no age needed to show performance

Performance matters, not age
17th May 2008


India's star cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly do not believe in the idea that the compressed format of the game is only suitable for the younger players.

Speaking ahead of the match against Mumbai Indians, Ganguly reckoned that the performances of a player should matter and not his age. He further cited examples of feats by cricketers who are over 30 years of age like Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya and Australians Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey as all of them have scored brilliantly in the ongoing Twenty20 championship.

"It has always been about performance and has never been about age. It has become a fashion to talk about it now I think," Ganguly was quoted as saying.

The Prince of Kolkata missed out on his maiden century when he scored 91 runs from 57 balls in a knock studded with five maximum hits and eleven fours against Deccan Chargers on May 11.

Ganguly was certainly not pleased when he was told by many that his performances in the DLF Indian Premier League's Twenty20 tournament surprised them. "After 13 years I feel bad that I still surprise people," the former Indian captain stated.

India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar seemed to echo his India teammate's opinion.

The 35-year-old, who made his debut appearance in the IPL against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday after recovering from a prolonged groin injury, mentioned that the age of players did not matter to him.

"As far as I am concerned I have never entertained this theory. It is performance that matters and not age," he stated at a press conference.

Both Ganguly and Tendulkar met face to face at the Wankhede Stadium on May 16 in the match between their sides Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai subdued the Kolkata side by 8 wickets.