'Indian cricket went through a dark phase': Sachin Tendulkar's big revelation on captaincy stint
toi
newspoint|04-11-2026
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has offered an insight into his unsuccessful stints as India's captain, admitting that he did not always have complete control over team selection during his leadership years in the 1990s.
Tendulkar , who represented India across formats during an international career spanning 24 years, addressed the subject during an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit on Tuesday. He also named his favourite Indian captains and shared his admiration for South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma .
The batting great, who made his international debut on November 15, 1989, and retired on November 16, 2013, described leading India as a tremendous honour. However, he acknowledged that the role came with limitations, particularly when it came to choosing the playing XI.
"It was a great honour to lead the team as captain. However, I didn’t always have the freedom to pick my team entirely on my own. The BCCI today is a far more professional organisation than it was in the 1990s. Indian cricket also went through a particularly dark phase during that period," Tendulkar said.
Despite his stature as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game, Tendulkar's two separate spells as India's captain in the 1990s did not produce the desired results.
Tendulkar names Ganguly and Dhoni as favourite captainsWhen asked about his preferred leaders, the former India captain picked Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni , both of whom played significant roles in shaping Indian cricket.
"As far as my favourite captains go, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni would definitely be at the top of my list!!," Tendulkar said.
Both captains shared memorable World Cup moments with Tendulkar. Under Ganguly, India reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa, finishing as runners-up.
Dhoni, meanwhile, led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title on home soil, allowing Tendulkar to fulfil his long-standing dream of winning the tournament.
Tendulkar praises Temba Bavuma's leadershipTendulkar also had words of appreciation for South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, praising the right-handed batter for leading his team from the front and producing impressive results.
"I truly admire Temba Bavuma’s spirit. He has led from the front and delivered some remarkable results for South Africa cricket. South Africa winning an ICC title is great for world cricket!"
Bavuma's leadership has been backed by strong performances from the Proteas, including their 2-1 Test series victory over Australia in a three-match contest.
The South African captain played a key role in the turnaround, scoring a career-best 179 in the second Test. In the series-deciding third Test at Newlands, off-spinner Simon Harmer delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 10 wickets in the game, including figures of 6/16 in the second innings.
Harmer's efforts helped South Africa dismiss Australia for just 111 on the final day and seal the series 2-1.
Tendulkar , who represented India across formats during an international career spanning 24 years, addressed the subject during an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit on Tuesday. He also named his favourite Indian captains and shared his admiration for South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma .
The batting great, who made his international debut on November 15, 1989, and retired on November 16, 2013, described leading India as a tremendous honour. However, he acknowledged that the role came with limitations, particularly when it came to choosing the playing XI.
"It was a great honour to lead the team as captain. However, I didn’t always have the freedom to pick my team entirely on my own. The BCCI today is a far more professional organisation than it was in the 1990s. Indian cricket also went through a particularly dark phase during that period," Tendulkar said.
Despite his stature as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game, Tendulkar's two separate spells as India's captain in the 1990s did not produce the desired results.
Tendulkar names Ganguly and Dhoni as favourite captainsWhen asked about his preferred leaders, the former India captain picked Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni , both of whom played significant roles in shaping Indian cricket.
"As far as my favourite captains go, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni would definitely be at the top of my list!!," Tendulkar said.
Both captains shared memorable World Cup moments with Tendulkar. Under Ganguly, India reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa, finishing as runners-up.
Dhoni, meanwhile, led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title on home soil, allowing Tendulkar to fulfil his long-standing dream of winning the tournament.
Tendulkar praises Temba Bavuma's leadershipTendulkar also had words of appreciation for South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, praising the right-handed batter for leading his team from the front and producing impressive results.
"I truly admire Temba Bavuma’s spirit. He has led from the front and delivered some remarkable results for South Africa cricket. South Africa winning an ICC title is great for world cricket!"
Bavuma's leadership has been backed by strong performances from the Proteas, including their 2-1 Test series victory over Australia in a three-match contest.
The South African captain played a key role in the turnaround, scoring a career-best 179 in the second Test. In the series-deciding third Test at Newlands, off-spinner Simon Harmer delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 10 wickets in the game, including figures of 6/16 in the second innings.
Harmer's efforts helped South Africa dismiss Australia for just 111 on the final day and seal the series 2-1.
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