Tendulkar says pink ball should be tried out in few games

Author: Staff Report

MUMBAI – Sachin Tendulkar, a former Indian cricketer and captain, has suggested that pink ball should be tried out in a few games to see how the evening conditions affect the new ball, as the Test conditions could be dramatically different under lights at some of venues.

“I haven’t played with a pink ball yet. But I am all for experimenting and innovating, so I think it should be tried out,” he said in his opened up like never before interview to The Hindu newspaper about life after retirement, his family and his professional life.

About decision review system (DRS), he said that this as a system was aiming to achieve perfection in decision-making. “I believe that the use of technology should be standardized, regardless of which board you are playing under. Any system that brings accurate decision-making closer to 100% perfection should be supported,” he said.

The decision review system is a technology-based system used in the sport of cricket. The system was first introduced in Test cricket, for the sole purpose of reviewing controversial decisions made by the on-field umpires as to whether or not a batsman had been dismissed.

The former captain called Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane the future of Indian cricket as they were extremely talented and age was also on their side. “They will undoubtedly be playing together for a long time to come,” he said.

“I know Ajinkya for a long time. I like his work ethic. He has been a committed cricketer and his growth rate has been tremendous. I think we have a very capable young line-up,” he said. He also pointed out that India does and has produced quality fast bowlers who can bowl above 140kph consistently.

“I have played with plenty of guys in the ’90s who bowled consistently over the 140 range. And even today we have Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav who are all internationally acknowledged fast bowlers,” he said. “Our bowlers have won matches abroad at places such as Perth, Durban and Lord’s,” he said.

To a question, Tendulkar said late singers Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi and living legends Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were his all-time favourite singers. “Amitabh Bachchan and Robert De Niro are my favourite India’s Bollywood and Hollywood actors,” he said. He considered Mumbai and London his favourite destinations.