Sachin Tendulkar had a small weakness against off-spinners: Muttiah Muralitharan

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is considered a batsman who was almost perfect with his gameplay and unstoppable in nature. Not even Shane Warne managed to dominate Tendulkar, despite being one of the greatest bowlers of all time. However, cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan believes that the Indian possessed a small chink in his armour, highlighting a weakness against off-spin. Muralitharan however had words of praise for Tendulkar’s ability to read the ball astutely. He further believes that the batsman’s technical supremacy and ability to protect the wicket well, made him tough to dismiss.

“It’s very hard to get Sachin Tendulkar out”

“For Sachin, there was no fear to bowl because he won’t hurt you. Unlike Sehwag who can hurt you. Because he [Sachin Tendulkar] will protect his wicket, he is a good reader of the ball and he knows the technique. I felt in my career, Sachin had a small weakness against off-spin. With leg-spin, he smashes but off-spin somehow he had the difficulty because I got him out so many times. And lots of off-spinners also got him so many times, I have seen it,” said Muralitharan in an interaction with Cricinfo as quoted by India Today.

The Sri Lankan dismissed Tendulkar on 13 occasions. Only Brett Lee managed to exceed this tally, by dismissing the Indian on 14 instances.

“I never spoke to him regarding this, that why ‘you aren’t comfortable with off-spin.’ I felt in my mind he had a little bit of weakness that’s why I got a little bit of advantage compared to other players. Sachin is a difficult player, it’s very hard to get him out. Sehwag is so dangerous, for him we put deep fielders because I know he would go for his chance. He would go for his instincts and he knows ‘On my day I will attack anyone I want,” he added.

“MS Dhoni came ahead of Yuvraj Singh in 2011 World Cup final because of me”

There has been a lot of speculation over the reason behind former Team India skipper MS Dhoni promoting himself up the order ahead of Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. Muralitharan believes his doosra may have been the factor behind this decision. The Sri Lankan believes Dhoni learned how to read his doosra when the pair shared a dressing room while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“I would say Dhoni read it towards the end when I was bowling to him in Chennai. I remember in the World Cup, Yuvraj didn’t have a clue on me. He was supposed to come but I think because of me Dhoni came (ahead of Yuvraj). Sachin (Tendulkar) definitely read it. I thought Rahul (Dravid) didn’t read it that well. (VVS) Laxman read it as well as (Gautam Gambir) Gambhir. (Virender) Sehwag I don’t know if he read it all the time.”

“When I bowled the doosra, I didn’t use the seam. So with the seam, you can’t see it, you will have to see it from my wrist. Among the Sri Lankan players, (Kumar) Sangakkara, Mahela (Jayawardene), Aravind de Silva, Marvan Atapattu read it. (Tilakaratne) Dilshan never had a clue,” concluded Muralitharan.