Tendulkar’s shot-making was an ideal mix of technical mastery and timing. His potential to play a variety of strokes in opposition to all forms of bowling made him probably the most feared and revered batsmen in cricket.
Tendulkar had probably the most refined methods in cricket. His stability, footwork, and head place had been exemplary. He made positive to get his physique in the appropriate place earlier than enjoying a shot, whether or not in opposition to tempo or spin. His compactness on the crease allowed him to play each on the back and front foot with ease, making him equally sturdy in protection and assault.
Tendulkar popularized the uppercut, significantly throughout the latter a part of his profession. It concerned slicing a short-pitched supply over the slips or third-man boundary. It turned a potent weapon, particularly in opposition to quick bowlers.
There’s a video doing the rounds on the web the place Tendulkar talks about how he got here up with the higher reduce shot and the way he mastered it to perfection.
Speaking about going through short-pitched deliveries from pacers, Tendulkar says within the video, “We had been requested to depart the ball any shorter than that, then to let the ball go, since you can’t be on high of the ball to one thing which is there. I imply should you look to maintain it down then it is precisely at a catching top the place the fielders are.”
Tendulkar continues, “So in 2001, we had been enjoying South Africa in Bloemfontein and I believed being on high of the ball will not be serving to us rating runs, why not get beneath the ball and play over the slip cordon in Take a look at cricket. In Take a look at cricket, very hardly ever you’ll discover a third man in place, so I felt that was a scoring alternative relatively than letting the ball go as a result of by nature instinctively I wished to hit the ball and rating runs.”
Tendulkar’s reduce shot in opposition to quick bowlers like Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar was an illustration of his sensible hand-eye coordination, fast reflexes, and mastery of the sport’s approach.
Each Lee and Akhtar had been among the many quickest bowlers of their period, repeatedly bowling over 150 kmph, however Tendulkar had the ability to show their tempo to his benefit, significantly along with his reduce shot.
Brett Lee, recognized for his categorical tempo and aggressive bowling, typically examined batsmen with short-pitched deliveries outdoors off-stump. Tendulkar, along with his impeccable footwork and approach, would use the tempo of Lee to execute his reduce shot, enjoying it late and utilizing the width Lee offered. The late reduce was one among Sachin’s specialties in opposition to Lee, sending the ball racing previous backward level or gully.
Shoaib Akhtar, often known as the “Rawalpindi Categorical,” bowled with menacing pace and aggression. Tendulkar’s potential to take care of Akhtar’s tempo was evident throughout the 2003 ODI World Cup and India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004. In opposition to Akhtar’s quick, short-pitched deliveries outdoors off-stump, Tendulkar typically used the reduce shot to use the gaps between level and gully.
One of the well-known moments in cricket historical past occurred within the 2003 World Cup when Tendulkar uppercut a short-pitched supply from Akhtar over third man for a six. Though it was extra of an uppercut than a standard reduce shot, it was one other demonstration of Tendulkar’s brilliance in utilizing tempo to his benefit. This shot, specifically, stands out within the minds of cricket followers for its audacity and timing.
Tendulkar’s potential to play the reduce shot late allowed him to make use of the tempo of the bowler, significantly in opposition to deliveries outdoors off-stump. His management over the shot meant that even when it went within the air, it was over the fielders and into the stands.
Tendulkar would shortly transfer his ft into place, getting inside the road of the ball to both play the shot late or early relying on the bounce and tempo. This allowed him to control the sphere with precision.
Even in opposition to bowlers as quick as Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin displayed distinctive management, making certain that the ball was positioned within the gaps, typically racing to the boundary with little effort.
Tendulkar’s reduce shot in opposition to these two fiery quick bowlers exemplified his potential to neutralize excessive tempo with finesse and technical superiority. These moments, particularly his uppercut pictures, stay etched in cricketing folklore.
Tendulkar’s shot-making was a mixture of flawless approach, immense psychological power, and the flexibility to adapt to each scenario. That is what made him probably the most full and profitable batsmen in cricket historical past.
