Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s leading run-scorer in both Test cricket and One-day Internationals was fondly known as ‘paaji’ (brother) by his teammates. Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra revealed how the word ‘paaji’ was associated with Tendulkar out of respect until the fag end of his career after his special knock of 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup.
Before the innings, however, he was fondly called ‘bhai’ which also means brother, but they used the word ‘paaji’ after his brilliant innings against Pakistan which included a six over point off Shoaib Akhtar known for his pace. Sourav Ganguly, who captained India in the 2003 World Cup is known as ‘Dada’. He and Sachin Tendulkar are considered the most successful opening pair in one-day cricket history.
India won the match against arch-rivals Pakistan by six wickets to stretch their World Cup wins over Pakistan to 4-0 as Sachin Tendulkar went past 12,000 One-day runs some 17 years ago. Currently, India’s World Cup win record over Pakistan stands at 7-0 as India has never lost against Pakistan in a World Cup match.
Sachin Tendulkar Was Earlier Called Bhai But Later Called Paaji: Ashish Nehra
India chased 274 to win as he played one of the greatest innings of his life. It is also regarded as one of the finest ODI innings ever played.
“Before this, we used to call him Sachin or Sachin ‘bhai’ (brother). The first time we used the word ‘paaji’ was after the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan,” Nehra said on the Watch Along episode of the India vs Pakistan 2003 match on Star Sports.
Sachin Tendulkar represented India from 1989 to 2013 and has 15,921 and 18426 runs in 200 Tests and 463 one-dayers respectively. Also, he represented Mumbai Indians in IPL between 2008 and 2013.
Sachin Tendulkar Was Called Paaji No. 1 By Harbhajan Singh
Kapil Dev, who played a match-winning knock of 175 versus Zimbabwe after India was reeling at 17 for five, was called ‘paaji’ after he was instrumental while leading India to an epic maiden World Cup victory in 1983.
“On our way back to the hotel, in the bus, Harbhajan Singh started singing in the back ‘Paaji No. 1’. So that’s how everyone started calling Sachin Tendulkar paaji. Before him, there was only one paaji, who was Kapil paaji.”
He went after a short and wide ball which was so accurately timed that it flew over to the point boundary for six. He followed it with a flick for a boundary and then capped the over with a straight drive down the boundary in the second over of India’s innings. Even 17 years later, the six-over point continued to stand as one of the defining moments of rivalry between India and Pakistan.