Sports Desk, New Delhi:
Former Indian cricket captain Ravi Shastri has made an interesting revelation about Sachin Tendulkar’s early days in international cricket. Shastri shared that during India’s first tour of Australia in 1991–92, a young Sachin once wanted to sledge Australian players, but Shastri stopped him and advised him to “let the bat do the talking.
Sachin Tendulkar, known for his calm temperament and sportsmanship, rarely got involved in on-field spats or controversies. But according to Shastri, the batting legend almost broke that image during his first Test series in Australia.
Sachin Wanted to Hit Back Verbally
Even after that, the Australian players didn’t stop their sledging. Young Sachin, fired up by their words, wanted to give it back verbally. Shastri recalled the moment fondly:
Sachin came to me and said, ‘Wait till I get my hundred then I’ll give it back to them.’ I told him, ‘You keep quiet. You have real class. Let your bat do the talking. I’ll handle the rest.
Shastri said he wanted Sachin to focus on his batting rather than engage in verbal duels advice that would go on to define the Master Blaster’s calm and composed approach throughout his career.
The 1991–92 Australia Tour Incident
The incident dates back to 1991–92, when a teenage Sachin was touring Australia for the first time. During a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Shastri and Tendulkar were batting together in a crucial partnership. As expected, the Australian players notorious for their aggressive sledging tried to unsettle the Indian pair.
The Waugh Brothers and Mike Whitney Sledging Incident
Recalling the moment during the “Summer of Cricket Lunch” event, Ravi Shastri said:
I remember we were playing at the SCG. It was Sachin’s first tour. I had just reached my century and Sachin came in to bat. The Waugh brothers started sledging him. Around that time, Mike Whitney was fielding as a substitute. He picked up the ball and said to Sachin, ‘Get back in your crease or I’ll break your head.
Shastri continued
I told Mike, ‘Careful mate, you might get fined for that.’ Then I shouted from the middle of the pitch so the whole SCG could hear me ‘Mike, if you could bowl as well as you throw, you wouldn’t be carrying drinks as the 12th man.
A Lesson That Defined Sachin’s Career
That early experience turned out to be a defining moment for Sachin Tendulkar. Over the years, he became known for responding to sledging with centuries, not words. Whether it was against Australia, Pakistan, or South Africa
About the Author:
Priyanshu
