Indian team has more match winners now: Tendulkar

T V Sriram

Colombo, Sep 15 (PTI) Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar
feels the Indian team has never had as many match winners as
it has right now and the side's fast-improving overseas record
is a result of their consistent performance.

"I think we definitely have more match winners. There
were good players earlier as well. But I think in this lot we
have got match winners and more big hitters as such and you
know the guys have delivered at the crunch moment," Tendulkar
told reporters here Monday night after India beat Sri Lanka by
46 runs to win an ODI tri-series.

"It could be with bat or bowl. But they have been
delivering pretty consistently and you know they are all
talented guys, extremely talented guys. You need match winners
to win consistently. That is what this team is about," he
added.

"There might be a couple of hiccups here and there but on
the whole if you see the guys have really done well."

Part of the Indian team for the past two decades,
Tendulkar declared the current one led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni
as one of the best.

"I have been fortunate to be part of Indian cricket team
from 1989. There have been so many great names. I would not
want to run anyone down by making comparisons about teams," he
said.

"I would like to respect the fact that I was fortunate to
be part of various generations. This is definitely one of the
top teams I have been part of," Tendulkar added.

"We have always tried to win but we have been able to
produce results in the last couple of years or so. We have
been able to perform pretty consistently. There are going to
be upsets in between but if you look at the larger picture, we
have had better days."

After hitting his 44th ODI hundred while battling cramps,
the 36-year-old Tendulkar said players like him and Sri Lankan
veteran Sanath Jayasuriya have proved that age is just a
number.

"I don't think age has any relevance here. Eventually
what you do is all that matters. How much you contribute is
more important. I think the age factor is not of relevance. It
is about contribution," he asserted.

The right-hander rated the match-winning hundred last
night as one of his best.

"I would definitely put this up the order because the
conditions were very tough and the heat was such that it
drained us out in the middle but we had to fight it out. So I
would not hesitate at all if I have to rate this as one of the
best ones," he said.

Tendulkar was making a comeback of sorts after taking a
five-month break but the Mumbaiker said he was well prepared.

"One had to be mentally tough. I knew it was going to be
tough. I was prepared for that, to score runs you have to run.
You have to be out for at least 40 overs or so. That was the
game plan. We kept changing the pace of the game," he said.

"I knew I had to play a longish innings here. Even if
there were a few dot balls, doesn't matter but once you put up
a decent total on the board, the pressure will be on the
Lankans," he added.

Asked whether there was something he still dreamed of
achieving in his long career, Tendulkar said he just wants to
enjoy the game.

"It is not only about chasing dreams. I am enjoying the
game. My effort will be to try and keep playing the game and
help win matches. I would not like to say anything about the
dream list. The enjoyment factor is extremely important," he
said.

Talking about yesterday's final, Tendulkar said despite
defending a huge target of 320, he felt a bit nervous after
the Lankans got off to aggressive start.

"I bit off all my nails. At one stage it looked evenly
balanced because the power play was still left and that was in
my mind. We needed a couple of wickets for sure because one
guy has a big day at that stage then it can take the match
away from us." PTI TVS
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