PTI

BELFAST, Jul 1: Sachin Tendulkar says the worst of controversies and sharpest of criticisms only strengthen his resolve and he always lets his bat do the talking.

"It is their (the critics') job to have opinions. But when I hold a cricket bat in my hand it's a tougher and bigger job. That is what I will concentrate on," Tendulkar said on the eve of the third and final match in the Future Cup series against South Africa.

Cricket's longest serving player on the scene had, like the rest of the Indian team, a nightmarish World Cup in the West Indies earlier this year.

He had scores of 7 and 0 in the crucial matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka besides an unbeaten half-century against minnows Bermuda, and the team exited in the first round.

That prompted calls for his retirement and he was in fact issued a show-cause notice by the Board for his comments in the media against the then coach Greg Chappell.

Tendulkar and his opening partner Sourav Ganguly, were "rested" for the ODI series in Bangladesh but both of them announced their return with a bang.

The duo shared a 134-run partnership to help India overhaul South Africa's target of 227 and level the three-match series 1-1.

Tendulkar made 4 against Ireland in the lone match against the hosts last week but his 99 and 93 against the Proteas have made the pundits talk about a revival of 'Tendulkar of the old'.