The reasons behind Tendulkar's decision to quit

Sachin Tendulkar's decision to quit the captaincy after the completion of the two Tests against South Africa may have come as a shock to many. However, to people close to him, such a move was on the cards for some time. Tendulkar had steadfastly opposed the inclusion of Md Azharuddin in the Indian side during his second tenure as captain. And the moment he was forced to accept it, Tendulkar had no other option but to resign.

Tendulkar is a man who values his words. He is a man of committment. During the Asian Test Championship match at Calcutta, Tendulkar had then made it very clear to some of the selectors that he would only become the captain of the side if the team did not have a person by the name of Md Azharuddin. Simply because Tendulkar feels that the former Indian skipper is not committed enough while playing under his captaincy. However, as a man, who avoids all controversies, Tendulkar has never aired his views in public. But even some of the members of his team know his apathy of having Azhar playing under him. He had even told some of his close team mates that he would rather quit the captaincy than have Azhar in the side.

Tendulkar is also not happy at the way things have been handled by some of the top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, especially, the secretary JY Lele. The episode concerning Ajit Agarkar, when he attended the nets at Ahmedabad and the decsion to send Nayan Mongia as the wicket-keeper to Australia did not please him one bit. Before he became captain for the second time, Tendulkar had made it clear to the Board that he would prefer to have a team of his own choice. Some of the acts of Lele displeased him to a great extent. Lele's intention to dominate him and coach Kapil Dev has antagonised Tendulkar to a great extent.

The criticism regarding his captaincy has also affected him. Tendulkar himself has probably started to believe that captaincy affects his batting. Above all, he considers himself to be a batsman first and a captain later. Hence the decision to quit as captain.