On Sachin Tendulkar’s Birthday, Let us Recall a Cricketer Who Inspired a Nation!

Apr 24, 2018 at 9:09 PM

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On Sachin Tendulkar’s Birthday, Let us Recall a Cricketer Who Inspired a Nation!

“I have seen GOD; he bats at no 4 for India in Tests”. This famous quote by former Australian opener, Mathew Hayden speaks volume about a man who dedicated his life to cricket and went on to break every possible batting records in the process. 

But what strikes the most is his humility and the conviction with which he conducts himself both on and off the field.

For a cricketer who had almost achieved everything in his life and despite that remained so down to earth for a period spanning over two decades is extraordinary. In a cricket frenzy nation like India where people are always there to criticise, and still carry the burden of expectation on him of one billion Indians, and remains at the top of the game for 24 years, shows his immense dedication to the game. 

His balance both, on and off the field had made him maintain his shape in the sport for so long. He literally played with 3-4 generations during his illustrious career.

“I don’t know anything about cricket, but still I watch cricket to see Sachin bat. Not because I love his batting, its because I want to know the reason why my country’s production goes down by 5% when he is batting.” This famous quote by former US President, Barack Obama goes on to prove the impact of a man even in a country where most of the people don’t even know that a game like a cricket even exists. 

He made all of us better human beings. The grace with which he carries himself sets him apart from the other greats. He was the sole reason for many to start playing cricket.

The early days when Sachin burst on to the scene in school cricket

His long journey from being a mischievous Bandra kid and going onto score 100 international centuries was a mega event, and it will be challenging to break this stupendous record. 

The turning point in his life took place when his brother, Ajit Tendulkar took him to his coach, Ramakant Achrekar and there was no looking back from there on. Ramakant Achrekar played a pivotal role in the making of Sachin.

In the school days, Sachin used to hop back on his scooter and play a couple of practice matches a day, and the coach would be taking him all through the city just to ensure he got enough match practice. It requires immense dedication from both parties to produce a once in a lifetime cricketer like Sachin. 

He went to score a record 664 run partnership with his childhood mate, Vinod Kambli for his school Shradyashram Vidyamandir and it was the highest partnership in any form of cricket till very recently, and from then records started to tumble.

Getting a Ranji Trophy break at 15

Image Courtesy: Pinterest

He was selected in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad at a tender age of 15 and made an immediate impact by scoring a century on debut. 

Tendulkar went to score centuries in his debut match of all three major domestic tournaments in India; The Ranji Trophy, The Duleep Trophy and The Irani Trophy. He made a strong case for himself in getting selected in the Indian squad, but the selectors wanted to shield the young phenomenon from the fiery fast bowlers of West Indies.  

India debut at 16 and the Abdul Qadir over

Image Courtesy: Youtube

The Little Master didn’t have to wait long, and he was selected in the Indian squad for the Pakistan tour in the year 19 89. His international debut was far from a fairytale one, and he soon realized this would be a much sterner test. 

Though he couldn’t make an impact in the first few games, Sachin went to score a fighting fifty on a greenish Sialkot track against the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Imran Khan. In an exhibition match at Peshawar, he hit the famous leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over. 

Qadir later went on to say, he had played for so many years, but no cricketer had ever hit him like that before, and this kid would go onto break all possible batting records in the years to come.

Century in the world’s fastest track at the age of 17

Image Courtesy: Ringside view

At the age of 17, he went on to become the 2nd youngest in the history of cricket to score a century and courtesy his innings; the Indians were able to draw the Test from a hopeless position in Old Trafford against England in 1989. 

His transformation from a boy to a man was evident when he scored two magnificent centuries on the Australian tour in the year 1992.  

Against the likes of McDermott, Whitney, on the world’s fastest track –The WACA he made batting look ridiculously easy. The kid prodigy scored runs all throughout the park and his backfoot punches and the way he timed the ball made it clear he was a man from a different planet.

When Sachin’s ODI record changes forever after the elevation as an opener

Image Courtesy: Crictracker

Tendulkar’s One-Day career got a kick-start in the year 1994 when Sidhu got injured, and Sachin opened the innings against New Zealand and made an immediate impact by scoring 82 off a mere 40 odd deliveries. That changed his One-Day career. He got much more time to bat and started making one-day hundreds, and he became a much better player in the shorter versions. 

The 1998 season was the best calendar year for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, and he toyed with the bowlers from all over the world.

The Desert Storm 

Image Courtesy: Ringside view

The year 1998 also saw the legend score two back to back centuries against the Aussies which would arguably be the two greatest ever one day innings. 

The little man treated the Sharjah crowd with audacious strokeplay, and after the twin games the great Shane Warne said: 

“I had nightmares Sachin dancing down the track and hitting me back over the head for a six”.

The most difficult phase in his career 

Image Courtesy: Cricket Country.com

The most difficult phase in his life came in between the 1999 World Cup when his father passed away. 

He went back to Mumbai, attended his funeral and returned to score 140 in his next match. The coming decade saw the emergence of Virender Sehwag and with Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman all becoming pillars of the Indian batting line up, the burden on Sachin diminished to a certain extent.

A Sensational World Cup 2003 

Image Courtesy: Express Tribune

He had a sensational 2003 World Cup and scored 673 runs in the tournament. It is still the most scored by a batsman in a single World Cup.

Tendulkar rates his 98 against Pakistan at the Centurion as the best ODI innings he had played. He came into the tournament after a dismal run in New Zealand.

However, Sachin turned that around it in style and made it a memorable tournament for the Men in Blue. However, he faltered in the final hurdle along with the team, as Australia ended up defeating them by a huge margin of 125 runs.

Tennis Elbow 

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

The tennis elbow was one more difficult phase in his life. He would wake up in the morning and think his career was over. He was unable to hold his son’s bat and that shows how much he went through during that time. But you cant write off a champion like Tendulkar. 

Winning Cricketer of the Year Award in 2010

Image Courtesy: The Hindu

He stormed back into the national colours and again started scoring big runs. He was awarded “the Cricketer of the Year “ in 2010 and he was already in his 21st year of international cricket. 

The legend went on to prove again and again that age is not a barrier. Sachin went on to become the first cricketer to score a double century in ODI in 2010 when he demolished the Proteas b1owling attack during an exhibition of strokeplay.

The World Cup win in 2011

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

The only feather which was missing from his cap was the World Cup. For a man who has given so much to the nation, to the world, the game was bound to pay him back, and he got his prayers answered in the 2011 World Cup which the Indians won in their home territory. 

The little master was unable to hold back his emotions after the match and he was enjoying and jumping like a teenager. It was the proudest moment for him and for the whole nation. 

The whole team wanted to win the Cup for Sachin, and in his 22nd year, the little master realized his dream.  

Becomes the first to smash 100 international centuries 

Image Courtesy: Indian Express

The Master Blaster went onto become the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries in 2012 against Bangladesh – a record which is unlikely to be broken in the coming decades. 

He hanged up his boots from ODI during the same year and went to play Test cricket for a year more. The Master played his last international match against the Windies at the Wankhede Stadium and showed glimpses of magic during his innings of 74. 

With the fall of the last Windies wicket, the illustrious career of the Superhero of India Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar came to an end.

The farewell speech and the last respect to the 22 yards

He made the whole country cry when he delivered an emotional farewell speech which moved people across the globe. The little man thanked each and everyone who played a role in the making of Sachin. 

He went to pay his last respect to the 22 yards which served him for 24 long years. Sachin has not only been a cricketer for the Indian people but he is like a collective pride for the whole nation. 

With his retirement, it was also announced that he would be awarded the highest Indian civilian award – The Bharat Ratna – the first sportsperson to receive the award. We all feel very proud that we are a citizen of a country where Sachin belongs to.

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