 I rate this hundred very highly: Tendulkar
2nd Mar 2008 23:02 IST
Agencies
Sachin Tendulkar, who defied pain to score his first one-day century in Australia in his 18-year career, rated his effort "highly" but said he did not want to prove anyone wrong.
Tendulkar remained unconquered after scoring 117, which helped India to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals, setting a platform for their first-ever one-day Tri-Series win Down Under.
"In the last series, I missed a few centuries. I was also struggling with a groin strain for some time. But these things are part and parcel of the game and one has to carry on. I rate this hundred very highly," Tendulkar said after guiding India to a six-wicket victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Tendulkar's less than stellar one-day record while chasing in recent times had set some tongues wagging but the batsman said he was not aiming to prove anyone wrong.
"I play the game for passion and love. People have been writing all sorts of things and I don't want to prove anybody wrong," he insisted.
Tendulkar hit back at his critics who questioned his inability to strike form in one-day cricket of late, saying he did not bother about the comments of those without any credibility.
Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 117 to guide India to a six-wicket win against Australia in the first match of their best-of-three finals of the cricket tri-series.
"A lot of those people who can't do certain things themselves, they talk, so let them talk," Tendulkar said.
"I look at the credibility of the person who is writing. I prefer to listen to those people who matter to me. They do pick up the phone and tell me," he said.
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