkar gave a display of his witty, humble, honest self in the AMA.
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What Sachin spoke about in his AMA:
His role in Dhoni’s promotion up the order in the 2011 World Cup final
His most meaningful innings
If he was not a cricketer, then what would he be doing?
Unseen Side of the Master Blaster: Personal and witty replies
Here is our selection of Tendulkar’s best responses in the AMA:
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Question: Just settle the debate: WI bowling attack or Australia bowling attack?
Sachin Tendulkar: Why? Are you intending to play them?
Question: Do you keep a travel bucket list or go with the flow?
Sachin Tendulkar: Anjali carries the list and I just go with her flow!
Question:With which batsman, you found running between the wickets toughest and easiest respectively?
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Sachin Tendulkar: Viru ko bhagana mushkil hi nahi namumkin tha kyunki woh chakkon aur chaukon mein deal karta tha!
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. (Express Photo by Renuka Puri)
Tendulkar also fielded some serious cricketing questions in the AMA:
Question: Viru (Virender Sehwag) revealed that it was your idea to promote MSD ahead of Yuvi in the Cricket World Cup final. Is that true and what was the reason behind such a strategic change?
Sachin Tendulkar: There were 2 reasons. The left right batting combination would have upset the two off spinners, also Muralitharan had played for CSK (from 2008-2010) and MS had played him for 3 seasons in the nets.
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Sachin Tendulkar is carried by fellow team members after the Team India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Mumbai. PTI
Question:What’s the favorite wicket that you’ve ever taken (while bowling)?
Sachin Tendulkar: Moin Khan…. last ball of the day
Question: Who guided you to change your stance against Warne to play those magnificent sweeps?
Sachin Tendulkar: No one, I did it myself. I had a different stance for him when he bowled over the wicket and when he went around the wicket.
Question: What will be the next big evolution in cricket?
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Sachin Tendulkar: A number of things have changed over the decades mainly for batters. I would love to see innovation happening with the ball.
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Question:Did you ever deliberately play a false shot early just to test a bowler’s rhythm or reaction?
Sachin Tendulkar:Yes, on many occasions I have played risky shots to break the bowler’s rhythm. The one that comes to my mind is against McGrath at Nairobi in 2000.
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Question:If Sachin was not a cricketer, what alternate profession would he have chosen?
Sachin Tendulkar: Tennis player!
Question:Aamir Khan said he would’ve been a tennis player too. Have you ever played tennis with him??
Sachin Tendulkar: No, but I have played table tennis with him.
Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer first met each other in 2011
Question: Who is your favourite tennis player?
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Sachin Tendulkar: Now that Federer has retired, it’s Alcaraz.
Question:Which cricket ground had the best food for lunch?
Sachin Tendulkar: Lord’s
