Sachin Tendulkar

God of cricket Sachin Tendulkar disclose why India failed in the World Cup 2007

Do you all remember World Cup 2007 ? Cricket god Sachin Tendulkar discloses why India failed in the World Cup 2007 . India lost the both matches against Bangladesh and SriLanka, and consequently the team had failed to be eligible for even the Super 8 quarter finals.

Sachin tendulkar blamed that "I felt our batting order was not right," who batted at number four with Robin Uthappa sent in front of him.

"It was a World Cup tournament and we had a fantastic team. Everything looked well set but I felt our batting order was not right. This was one of the reasons that India failed in the World Cup 2007.

What is Sachin Tendulkar really like?

I am not a great fan of cricket but there are some sports people whom I am in awe of. Sachin Tendulkar is certainly one of them. A lot is being written about him of late, because he completed 20 years in international cricket. He’s lasted, unlike many others. However Sachin has always been a bit of a reserved person and I have always been curious as to what he is really like, inside.

There is no way of knowing, unless ofcourse one knows him well. I had no hopes of doing that, so the next best thing was to see whether his hand revealed it. Some of my readers know that I am a palmist, but a palmist who firmly believes that you cannot tell the future from one’s palm. I do believe that the hand reveals one’s temperament though. I have analysed Sachin’s hand here, on this post, on my other blog.

Tendulkar masterclass steers India to victory

A magnificent 163 from Sachin Tendulkar and half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni inspired India to a 58-run win in their third one-day international against New Zealand, in Christchurch.

The Indian batsmen plundered some inviting bowling from the home side, racking up a record-equalling 18 sixes on their way to 392 for four in their 50 overs.

In reply, a maiden one-day hundred from Jesse Ryder gave New Zealand some hope of chasing down the 393 required but the loss of quick wickets undid the good work done by Ryder (105) and stand-in captain Brendon McCullum (71) at the top of the order and despite a late burst by Kyle Mills (54) and Tim Southee (32), the hosts were bowled out for 334 with 29 balls remaining and now trail 2-0 in the five-match series with two games to play.

India's innings was the second-highest total in one-day internationals behind the 413 for five they scored against Bermuda and the highest total made in New Zealand against all countries.

Tendulkar was in imperious form, striking five sixes and 16 boundaries in his 133-ball innings, his first one-day century in New Zealand. But he was forced to retire hurt with what looked like a pulled stomach muscle after the 45th over and did not return to the field for New Zealand's innings.

The bulk of the damage was done during the batting powerplay when Tendulkar and Yuvraj belted 69 runs in the five overs as they moved from 121 for two to 190 for two.

McCullum – standing in for Daniel Vettori who had returned to Auckland for the birth of his first child – opted to use Southee, who had replaced Iain O'Brien, and part-timer Ryder for the bulk of them and they came at a cost with Southee conceding 25 runs from his two overs and Ryder going for 30.

New Zealand's reply got off to a superb start as Ryder and McCullum went after the Indian bowlers early. The tourists' fielding let them down at times with Dhoni dropping a simple catch when Ryder was on 43; the big left-handed opener responded immediately by blasting his second six to bring up his half-century in only 36 balls.

Pathan then dropped McCullum, who was on 38, in the very next over and having been handed that lifeline the stand-in captain made the most of it.

He was eventually run out by Raina for 71 when Ryder opted unwisely to take a quick single.

It marked the start of a batting collapse, with the hosts slumping from 166 for one to 218 for seven as Ross Taylor (seven), Martin Guptill (one), Ryder (105), Oram (seven), Elliott (18) and McGlashan (seven) went in quick succession.

Mills and Butler, who was forced out of the bowling attack with a strained quad muscle, got New Zealand past the 250 mark before Butler (24) was bowled by Yuvraj.

Mills and Southee then gave India a scare with an 85-run partnership before Pathan and Praveen Kumar struck.

India's Sachin Tendulkar wants 50-over game split into two 25-over innings

Changes: Sachin Tendulkar wants 50-over game to boost revival Photo: GETTY IMAGES

With the growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket threatening to overshadow the 50-over format, the former India captain said the idea would also provide similar conditions to both teams.

"Today, we can tell the result of close to 75 per cent of matches after the toss. We know how conditions will affect the two teams," Tendulkar said.

"But it (splitting the game) is not too dependent on the toss because if, for example, it's a day-night match, then both the teams will have to bat under lights.

"In those 25 overs you can use your 10 wickets the way you want. Suppose if it rains, then also you can plan. The conditions change very dramatically, but this would ensure that it's the same for everyone."

Tendulkar, the world's top scorer in Tests (12,773) and one-dayers (16,684), said he thought of the idea in 2002 when India and Sri Lanka had to share the Champions Trophy in Colombo following the rain-hit final.

"First, they played 50 overs and we played two before the rain interruption. The next day (reserve day), Sri Lanka again played 50 overs and we played eight. In the end, we were declared joint winners," he said.

"I thought, 110 overs and still no result. That's when I thought we should have 25 overs each for both sides and then 25 overs each again."

The debate over the future of one-day cricket has grown after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month abandoned their domestic 50-over competition from 2010.