Sachin Tendulkar would have loved to be the fastest bowler in the world: Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that Sachin Tendulkar would have loved to become the fastest bowler in the world. Even as the cricket globe knows Sachin for his masterful records with the bat, his numbers with the ball in hand can’t be dismissed. He bowled all of medium pace, off-spin and leg-spin, finishing his career for India with 201 wickets.

In fact, the 47-year-old Tendulkar has a couple of five-wicket hauls and four four-fers in ODI cricket. Jadeja, who had played alongside Sachin for quite some time, recalled his first meeting with the Master Blaster at the MRF Pace Foundation.

The discussion started with the travails Duleepsinhji would have undergone following the footsteps of his uncle Ranjitsinhji, who had played quite some cricket for England. Jadeja reckons that Arjun Tendulkar may not find it easy, carrying the massive surname on his shoulders. He also feels that sports allows one of explore different horizons in one’s career.

Just that, he couldn’t do it: Ajay Jadeja

“Same thing would be happening to Arjun now. Wherever he must be playing, they would be saying he is Tendulkar’s son. And it not easy, luckily he does not enjoy batting as much as his father and bowls instead,” Jadeja told to Gaurav Kapur on the latter’s show ’22 Yarns’.

“Father would have loved to be the fastest bowler in the world. Just that, he couldn’t do it. So, he found another way, he started batting. That’s what this sport allows you to do,” he stated.

Jadeja was also asked about the reasons for some of the greatest batsmen, wanting to be fast bowlers in the initial phase of their careers. In reply, he said that most kids would be wanting to crank up the pace and become a speedster.

“The greatest players, two you have named, let me add a few more – Anil Kumble, Ranjitsinhji – they also started off as fast bowlers. I think any kid, whatever success they may have enjoyed at international would have started in their homes as a fast bowler. Because the pleasure of bowling a fast ball gets the passion ignited. Every human wants to bowl fast,” Jadeja added.