New Delhi: India will start Wednesday the home leg of the World Test Championships (WTC) when they take on South Africa in the first of three Test matches at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar said that the concept of the Test championship makes the series all the more interesting.
Sachin Tendulkar spoke on the start of a brilliant concept like the WTC and a host of other topics including Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the high-profile series, the advantage of having a quality left-arm seamer and how the South African bowlers will have their task cut-out against the quality Indian batting line-up.
“When it comes to Bumrah, you are surely going to miss someone of his calibre. But, I feel the Indian team do have the back-up strength as far as our fast bowling department is concerned. It looks pretty good to me and so is the spin bowling department,” Tendulkar told this agency, Tuesday.
In the fast bowling department, we have got good back-up with plenty of experience. We will miss Bumrah but not to the extent that we would have done, say five-seven years back when we did not have reserves to fall back on. When it comes to spin bowling, the combination we have has delivered for a number of years and so, I feel that our bowling should be able to create that pressure on South African batting,” added the maestro.
Sachin Tendulkar, however, pointed out that it would have been great if India had found a replacement for Zaheer Khan.
“Yes, a left-arm seamer would bring in variety as more the variation, tougher it gets for the batsman. Also you have to remember that a left-arm seamer would create rough on the pitch to facilitate the spinners. That is an advantage we miss,” Tendulkar said.
Coming to the Test championships, the legend said that concept would make each and every game important.
“I think the World Test Championships is important, more so for spectators as they would be following each and every match. I believe the last six months are going to get really exciting because many numbers will come into play and at no stage the rubber will be dead,” Tendulkar stated.
“In a three-Test series, if a team have won the first two games, then there is a tendency that people stop following the third game. But as far as cricketers are concerned, they will want to go out and win every match. What WTC has done is made each and every match significant,” added Tendulker.
Asked about the likes of Virat Kohli promoting the longer format and making their love for Test cricket known, Tendulkar said: “When it comes to players advocating Test cricket, I feel it is wonderful thing. I have always believed that Test cricket is the toughest format if it is played on good fair wickets. That will encourage spectators to come and watch upfront fast bowling and some great batting and then the spinners also come into play. So, they get a taste of all three aspects of cricket,” pointed out Tendulkar.
IANS