Photographs: Reuters Bikash Mohapatra
In the post-match presser on Day Three of the third Test, Darren Sammy made a statement, reiterating what he had said over the past few days.
"We are ready to break a few Indian hearts," the West Indies captain had said.
The reference was obviously about Sachin Tendulkar.
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The Master Blaster had come into the series with many expecting him to get a 'century of centuries' against an opposition that wasn't expected to pose much of a threat. Team India won the opening two Tests in convincing manner, but the West Indies managed to successfully keep Tendulkar from reaching his milestone.
Ahead of the third and final Test at the Wankhede, it was felt that the ground, being the veteran batsman's home turf, would serve as the perfect setting for the same.
Team's planning
Photographs: Reuters
Tendulkar kept alive the hopes of his legion of fans by remaining unbeaten on 67 at the end of the third day's play. He started Day Four on a confident note, played some great shots and raced to 94.
Then, he fell prey to a rising delivery from Ravi Rampaul, Sammy making no mistake with the catch at second slip.
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The dismissal broke many a heart.
The bowler later revealed it went as per his team's planning.
"This morning the coach and I were chatting, while warming up, about how we are going to bowl at him," explained Rampaul, adding, "Basically the brief was to bowl from close to the wicket and angle the ball away from him.
"And, so said, so done... he nicked it and I got a good feeling."
'I got abused in a way'
Photographs: Reuters
The pacer went on to elaborate his point. "The wicket had bounce and Sachin was batting out of his crease, trying to get the ball a little fuller," he explained.
"I realised that and pulled back my length a little bit."
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Rampaul revealed the dismissal made him the target of jibes from the dejected crowd soon after.
"I got that as soon as Sachin went," he smiled.
"When I was back to the boundary I got abused in a way, but that's how cricket goes.
'I know I have let a lot of Sachin fans down'
Photographs: Reuters
"I know I have let a lot of Sachin fans down and heartbroken, but we can't just let him go out there and play freely.
"We had our jobs to do, such as he had his job to do."
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Rampaul expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the West Indies bowlers went about their task in denying the maestro his milestone.
"We had our plans to unsettle him a little bit. We are fast bowlers and the bouncer is in our armoury, so we use it as much as possible.
"We had to get Sachin out, so we tried that at him a little more, trying to make him uncomfortable," he said.
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