Sachin scored & shopped; Laxman was a 'late latif': Dada

Sourav Ganguly

Kolkata: Sachin Tendulkar wardrobe secrets, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja's unorganised off field habits were some of the anecdotes shared by the former India cricketers in a talk show at the Eden Gardens here yesterday.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly revealed that batting maestro Tendulkar would just ‘bat and shop' during his playing days. "He would get a Test hundred and the next day you would see him shopping in an Armani or Versace and you will see them hanging in his wardrobe. He was very fond of his clothes and had a great wardrobe," Ganguly remembered. Talking about VVS Laxman, Ganguly said the elegant Hyderabadi batsman was a perennial latecomer.

"You would see him taking a shower even as the No 4 and 5 batters were at the crease. Even he would be the last to board the team bus," Ganguly said in a talk show, organised on the occasion of Kolkata hosting India's 250th Test on home soil. The show also featured India coach Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag. Often credited for changing the face of Indian cricket by bringing in aggression to the table, Ganguly said his teammates were his jewels who delivered for him.

"Viru at top with his batting and when you came to bowl you knew you've one (Kumble) who can bowl and give you wickets on any surface. He would say, ‘You give me runs on the scoreboard and I will win you Tests.' He did exactly did that."

Sehwag gave credit to Ganguly and Kumble and also named MS Dhoni, saying that a successful player has a great captain behind him.

"Dada had only one motive to win overseas and become number one. Their captaincy was attacking and to back their boys was their strength. I remember having dinner and Kumble told me you would play the next four matches, performance would not matter, just go and give your 100 per cent. Kapil Dev named former opener Navjot Singh Sidhu and middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja as the most unorganised off the field.

"To call them ‘dirtiest' would be harsh but they were very ‘rough' off the field and would hurriedly pack the clothes and wear them for days," Kapil said.