Sidhu told that when the Indian team reached Sialkot to play, the Pakistani team asked to leave one to one and a half inch grass on the pitch there. Imran Khan had clearly said that if the grass of the pitch is cut, then the neck will be cut. We have to beat the Indians at any cost but the way Sachin Tendulkar batted on this very pitch became history.
Sidhu said, ‘Sachin Tendulkar was flopping badly before the Sialkot Test. This was also Sachin’s debut series and it was being said about him that the child has been left in front of the wolf. The entire Indian team had faltered in front of Waqar Yunus, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan, but in Sialkot such a roar of a 15-year-old child echoed that the whole world heard it again.
Sidhu says that on the fifth day of the Sialkot Test, the Indian team lost five wickets for just 25 runs. Then Sachin Tendulkar came out to bat. The series was nothing special for them, so I thought, if this too gets out early, then the match will be over.
He told, when Sachin came out to bat, Waqar Younis was in front for bowling. Waqar was the most ruthless fast bowler of his time. Waqar hit Sachin a bouncer on the very second ball and he hooked it but the ball took an inside edge and hit his nose. I was shocked to see it. Blood started falling from his nose. The doctor came to the ground and wiped his nose, but I could not believe hearing the boldness with which Sachin said that he would play for 15 years. Sachin had blood soaked cotton hanging in his nose and he was ready to bat.
Sidhu said, then I thought when a 15-year-old child has the courage to fight for his country, then why can’t I do it.
The match was drawn due to Sachin’s bravery.
Sachin bravely faced Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Imran Khan on the last day of the Sialkot Test. Sachin played an excellent inning of 57 runs in 134 balls in the second innings for Team India. Batting first in the match, Team India scored 324 runs in the match. In response, the Pakistan team could only score 250 runs. Sachin scored 35 runs in the first innings as well. In the second innings, Team India scored 234 runs for 7 wickets, but after that Pakistan’s batting did not come, due to which the match ended in a draw.
Sachin scored 292 runs for Team India in this series of four Test matches. From this tour of Pakistan, Sachin made his ODI debut as well.
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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