(PTI Photo)
Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar has revisited the strategies he employed to tackle the challenge of reverse swing during his career. Despite retiring in 2013, Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in international cricket, is still celebrated as one of the game’s greatest batsmen.
“During my playing days, I used to tape the ball up from one side. In season (leather) balls, we look for the shiny and the rough side and in the tennis ball, we would apply tape on one side and I used to practice reverse swing to face it in international cricket,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
In the next season of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), a T10 cricket tournament featuring tennis balls, reverse swing will be introduced. Tendulkar believes this will provide a true test of a batter’s technique.
“I thought why not introduce it in this format and if this is implemented then the batter’s technique will also be tested,” he said.
To achieve reverse swing with the tennis ball, one side will be taped, and the 51-year-old explains that this method is intended to level the playing field between bowlers and batters.
“If we are giving some advantage to the batsmen then the bowlers also need to get in the game,” he said.
Tendulkar, a Core Committee Member of the ISPL, is optimistic that the competition will keep expanding and create opportunities for young cricketers throughout India.
“The ISPL is about giving a platform to those who may not have had the opportunity to showcase their talent,” he said. “The tournament has brought the joy of the game to new audiences and opened doors for young cricketers across the country. It is my hope that the league continues to grow and make a lasting impact on Indian cricket, giving every player a chance to dream big.”
