Tendulkar has earned the right to voice his opinions: Gilchrist

Former Australia wicketkeeper and legendary cricketer Adam Gilchrist has said that India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has earned the right to voice his opinions in his new book.

Gilchrist revealed that the greatest intrigue surrounding the 2008 Monkeygate controversy is that there are so many contrasting versions of events.

Memories of the alleged racial slur directed at Andrew Symonds from Harbhajan Singh during the Sydney Test have been rehashed by Tendulkar in his autobiography, Playing it my way, which was released this week, News.com.au reported.

According to the retired Indian great, Harbhajan said Teri maa ki, which is a northern Indian expression that means Your mother, to Symonds, rather than calling him a monkey.

During the inquiry Tendulkar stood by Singh, and the ICC overturned the spinner's three-match suspension as a result.

Tendulkar also says that Australian captain Ricky Ponting should have discussed the incident with India's captain Anil Kumble before reporting the matter to match referee Mike Proctor.

But none of the revelations have surprised Gilchrist, who is himself promoting his new book Adam Gilchrist: The man. The cricketer. The legend.

Gilchrist revealed that he hasn't read anything that is new or adds anything different to the many other various recollections.

He added that it's quite interesting that between Tendulkar, Pointing, himself, Matthew Hayden and Kumble he doesn't think any of them have recounted it with the same story.

The former Test keeper said that an autobiography is an individual's recollection of an event or the journey and memories can give a different perspective or point of view, so he added that there's nothing in that little extract that he has read that really surprised him or is overly controversial.

Gilchrist said that it's Tendulkar's opinion and the Indian legend has absolutely earned the right to deliver that opinion. 

Image: Sachin Tendulkar at the launch of his autobiography

Photo: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com