"I am not god, I am Sachin Tendulkar" – said the iconic Indian cricketer who watched in dejection as his 100th international century, which he described as the "toughest" of his career, was overshadowed by the team's shock loss to Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match here, writes The Indian Express.
"I am not God. I am Sachin Tendulkar," said the 38-year-old right-hander after India lost by five wickets despite posting 289 on board. Yes, I have to be honest. I am human and I have emotions so I was frustrated. It does play on your mind," Tendulkar told reporters at the post-match press conference.
It took him 36 balls to go from 80 to 100 last night and his 114-run knock came off 147 deliveries in all but the veteran insisted that personal milestone was the last thing on his mind.
"The hundred was not the only thing on my mind. I was thinking about getting a good total for the team. When I looked at the scoreboard, I was looking at the run-rate and what we needed to do; I was avoiding looking at my personal score," he said.
Sachin Tendulkar admitted the long wait of 33 innings for the ton frustrated him at times. “I felt even after 22 years, the cricket god was testing me over the last one year. I will be honest, I was frustrated at times, but I never gave up,” Tendulkar.
“It's a wrong notion that I didn't go to West Indies to get my 100th hundred in England. You can never plan your hundreds, if I could, I would have been something else. I came so close so many times. I could have got it in Oval (against England), in Mumbai (against Windies) or in the first two Tests in Australia. My feet were moving so well, I just didn't know why it was not coming. It was difficult, those who haven't gone through it won't know how difficult it was,” Tendulkar said, according to a report in The Times Of India.
For Tendulkar, who had to wait for 33 attempts to reach that, relief was yet to take over, writes Hindustan Times. “It hasn't sunk in as yet, but I have definitely lost about 50kilos,” he said with a sheepish smile after completing a century of centuries against Bangladesh in their Asia Cup match on Friday.
“Obviously I can't think of anything at this stage. It has been a tough phase for me. I had begun the season well. It was especially tough as I was doing reasonably well in Australia but at times felt I was a little unlucky,” he said.
On being asked that now that the 100th hundred is done, is he going to call it quits?, Sachin said, “If I decide to retire, it won't be done secretively. I will let you guys know. As of now, I am enjoying the game.”
