NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar on Monday ticked off Adam Gilchrist for questioning his sportsman spirit and honesty, saying a person who does not know him well enough made such "loose statements" which left him shocked.
"I was surprised. I didn't know how to react. (What he alleged) is something that I can't even think of in my wildest dreams. I love the game so much and those remarks came from someone who doesn't know me enough. I think he made loose statements," he said reacting to Gilchrist's comments in his upcoming autobiography that the Indian was hard to find for a handshake after India lost the Sydney Test.
Tendulkar said Gilchrist did call up to clear the air and he did not mince words in telling the former Aussie stumper that he had forgotten the spirit in which the Indians took the Sydney defeat.
"I am the kind of person who would leave things behind. So many times he mentioned that you and Harbhajan (Singh) are not traceable to shake hands. I reminded him that I was the first person to shake hands after the Sydney defeat. It was a tough game that we lost and it was difficult for us.
"But none of us in the team would not shake hands. We have that sportsman spirit. We won't shy away from challenges," he told 'NDTV'.
Gilchrist had also taken a swipe at Tendulkar's honesty during the Harbhajan Singh race row trial, accusing him of giving different versions to the match referee and the ICC adjudicator but the Indian star said it was a closed chapter for him.
"That's his opinion but as far as I am concerned the chapter is closed," he said.
