Editing Sachin Tendulkar (section)

=== Performance dip ===

==== 2005–06: Dry spell ====
On 10 December 2005 at [[Feroz Shah Kotla]], Tendulkar scored his record-breaking 35th Test century, against the [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lankans]]. After this, Tendulkar endured the longest{{update inline|date=March 2014}} spell of his career without a Test century: 17&nbsp;innings elapsed before he scored 101 against Bangladesh in May 2007.<ref name="Lynch2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/528767.html |title=Tendulkar's tribulations, and the nervous 290s |first=Steven |last=Lynch |work=Cricinfo |date=23 April 2011 |access-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925152950/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/528767.html |archive-date=25 September 2011 }}</ref> Tendulkar scored his 39th ODI hundred on 6 February 2006 in a match against Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Premachandran |first=Dileep |date=6 February 2006 |title=Tendulkar the Strong |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/tendulkar-the-strong-235955 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621133214/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/235955.html |archive-date=21 June 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |work=ESPNcricinfo |location=Peshawar}}</ref> He followed with a 42 in the second One-Day International against Pakistan on 11 February 2006,<ref>{{cite web |last=Premachandran |first=Dileep |date=11 February 2006 |title=Yuvraj and Sehwag ease India to victory |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-pakistan-2005-06-208839/pakistan-vs-india-2nd-odi-236520/match-report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113125537/http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/236567.html |archive-date=13 January 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |work=ESPNcricinfo |quote=The run-rate climbed ... when Tendulkar, who had eased to a run-a-ball 42, ... |location=Rawalpindi}}</ref> and then a 95 in hostile, seaming conditions on 13 February 2006 in Lahore, which set up an Indian victory.<ref>{{cite web |author=ESPNcricinfo staff |date=13 February 2006 |title='Special' Tendulkar a treat to watch, says Dravid |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/special-tendulkar-a-treat-to-watch-says-dravid-236960 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621133232/http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/236960.html |archive-date=21 June 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> On 19 March 2006, after being dismissed for only one run against [[English cricket team|England]] in the first innings of the third Test in his home ground, [[Wankhede Stadium|Wankhede]], Tendulkar was booed off the ground by a section of the crowd.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4834730.stm |title=Is Sachin mortal? |work=BBC News |access-date=10 September 2011 |date=23 March 2006 |first=Nick |last=Byrant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228061728/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4834730.stm |archive-date=28 February 2010 }}</ref> Tendulkar ended the three-Test series without a half-century to his credit, and the need for a shoulder operation raised more questions about his longevity.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

Tendulkar's comeback came in the DLF cup in [[Malaysia]] and he was the only Indian batsman to shine. In his comeback match, against West Indies on 14 September 2006, Tendulkar responded to his critics who believed that his career was inexorably sliding with his 40th ODI century.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sensational Sachin returns|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/09/200849141945669414.html|access-date=15 September 2020|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> Though he scored 141 not out, West Indies won the rain-affected match by the [[Duckworth-Lewis method|D/L method]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2nd Match: India v West Indies at Kuala Lumpur, Sep 14, 2006 {{pipe}} Cricket Scorecard {{pipe}} ESPNcricinfo |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvseng/engine/match/256607.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104051511/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvseng/engine/match/256607.html |archive-date=4 November 2013 }}</ref>

==== 2007 Cricket World Cup ====
{{Further| India at the Cricket World Cup#India at the 2007 World Cup}}
During the preparation for the [[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007 World Cup]], Tendulkar's attitude was criticised by Indian coach [[Greg Chappell]]. Chappell reportedly felt that Tendulkar would be more useful down the order, while Tendulkar felt that he would be better off opening the innings, the role he had played for most of his career.<ref name="chappell">{{cite news|title=Should have handled Sachin differently in 2007 World Cup: Chappell|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Should-have-handled-Sachin-differently-in-2007-World-Cup-Chappell/articleshow/7424200.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501005450/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-04/news/28357282_1_greg-chappell-west-indies-middle-order|archive-date=1 May 2013|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=live|date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Chappell also believed that Tendulkar's repeated failures were hurting the team's chances. In a rare show of emotion, Tendulkar hit out at the comments attributed to Chappell by pointing out that no coach had ever suggested his attitude towards cricket was incorrect. On 7 April 2007, the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued a notice to Tendulkar asking for an explanation for his comments made to the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070405/sports/sports13.html |title=Tendulkar hurt by comments |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner News |access-date=1 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628150039/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070405/sports/sports13.html |archive-date=28 June 2008 }}</ref> Chappell subsequently resigned as coach but said that this affair had no bearing on his decision and that he and Tendulkar were on good terms.<ref name="chappell" />

At the World Cup in the West Indies, Tendulkar and the Indian cricket team led by Rahul Dravid had a dismal campaign. Tendulkar, who was pushed to bat lower down the order had scores of 7 against [[Bangladesh cricket team|Bangladesh]], 57 not out against [[Bermuda cricket team|Bermuda]] and 0 against [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cricket scorecard – Bangladesh vs India, 8th Match, Group B, ICC World Cup, 2007|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scorecard/4089/ban-vs-ind-8th-match-group-b-icc-world-cup-2007|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Cricbuzz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cricket scorecard – Bermuda vs India, 12th Match, Group B, ICC World Cup, 2007|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scorecard/4093/ber-vs-ind-12th-match-group-b-icc-world-cup-2007|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Cricbuzz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cricket scorecard – India vs Sri Lanka, 20th Match, Group B, ICC World Cup, 2007|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scorecard/4101/ind-vs-sl-20th-match-group-b-icc-world-cup-2007|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Cricbuzz|language=en}}</ref> As a result, former Australian captain [[Ian Chappell]], brother of Greg, called for Tendulkar to retire in his newspaper column.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6509767.stm |title=Tendulkar faces calls to retire |work=BBC News |access-date=1 June 2008 |date=30 March 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004042516/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6509767.stm |archive-date=4 October 2007 }}</ref>

After the loss against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Tendulkar suffered depression and thought to retire from cricket, but Viv Richards and Ajit Tendulkar stopped him. According to Tendulkar, 23 March 2007, the loss against Bangladesh is one of the worst days of his cricketing career.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 March 2017|title=Sachin Tendulkar: Thought of retirement after 2007 World Cup debacle but Viv Richards convinced me otherwise |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/sachin-tendulkar-thought-of-retirement-after-2007-world-cup-debacle-but-viv-richards-convinced-me-otherwise/articleshow/57787208.cms|access-date=18 November 2021|work=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>