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Harbhajan Singh: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Not everyone gets to be raja [king], some have to be mantri [minister].”

Harbhajan Singh is not too worried on being overlooked for the Indian ODI captaincy.

What he really meant:

“You’ve never heard of Birbal, have you? I think I’m Birbal to Raina.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Jodhaa Akbar.”

Rob Steen: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Bishan Singh Bedi: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“When the players have been bought like slaves at an auction, they just can’t have rights.”

Bishan Singh Bedi minces no words in taking the BCCI to task for its hypocritical stance on the ‘club versus country’ debate.

What he really meant:

“The IPL is no EPL.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The BCCI functions democratically and IPL franchisees are democracies.”

Daniela Hantuchova: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I was really unlucky—I always had to face the Williams sisters."

Daniela Hantuchova feels that she was hard done by the draw in her previous majors.

What she really meant:

“I wasn’t good enough on those days to beat the Williams.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Caroline’s as good or better than the Williams.”

Roger Federer: What he meant, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"I don’t have a Grand Slam in my pocket (this year), but if I win one, it changes everything."

Roger Federer, on his chances at the French Open.

What he really meant:

“I have large pockets and I can definitely fit in a major or two—this year.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Majors are loose change jangling in my pockets.”

French Open 2011: A realm of possibilities in the women’s section

No Kim Clijsters, no Caroline Wozniacki, no Samantha Stosur.

The women’s round of 16 has a threadbare appearance.

Three big upsets in the first week tells a tale of the unpredictability visited on the WTA tour—absent the Williams sisters.

Fans are so used to seeing Serena Williams perched atop the rankings that they failed to note the depth in the lower rungs.

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Harsha Bhogle: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

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What he said:

“They are trying to be half-hour players; but for that, you’ll need to first be a good four-day player!”

Harsha Bhogle believes that T20 players have to be good at the longer formats first.

What he really meant:

“Longer version players can always adapt to the shorter version of the game. Vice-versa not quite!”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Half-an-hour of T20 and IPL will keep the selectors at bay.”

Chris McKendry:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he definitely didn’t:

“I can play better than Victoria.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

"You see two girls, blonde hair, wearing the exact same thing head to toe. If I can’t tell them apart, no way a fan’s going to tell them apart. It just brings, you know, something unique to the game."

Bethanie-Mattek-Sands, making a case for her unique on-court look.

What she really meant:

“If socks right to the knees help fans differentiate between me and other players, then, hell, yes, I’m going to wear some.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Next year, it’s stockings, one for the left leg, none for the other.”

Ravi Shastri: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Your last game was a good tight game against … Whom did you beat?”

Ravi Shastri makes it obvious that he lost the plot but not the words.

What he really meant

“It’s all coming back to me now….But just in case, it doesn’t , can you tell me?”

“Too many IPL games, how do I make it apparent to the viewers?” (stage whisper)

“Aw, come on, you really think I care?” (sotto-voce)

What he definitely didn’t:

“These tight games, they’re so exciting, I can’t recall the teams or the players. At least, I recall yours.”

“I know—I like hearing the sound of my own voice.”