Veteran player Sachin Tendulkar should have retired from international cricket after the success of 2011 World Cup, feels former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev, who led the nation to their first World Cup victory in 1983.In an interview with Headlines Today executive editor Rahul Kanwal, the former Indian captain said Master Blaster should hang up his boots and that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's mistakes as the skipper could not be ignored.
After a sorry show in Australia, two of India's most popular cricketers -- Tendulkar and Dhoni -- have come under fire.
As Tendulkar's flop show continues down under, Kapil said, "Had he have retired after the World Cup, or even better, if he had announced retirement before that, it would have been good. He is a very good cricketer and has done a lot for the country. Probably he is a cricketer who loves the game more than us. There are some people who cannot leave cricket."
Asked if Tendulkar should have retired from international cricket after the World Cup, Kapil said, "He should have made the announcement. He has served the nation for 22-23 years. There is no better cricketer than him. He should have told in advance that he would not play one-day cricket anymore and would play only Tests till he can. But every player has a different thinking. If you ask me, then he should have announced (his retirement) earlier."
Asked if Master Blaster was under pressure of his 100th international hundred, Kapil said, "When was Sachin not under pressure? I am not talking in his support... He has played for so many years and has overcome all kinds of pressure to reach at this level. Every player has certain age. He is approaching 39-40. Probably, there is no age left for him to play anymore... but some people say he will play the next World Cup also. Then what could be said?"
To a question whether Tendulkar should retire after the ongoing ODI series in Australia, he said, "He should announce in advance. A player like him should go after proper announcement. Had I been in his place I would have quit after the World Cup."
To a question on Dhoni's captaincy which has led to some major losses in the recent past, Kapil said, "If he is there in the team there is no better (captain) than him. Yes, he has been committing mistakes and I don't want to cover them up. But he has good understanding of the team. Can we not we sit and discuss team's betterment with him?"
Asked if Dhoni was biased in his captaincy by not allowing all-rounder Ravinder Jadeja bowl any over and handing over the ball to Suresh Raina instead, Kapil said, "Yes, I'm not saying he is doing everything right. If he will commit mistakes repeatedly, there are selectors sitting above him."
On Dhoni's insistence with R.P. Singh as a lead bowler in India's disastrous England tour last year, the former skipper said, "I have also played cricket. I think fielding R.P Singh there (in England) did not make sense. After he was played and he failed to perform, the selectors should be questioned."
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