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[Saba Sports News] Former Netherlands cricketer Tim de Leede reminisced about a match against India where he took the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, marking his first international wicket. Tim had impressive figures of 4/35, which included the dismissals of Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Despite his personal achievement, he expressed regret that his team couldn’t secure a victory over India.
“I think about it every now and then. I regret that we didn’t get the runs. It was our golden opportunity to beat India. We missed out. I have kept that ball. We played the 1996 World Cup, and then we missed out in 1999 but we did manage to qualify for the South Africa World Cup in 2003. I thought that would be my last World Cup,” Tim told the Indian Express. “I had never taken a wicket and hadn’t scored a fifty. I was 35 then, I trained as hard as I have ever done. I thought no matter if I get a wicket or score a fifty, I must give 100 per cent to the team. Luckily I got a wicket in the first match, and it was Tendulkar’s,” he added.
Tim cherished the ball from that momentous wicket and shared an interesting anecdote. Umpire Peter Willey asked if he wanted the match ball, saying, “You won’t take Sachin’s wicket again.” Tim agreed and hoped to have it signed by Tendulkar, but the opportunity didn’t arise immediately.
However, Tim’s wish was fulfilled a year later when he had a chance encounter with Tendulkar, who was in The Hague for treatment related to a tennis elbow injury. Tim’s friend, a physiotherapist treating Tendulkar, facilitated their meeting.
During their conversation, Tendulkar shared an interesting story about the pressure he faced during the 2003 World Cup and how he handled it admirably, including his memorable 98 against Pakistan.
“India came to the World Cup after losing against New Zealand (5-2). Then we bowled them for 200 hundred, and then they lost the next match (Australia) as well. He said ‘my wife said, Sachin, you have to do something because people are going crazy’. Sachin had to come on national TV to tell people everything will be alright. He scored 98 against Pakistan, he must be under so much pressure but he did it. Which is so admirable,” he shared.