'We'd apply tape on one side and practice for reverse swing' - Sachin Tendulkar reveals how he improved batting technique

Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar revealed his technique of dealing with reverse swing. During his illustrious career, Tendulkar faced the likes of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram and later on, Dale Steyn, James Anderson and Umar Gul - some of the greatest reverse swing bowlers of all time. 

To tackle them,Tendulkar used to tape a tennis ball and practice with that. The former cricketer stated that he used to watch the ball closely to know which side was the shiny one and then play his shots accordingly. 

“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.

Also Read - Joe Root could potentially break Sachin Tendulkar's record: Ricky Ponting

Notably, reverse swing will play a big part in the upcoming edition of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), slated to begin on January 26. The trails for the same will begin in October and ahead of that, Sachin noted the importance of reverse swing and added that the technique of all the batters will be tested in the forthcoming season. 

He stated that the bowlers should also get some sort of advantage, which is why, he spoke on the importance of allowing bowlers to bowl reverse swings.

Also read: Indian Street Premier League 2025 to be played from January 26 to February 9

“I thought why not introduce it in this format and if this is implemented then the batter’s technique will also be tested. If we are giving some advantage to the batsmen then the bowlers also need to get in the game," he said.

“The ISPL is about giving a platform to those who may not have had the opportunity to showcase their talent. 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,” he added.