No comic book hero comes close to living legend Sachin Tendulkar , one of India’s finest cricketers and an immensely inspirational sportsman. After representing India for 24 long years in Test cricket matches, the cricketer, fondly called as ‘Master Blaster’ and ‘Little Master’ will be retiring soon. On October 10, Sachin announced his plan to retire after the West Indian tour of India. He will be playing his final Test, his 200th representing India, between November 14 and 18.
His spectacular batting prowess, upright conduct and palpable passion for the sport were infectious, winning him billions of fans not only in India but also among sportsmen across the world. He has broken all records in his chosen field. He has been an icon of technical perfection and artistry in a sport which is becoming increasingly oriented towards raw power.
He has set standards for ethics and fair play. He has made Indians forget their differences and divisive biases and bond together in wondrous appreciation of the sport. He has inspired generations of youngsters and been a role model to emulate – not only in the game but in all walks of life. He has spread more happiness in human hearts than possibly any other human being in history.
Boy Wonder
It is said that Sachin was such an energetic and mischievous boy that his older brother Ajit enrolled him in cricket coaching classes. Sachin at one point of time wanted to play tennis, and even copied John McEnroe’s hairstyle. However, the cricket coaching channelised all the excess energy. Batting was not Sachin’s first choice. He wanted to be a bowler, and even enrolled at the MRF Pace Academy. However, former Australian bowler Dennis Lillee, who was the head coach at the Academy, told him to focus on his batting. Sachin has dabbled with the ball as well, and has even taken a few wickets.
Child Prodigy
Born in 1973, Sachin came into the limelight in 1988 when he was 14 years old. Along with Vinod Kambli, Tendulkar established a record 664-run unbeaten partnership, a record that was unbroken until 2006. Sachin scored a massive 326 runs for his school, Shardashram Vidya Mandir, against St Xavier’s at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. A year later he debuted in first class cricket and played against Gujarat. He made an unbeaten 115, and became the youngest Indian cricketer to score a century in first class cricket.
Such talent could not be overlooked, and he was selected to play for India when still a teenager, a rarity in Indian sport. He was 16 years old when he played his first Test match. From the time he started his international career his flawless technique, natural aggression, voracious appetite for runs, total commitment to the game, perfect mental poise and maturity beyond his age made him stand out and his cricketing greatness was never in doubt. There was no surprise when one record followed another and milestones were crossed.
By the time he announced his retirement he had amassed 15,837 runs in Test matches, which is a record. He has scored 51 centuries in Test cricket, which is again a world record. He holds the record for the maximum number of hundreds in ODIs (One Day International) , having blasted 49 tons. He is the first player to score a double century in an ODI.
Sachin had a habit of setting records throughout his career.
Heroic Struggles
Like any hero, Sachin has had his share of testing times. His form took a beating on quite a few occasions. He was plagued by injuries, including ‘tennis elbow’, a condition that required surgery. He is a batsmen subjected to tremendous audience pressure: every time he came out to bat, the roar from the crowd was deafening. He once remarked that he faced such pressure by walking to the middle of the pitch and patting the track, hoping that in those few seconds the audience would settle down.
When Don Bradman Enjoyed Watching Sachin Play
Comparisons naturally followed such a record-breaking performance. Sachin soon outperformed everyone he was compared with domestically. The comparisons then went overseas and across time and finally rested with the great Australian batsman, Don Bradman himself. The physical similarity, the aggressive approach, the ability to innovate, the uncanny knack for getting out of difficult periods and the insatiable hunger to perform on the field were all there for everyone to see. Don himself is reported to have been moved seeing Tendulkar bat, remarking to his wife, “Does he not play like I used to?”
A Team Player
One factor that distinguishes Sachin is that he has always been a team player. He entered the team as the juniormost player, matured into an adult and then a senior citizen in the team; all the time giving of his best in every way, all the time supporting, mentoring and coaching newcomers to perform to their best and even seek new frontiers. There has never been even a suggestion during his 24-year career that he was slack on the field or was mentally distracted when called to bat.
Captain Sachin
Sachin was given the responsibility of team captaincy twice. However, the team did not perform very well under him, and he opted out of captaincy. When he was approached a third time in 2007, when Rahul Dravid wanted to relinquish the captaincy, he declined and told the selectors to pick M S Dhoni, who has emerged as India’s most popular captain. However, Sachin continues to be idolised to this day.
A Man of Discipline
Sachin handled fame exceedingly well. Huge sporting talent is often associated with eccentricity and a lack of personal discipline. Many are the stories of prodigious talent going waste because of a lack of self-control. Sachin has been a brilliant exception to this. Humble and unassuming Sachin has carried himself perfectly on and off the field. The balance he has achieved in life outside cricket matches the poise of his cover drive.
The kind of dedication and focus Sachin brought to cricket over such a long career is unmatched in any sport. No sporting personality has stayed so clear of controversy. Professional cricket has been far from clean and murky allegations have swirled around all teams in the global arena – but Sachin has been truly above it all. This is as laudable an accomplishment as his hundred international hundreds.
Sporting fans – not just cricket lovers – all over the world will miss this remarkable person who is extraordinary in more ways than one.
Personal Milestones
Sachin married Dr Anjali when he was 22 years old. They have a daughter and a son. Sachin was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2012. Numerous awards have come his way, notable among them the Bharat Khel Ratna and the Padma Vibushan.
Sachin is passionate about cars and reportedly loves motor sports.