The transcript of Sachin Tendulkar's interview on Harsha Online, which was was aired on STAR Sports.

Tendulkar speaks on World Cup stars

The master blaster shares his assessment of India captain Sourav Ganguly, as also the Indian batting, with Harsha Bhogle and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

On winning the World Cup:

It’s always been a dream for every player and that’s mine too. It is always a dream to win that World Cup and that’s what the whole team is targeting at. We all want to go out and compete with them. This is what we aim.

Sidhu, on his memories of the 1983 and 1987 World Cups:

I think it was an event which galvanized Indian cricket. It added as a catalyst. Before that India could never believe that it could be the best in the world. We started as underdogs. We started believing that we can be the best -- being in England, in an alien condition, and when the ball was darting around. The match played in England was the best; it changed the face of Indian cricket. It was really a great feeling. Indians started believing that we can be the best and can rule the road.

Tendulkar, on his memories of World Cup 1983:

Yes, in 1983 I did not understand the game so well. I used to watch the game with them and when other people use to jump I would do the same. When any wicket used to fall and when they use to discuss how it happened, I did not know anything but just used to celebrate.

On three top teams likely to make it:

Three teams to go through -- Australia, Pakistan and England. Out of the three, I see stiff competition between England and Pakistan. We are sure about India and India's batsmen.

On India’s batting line-up

It is surely the strongest batting line-up. In the top order we have Ganguly and Sehwag. Sehwag, as we know, is a big hitter of the ball. He picks up the length so early that even if it is pitched at the right spot, he will find a shot.

Dinesh Mongia loves to score his runs through boundaries and he is a good runner between the wickets. Moreover, he is a terrific player of spin bowling.

Rahul Dravid is as solid as anything... solid player and super temperament always. Always played good innings. The temperament of a great player.

Yuvraj and Kaif are obviously good. Yuvraj is a good hitter of the ball and Kaif is excellent under pressure.

On Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper:

It has really opened up options for us. If you want an extra bowler, we have an option to do it. And if we want to play with seven batsmen, we are doing that... and that’s what made a difference at Lord's.

On his relationship with Sourav:

I think we met a long time ago, in 1984-85. It was in Indore when we were attending the under-15 India camp.

Sidhu, on Sourav:

He has always been a Bengal Tiger; the tail has always been up and twitching; he has never buckled down and has an uncanny knack of surprising people. Whenever people write him down in his game, he is back with a bang. That’s what Sourav Ganguly is all about. He did it in England, and when he was criticised as a captain. No one is perfect and the last perfect man who walked on this earth was crucified. So you know he is not perfect, but he has done wonderful job for India.

Tendulkar, on Sourav’s prospects since he first met him in 1991-92

I always knew he was very, very talented. On the 1991-1992 tour to Australia, they were playing a practice match in Brisbane, he scored 75-80 runs and played some beautiful shots. I knew he is always going to land up here.

On Sourav’s major strength:

His major strength is in his mind. He sets the bowler up, and before the bowler realizes it, he’s already played a big shot. The bowler is set in a manner that he feels ‘Yes, I’m going to get him out’ or ‘Yes, I’ve been bowling good dot balls and that’s what I want to do'. And, all of a sudden, he realises at the end of the over that he has given out 9-10 runs.

On Sourav’s reputation as a big occasion player:

The best and the most important innings was played in Bangladesh against Pakistan. Pakistan scored 318 runs and he scored a big 100. And I thought it was because of him and Robin Singh -- it was their partnership, which really allowed us back into the game. Because when you chase 318, it is a big, big task and we needed someone to go and play 40 overs.

Sidhu, on Sourav’s batting

You see, if you chew the curd and see through in a proper prospective, most one-day games are won or lost in the first fifteen overs or last 10 overs. He gives you a lead; he has got the capability to find the gaps, and exquisite timing!

Before you realize, you get 80-90 on the board with Virender Sehwag on premium on your side. The best batsman has to bat within the first 15 overs where you have field restrictions and with Sachin Tendulkar coming at No.4 you desperately find a trumpet to sound like a whistle. You’ve got to have your best batsmen in the first 15 overs and there, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are the best and can bat at first and third position.

Tendulkar, on what’s special about Sourav’s giant innings:

The balance and the way he waits for the ball to come... and uses the pace of the bowler. Because, when you start doing that, you are not committing. And when you commit, the ball goes over the ropes.

I think he has batted consistently throughout. I would say in the last tour of South Africa, he played some big shots and I was at the off-strike end. I really, really enjoyed it. We were cracking jokes in between the overs and it was really fun that time.

Sidhu, on Sourav’s weaknesses:

Yes, he definitely has some weaknesses, and it has been more exploited in the Test cricket arena. Because the bowler has his limitations in one-day cricket, he has not been exploited that way. He has overcome some of them over a span of time. But then, everybody has some weakness. He has some strong points, which are so lethal! It's the ability to score runs quickly that makes him so special.

Sidhu, on whether cutting and pulling with a light bat would help Sourav:

Absolutely, You see, when you are playing in alien conditions, away from India -- with pitches which have bounce, you will obviously have one of the horizontal shots. Otherwise, you are a dead duck. Because, they are not going to pitch up the ball. It is going to bounce and buzz past your nose like a bumblebee. That’s where you are going to use your horizontal bat shot. Sachin will agree that if you don’t have a horizontal bat shot and willing to drive and grind your foot forward, and lay through the line, you will be deceived.

Tendulkar, on how Sourav works hard on his game:

He does that. I think for all the batters, not only Sourav Ganguly, if you are not getting things right or you are probably getting out in a particular fashion, you would like to work hard at your game. Same goes with Sourav; he is a hardworking fellow -- not only in the nets but also mentally. He gets back in the game - and that is where his strength lies. He thinks about his game as well and like any other player, he works hard.

On who should take the initiative as an opener:

Well, right now I firmly believe in horses for courses - because right now, Virender Sehwag is striking the ball well. But a year back, Sourav was striking the ball well in South Africa. So I would say when we reach close to the World Cup, whoever is in the right form and striking the ball well should take the initiative.

Sidhu, on the effect of captaincy on the way Sourav plays cricket:

Well, to a certain extent, at times his mind has spanned away when he was not doing well as a batsman; now that the weakness Sourav had as a batsman. But he is always hungry for success. There is always a wolf under his belly. I still remember the first tour to England, where he was under the hammer. People used to tell me that he is from a quota system! He failed in the first game. Believe me, we were sharing the room together. One o'clock at night I saw him shadow practicing two hours! And then, once he was banging the bat on the floor, when we heard shouts from down: ‘Hey, what the hell is going on?’ He quietly kept the bat, and slipped under the blanket. After an hour, I saw the lights were on and he was doing the shadow practice without banging the bat!

Sidhu, on Sourav’s temperament:

Very, very tough. He does not look for sympathy. He is always there to improve, and that’s what an international figure is all about.

Previous interview: Sir Vivian Richards

- courtesy (c) ESPN-STAR Sports. The transcript of Yuvraj Singh interview on Harsha Online, that was aired on STAR Sports.