Tendulkar’s advice to Mumbai probables: Stay away from mobiles and other distractions

Sachin Tendulkar. File Pic

The Saturday (August 14) session at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex indoor academy came with a surprise for around 40 senior Mumbai team probables when they noticed batting icon Sachin Tendulkar watching their practice session carefully along with head coach Amol Muzumdar.

It is learnt that Tendulkar spent around two hours addressing individual players and team queries. The most important advice the former Mumbai and India captain gave the players was to focus only on the goal. "Keep your mobile phone away from you. The more you keep your mind away from distractions, it's good for the game. Don't leave the ground immediately after practice. Spend some time with your teammates and discuss yours and their game. If you want to play a higher level cricket, be ready to sacrifice something," Tendulkar, reportedly, said to them.

The Shams Mulani-led Mumbai team are set to tour Oman for some white-ball practice games on Thursday. When one player asked what measures he needed to take while preparing for the Oman tour, Tendulkar gave him his own example on how he used to get ready for hot and humid conditions on Sri Lanka tours.
"In all your upcoming sessions you must practice indoors without the air conditioner on. You will be playing in hot conditions in Oman, so sweat it out here and prepare for those hot conditions. You have to visualise and accordingly prepare for the next game or tour.

You must know about the conditions; pitches and ground where you will be playing. But at the same time, weather will play a very important role in your performance," Tendulkar stated.

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Though Mumbai won the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season, the 41-time Ranji Trophy champions won the national championships in 2015-16. Tendulkar wants players to keep aside all the issues and play as a team. "Whatever issues you have, keep them aside. I just want you all to play with a goal in mind - to win the championship. Cricket should be your first priority. Cricket is a team game so play and contribute as a team," Tendulkar is reported to have remarked.