Sachin fussy about his bat, wants it crafted to perfection

Over the years, runs have flowed from Sachin Tendulkar’s bat with such fluency one would imagine there was some magic at work when it is being made. However, look closely and you will find all there is to that perfection is lot of chopping and changing.

Over the years, runs have flowed from Sachin Tendulkar’s bat with such fluency one would imagine there was some magic at work when it is being made. However, look closely and you will find all there is to that perfection is lot of chopping and changing.

In his 24-year-long career, Tendulkar has used an array of bats. During his school days, it was the SG skipper. Over the next few years, he changed according to his requirements or endorsements. In his initial years, Tendulkar would visit the famous Nadkarni Sports shop at Dhobi Talao to pick his favoured bats. “There is a difference between the old and the new willows and one needs to find a balance. Tendulkar knew that and always chose his bat meticulously, which usually had a thicker bottom,” Dharmesh Nadkarni of Nadkarni Sports says.

While the bats supplied to him have remained largely similar, there are certain specific changes Tendulkar continues to apply on his bats. “He has been using a bat with a standard blade. It weighs a little over three pounds. He used a lighter one in between, but currently he is using a bat with a heavy blade,” a renowned bat-maker said.