Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu revealed the 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar’s determination story when the right-handed batter told “main khelega” (I will play) after getting hit on his nose, which was bleeding. 

Sachin Tendulkar is a legendary cricketer in Indian cricket history, and the entire cricket world respects him hugely. The right-handed batter set many international cricket records in his more than two decades of international cricket career. 

Sachin made his international cricket debut at the age of 16 when India toured Pakistan. Hosts Pakistan then had pacers like Waqar Younis, Washim Akram, and Imran Khan, who were threats to every world-class batter. Then helmets were only for the shielding head and nearby, and there wasn’t any front grill to cover the face.

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Four batters were out for single-digit scores

Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot hosted the last Test of the four-match Test series. India went on to secure the Test match on the final day of that fourth Test, while the visitors lost their first four wickets for only 38 runs in the third innings of the match, where India earlier had a 74-run lead. Apart from the opener Navjot Sidhu, all other batters among the top five failed to reach even the 5-run mark. 

Sachin Tendulkar said "main khelega" to Navjot Sidhu

It was a tough time for the visitors when Sachin joined Sidhu in the crease. In the early period of that innings, Sachin was hit on his nose when he was facing Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis. Although Sachin’s nose was bleeding and Sidhu was sure enough for the youngster’s retired hurt, Sachin didn’t give up and told “main khelega” (I will play).

पाकिस्तान, खून और सचिन....#INDvsPAK #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/C7nGZKsV8X

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) February 21, 2025

Sidhu and Sachin set up an incredible 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Sachin scored his second Test half-century and was only dismissed by Imran Khan after scoring a valuable 57 off 134 balls with six fours. India successfully saved that Test match, while Sidhu won the Player of the Match award for scoring valuable 97 runs off 234 balls in that third innings. 

Before the Sydney Test, Indian captain Rohit Sharma took a brave decision to drop himself. However, everyone isn’t happy with the decision. The former Indian top-order batter has criticized the team management's decision and brought up the point to support his vision. 

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winning skipper Rohit Sharma has suddenly found himself under pressure since the home Test series against New Zealand. After losing that three-match home Test series by 3-0, India have lost the plot to qualify for the Final of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. 

After losing the home Test series against New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 became very crucial for India. It is the five-match Test series in Australia, where India started the series with a record-breaking 295-run win in Perth. Due to parental leave, Rohit Sharma wasn’t present for the first Test as Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian team for that game. 

See Also: Rohit Sharma's Test future revealed

Captain Rohit Sharma has a tough time in Test cricket

Rohit returned to the team during the first Test and played the leadership role after that Test match. While India lost the second Test by 10 wickets, which was a day-night pink ball Test at Adelaide Oval, the rain-dominated Brisbane Test had a draw result. Hosts Australia secured the Test series by winning the Melbourne Test by 184 runs. 

Now, India can only draw the Test series with a victory in the ongoing Test series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground. This win is also important for them to stay in contention for the third straight ICC World Test Championship Final.

While the skipper Rohit Sharma has struggled with his decisions in the recent Test matches, the right-handed batter has scored only 164 runs in 15 innings with an average of just 10.93. While he has tested himself both as an opener and a middle-order batter, he recorded only two 20+ scores out of the last 15 Test innings, including one half-century.

So, Rohit chose to drop himself for the Sydney Test as Jasprit Bumrah returned to the Test captaincy. After choosing to bat first, India were all out for 185 runs, and Australia scored 9/1 at the stumps of the opening day. 

It's a wrong decision: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Former Indian top-order batter Navjot Singh Sidhu is completely unhappy with the skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision to drop himself from the Sydney Test. Cricketer-turned-politician felt that either the player shouldn’t be the captain or he has to take complete responsibility for the team. He further added, “A captain never de-links from his ship, even if it is a sinking ship.” 

In his social media post, the former Indian cricketer added the examples of former Australian skipper Mark Taylor and the former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin. 

A Captain should never be dropped midstream nor given the option to opt out … sends wrong signals …. Have seen Captain s like Mark Taylor , Azharuddin etc persisted as captain for a year despite bad form …. @ImRo45 deserved more respect and faith from the management …… pic.twitter.com/OJcSF9r3fU

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 3, 2025