Cricket is a religion in India. And Sachin R. Tendulkar is the opium of the masses. Even before the Little Champion made his International debut, India’s domestic cricket circle was abuzz with the entry of the dimunitive little boy wonder from Mumbai, who would join the select pantheon of legends - Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Gary Sobers, Sir Isaac Vivian Richards and Original Little Master Sunil M. Gavaskar.
When India’s child prodigy made his International debut
against arch rivals, Pakistan, which boasted of legends such as Imran Khan,
Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir in their ranks. Coincidentally, that
test match was also the debut of two of the greatest fast bowling legends –
Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. When Sachin was hit on his nose by a booming
bouncer from Waqar Younis, he started bleeding profusely. His older partner
Ravi Shastri who was at the non striker’s end came running to his young
partner. Sachin refused to stop and continued to face the bowling. Although he
made few runs in that innings, whole cricketing world took notice of his fierce
competitive demeanor. In the following
One Day Series, an over confident Abdul Qadir taunted the young Sachin R.
Tendulkar by telling his skipper, “Yeh Bachha Kya Khelega?” The fired-up Sachin
hit him for three consecutive sixes in an over. Everyone on the field and in
the stadium watched in awe. Abdul Qadir later confided in his skipper, Imran
Khan, “Yeh Ladka Duniya Ka Sabse Mahaan Ballebaaz Banega.” And the rest, as
they say, is history. To which Imran Khan said, “I have seen a twinkle in his
eyes which makes him a precocious talent at such a tender age.”
Sachin made his ODI debut against New Zealand. It was
the first time when he opened in Indian colours. He dazzled everyone with his
stupendous stroke play scoring 82 runs in just 49 balls! Whole cricketing world
went gaga over his batting which was literally the poetry in motion.
India toured Down Under in 1991-92 against rampaging
Australians which had stalwarts such as Merv Hughes, Craig Mcdermott, Glenn
McGrath and Shane Warne in their ranks. At that time, Perth was touted as the
fastest pitch on the planet. Sachin cracked a memorable ton much to the delight
of every true cricket connoisseur. When other Indian batsmen were unable to
cope with the pace, movement and bounce at Perth, Sachin R. Tendulkar batted
like a dream. Australia’s legendary fast bowler, Merv Hughes famously told
their captain and batting great, “This little prick is going to break your
record one day.” That masterful innings was the beginning of the Sachin R.
Tendulkar era in world cricket. This vintage innings is ranked amongst the best
hundreds ever scored on Perth’s lightning fast pitch. It added to his legion of
fan base not just in India, but across the cricketing globe.
When India toured South Africa in the mid 1990s, South
Africa had a fierce fast bowling attack which had legendary names such as Allan
Donald, Shaun Pollock and co. India went on to lose that series, but the superb
counter attack from Sachin in which he scored 169 mammoth runs left every
cricket fan mesmerized.
In 1998, when India played world beaters Australia in
a Tri-series at Sharjah, Sachin R. Tendulkar put on a batting exhibition which
saw him score match winning hundreds in a virtual Semi Final and in the Final
against a dreaded Australian bowling attack comprising of Glenn McGrath, Damien
Flemming and spin king, Shane Warne. Here was a batsman who achieved the
impossible of dominating the world’s greatest spinner in the history of the
game, Shane Warne. Such was the brutality of the assault on his bowling that
Shane Warne famously quipped, “I have nightmares in bed”. Those innings kicked
up the desert storm at dusty Sharjah which will always be etched on the minds
of every cricket fan across the world.
Harsha Bhogle, an ace cricket commentator, famously
quoted, “When Sachin plays well, India sleeps well.” It is a true tribute to
the little genius who has been India’s most beloved sporting icon for time
immemorial.
By then, Indian Batting sensation had become the One
Man Demolition. What followed was the juggernaut of unstoppable Sachin R.
Tendulkar! He dominated the bowling attacks around the world like what Sir
Vivian Richards used to in his heydays. And that speak volumes about his god
gifted talent and his work ethics of the Little Genius.
Sachin had once famously said in his customary
nonchalant manner, “When people throw stones at me, I convert them into
Milestones.” Truly, Sachin, you are the Kohinoor of India. A kind of consummate
professional and god gifted talent which comes once in a lifetime!
Can you imagine a sportsperson who has set benchmarks
for 24 glorious years? The answer would be a resounding NO. Sachin set the
benchmark in greatness for his great contemporaries like Ricky Ponting, Brian
Lara, Rahul Dravid, Jacques kallis, Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Steven
Waugh, VVS Laxman to emulate.
It was only befitting that India’s ‘Milestone Man’ conquered
the world record of the first ever double century at Gwalior in the history of
ODIs against a fierce South African team boasting of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel
and co. His cricketing achievements are well documented. But
what makes Sachin R. Tendulkar a class apart is his humility, strong work
ethics and unwavering passion for the gentleman’s game. I will stick my neck
out and blatantly confess, “Cricket has never seen a better ambassador than
Sachin R. Tendulkar. A true colossus of our times.” His impeccable conduct on
and off the field made him the darling of the masses. To me, he was the beacon
of hope for India when it was going through turbulent times. I am privileged and
count myself to be extremely fortunate to have witnessed the meteoric rise and
inimitable magic of Sachin R. Tendulkar unfold. At a time when India was
divided on political front, Sachin R. Tendulkar was the unifying factor. He
brought smiles on the faces of billions of Indians and cricket enthusiasts the
world over.
I vividly remember the popular quote by another
batting legend, Australian Mathew Hayden, “I have seen God bat. He bats at No.
4 for the Indian cricket team.” I have never seen God, but I know he exists as
he has created this Superman of Indian Sports. Also, I take this opportunity to
thank Ramakant Achrekar Sir and Sachin’s elder brother, Ajit Tendulkar for
giving us the Kohinoor in Sachin R. Tendulkar. Thank you for the beautiful
memories, Sachin R. Tendulkar. I take a bow to thou, Master! May you have a
long, rewarding life ahead.
As I am writing this piece, my heart is filled with
immense sadness. And be rest assured that I will burst into tears when that moment
comes. Long live your legacy, Sachin!
