By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said in an interview to a TV news channel that he does not have much cricket left in him and doesn’t believe he will be playing the next World Cup.
On being asked about his plans for retirement, Tendulkar said, “I am 39 and I don’t think I have plenty of cricket left in me. But it depends on my frame of mind and my physical ability to deliver. At this stage, I don’t think I will be playing the next World Cup.”
Tendulkar gave an interview to Times Now, of which only clips have been shown. The full interview will be aired later.
Responding to accusations about playing the game only to continue commercial endorsements associated with him he said, “My manager tells me that there were a couple of articles about this issue. As a matter of fact, there was an article in The Economic Times. I’d call this irresponsible journalism by a journalist who has vested interests.”
The 39-year-old was heavily criticised when he was consecutively bowled thrice in the Test series against New Zealand at home in August. Cricketing icon Sunil Gavaskar also had stated how being bowled thrice consecutively is a bad sign for the batsman.
In reaction, Tendulkar said, “Sunil Gavaskar has also said positive things about me. When there have been a lot of positive feedback as well, why keep harping only on the negative comments?”
“Ultimately, if I am out, I am out. I can’t get stuck on one article about me and try to create something that the person is hoping to create out of it,” Tendulkar said.
” I need to stay focused on the game and constantly keep finding ways to improve myself. There is no stage in which one ceases to learn about cricket. One remains a student of this game for ever.”