New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar finally broke his silence on Adam Gilchrist's remark that the Little Master was "hard to find for a changing-room handshake after India lost a match".
Speaking to CNN-IBN's sister channel IBN Lokmat, Tendulkar defended himself against Gilchrist's remarks.
"Before, during and after the match I don't like to enter the opposition dressing-room as it is not my culture. But I have nothing against other cultures. I have never walked off a ground without shaking the opposition players' hands," said Tendulkar.
The former Australian wicketkeeper, too, on Friday clarified comment attributed to him.
Australian media on Thursday reported that Gilchrist in his upcoming autobiography True Colours had slammed international cricket's highest run-getter of not being gracious in defeat.
Gilchrist says his statement was taken out of context and then blown out of proportion. He said he has written four pages on the incident in the book but media chose to quote just two sentences.
He also reportedly called up Tendulkar to talk matters over.
The cricketer also said he will clarify his side of the story in an article to be published on Saturday.
In his description of the incident relating to Tendulkar, Gilchrist writes that the Master Blaster shirks from a handshake if he ends on the losing side.
Describing the dramatic final moments on the final day of the Sydney Test, which India lost narrowly, Gilchrist says: "We went into the Indian changing room and shook hands. Not all their players could be found, which points to another subtle cultural difference. In the Australian mentality, we play it hard and are then quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field. Some of our opponents don't do it that way. Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, can be hard to find for a changing room handshake after we have beaten India. Harbhajan can also be hard to find."
Gilchrist's views make it clear that he isn't a fan of Tendulkar, who has been a hugely admired figure in Australia ever since he first played in the country as a teenager in 1991-92.
Gilchrist not only accuses Tendulkar of being a bad sport, but also goes on to criticise his role in the 'monkeygate' scandal involving Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds earlier this year in Australia.
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