Playing 5th ODI was a difficult
decision: Tendulkar

After Anil Kumble's act of bravery in the Test series, it was the turn of Sachin Tendulkar to put the team above everything else.

The star batsman admitted he batted in pain during his 65-run knock in the deciding one-dayer against the West Indies, on Sunday, which India won by 56 runs..

Tendulkar, who played a surprisingly sedate innings -- scoring mainly through singles during the 70-ball knock, said his shoulder pain restricted him from playing the big shots.

"There were few shots which I couldn't play at all. I knew for sure that playing big shots was impossible," said Tendulkar, who had an ice pack on his left shoulder as he addressed reporters at Sunday's post-match press conference.

He top scored in India's innings of 260 and also took the prized wicket of Brian Lara, in his three-over spell for 20 runs, to win the man-of-the-match award.

"Knowing the condition I was in, I preferred to nudge it around and stay till the end," said Tendulkar. "I preferred to keep picking singles."

Tendulkar, who missed Saturday's game because of the shoulder injury, said it was a difficult decision for him to play the final game.

"It was a difficult decision because I didn't want to let down the team. If I play I should be able to contribute. If I break down, then I shouldn't be there. It was a tough decision and I wasn't sure what was going to happen," he said.

The champion batsman also confessed that he played because didn't want to miss a chance of playing his part in such a crucial game.

"It was the final opportunity and we were so close to winning the series, so I felt I should push myself."

Talking about his new role as No. 4 batsman, Tendulkar said: "It is a different experience. I have to change my game. Now, basically, I've just got to try and stay till the end. Sometimes one needs to play big shots, but generally, on an average, I would like to stay till the end."

The maestro informed that it was a late decision for him to bat number four, as the team management had originally said he would bat at number four only if India were chasing a target.

"Sourav (Ganguly) came and said, 'I think you should bat at number four. What do you think about it?' I said it was pretty okay," he said, adding "wherever the team wants me to play, I would be available."

He said he was thrilled by the one-day series victory as came overseas and after a gap of three years.

"Victory abroad gives more satisfaction. We were thrilled about it. I thought we played well as a unit, we fielded well, though we were not exactly up to the mark."

Looking back on his performance on the tour, he said: "Overall I played three decent innings in the Test series."

Tendulkar had a sequence of 0, 0, 8 and 0 in the Test series before coming up with knocks of 41 and 86 in the fifth and final Test.

"I had this bad patch after a long time and I hope I don't get it again," he said.

He said he was disappointed that the team couldn't draw the Test series after being 1-0 up.

"I thought we could have drawn the series. We had an opportunity in Jamaica and we missed out on that. I was pretty disappointed with it."

Saying his shoulder should be alright within the next five-six days, he added: "We are now looking forward to the tour of England. Both sides are playing good cricket so it is not going to be easy."

India leave for England on June 18.

Mail Cricket Editor