'Needed A Partnership For First 15-20 Overs': Sachin Tendulkar Explains What Went Wrong For India At WTC Final

Tendulkar said that "the batters had to hang in there" in the first session of Day 6. Had India survived the first session without losing too many important wickets, India would have been in a much better position. 

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Mumbai: Master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar has spoken about India's loss in the World Test Championship Final. Tendulkar feels that the failure of Indian top-order batting in the WTC Final was the main reason for India's loss. 

He rejected claims that said that India's lack of partnerships on Day 6 was the prime reason for India's loss. He felt India needed one solid partnership on Day 6 in the first 10-1 overs, that too, without losing a wicket. Tendulkar said that "the batters had to hang in there" in the first session of Day 6. Had India survived the first session without losing too many important wickets, India would have been in a much better position. 

"I'd mentioned that the first 10 overs on the last day would be critical. If we can last till drinks, then we had the firepower to accelerate. How Rishabh came and played some shots, and the rest too when they realised the game is a bit safer now. New Zealand couldn't chase, they'd have to defend, that's a change in mindset. But for that we needed a partnership upfront for that," Tendulkar said on his own YouTube channel.

"Not losing a wicket in the first 10-12 overs was very important but that's where New Zealand was successful in getting Kohli and Pujara out. They got out in quick succession and Rahane too got out which kept the pressure on India. And the batters had to hang in there," Tendulkar said.

Many experts blamed the irresponsible nature of shots played by Rishabh Pant on Day 6, but  Tendulkar rejected these claims too, saying that Pant only tried to build some momentum. "Rishabh tried to play shots and change the momentum so that if some runs could be scored, we could have given them a chance to bat, our bowlers a little more overs. But India lost wickets and the game was decided in the first 10-15 overs. If we'd had a partnership there, we could have been putting pressure on them," Tendulkar concluded.