Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar born on 24th April 1973 in Mumbai to wife of a marathi poet named Ramesh Tendulkar is truly a cricketing legend. One and only one for centuries to come, an icon, a hero to millions of cricket fans all over the world irrespective of country they belong to or language they speak.
Volumes have been written on this magic man of Indian cricket both in ink and on web. Have been given several names, to cite a few? ?Master blaster?, ?little master?, little genie and many - many more. But howsoever names we give to him, shower him with all the possible awards? but still we cannot do justice to the sheer commitment, hardwork and the gifted talents which he has got.
He is definitely God in a cricket crazy country, where cricket is followed like a religion, where cricket is still the one and only game which has dominated everything (Even the schedules of historic last Indo-Pak series was made keeping in mind the polling days in the concluded general assembly elections).
Though in this material world he stands just 5.5? but in the cricketing world he is a giant and has a towering personality. Has earned respect from all?.
This skillful right handed batsman has all the shots in book, and plays them with such elegance and grace that even the greatest of the game stare with awe.
Name any shot and he plays it best, may it be the straight drive, the cover drive, the square cut, the pullshot, leg glance or the late cut, besides the innovative shots like reverse sweep, paddle sweep etc which he plays with equal command.
Made his ODI debut against Pakistan, second ODI in Gujranwala in 1989/90 and Test debut same year against same team in Karachi. His batting record of both TEST and ODI speak volumes about his skills.
Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct
TEST 114 9470 241* 57.39 33 37 35 3/10 44.54 0 72
Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct
ODI 339 13415 186* 45.01 37 69 128 5/32 44.91 1 101
Having made the maximum number of tons in ODI and TESTs combined with batting averages of 57 in test and 45 in ODIs is really a commendable task. His records speak about his greatness. Has crossed several milestones and set quite a many new ones which seem improbable to be achieved ever by any one else.
He has been compared with other cricketing greats like Steve Waugh, Saeed Anwar etc but maximum comparisons has been made with Brian Lara.
Here are some comparisons(ODIs only)?..
Brian Lara
Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct
Tendulkar 339 13415 186* 45.01 37 69 128 5/32 44.91 1 101 Lara 239 8807 169 42.34 18 55 4 2/5 15.25 0 99
Saeed Anwar
Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct
Tendulkar 339 13415 186* 45.01 37 69 128 5/32 44.91 1 101
Anwar 247 8823 194 39.21 20 43 6 2/9 31.83 0 42
S. Gavaskar
Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0
Tendulkar 339 330 32 13415 186* 152 146 45.01 37 69 15
Gavaskar 108 102 14 3092 103* 92* 92 35.13 1 27 8
This Master blaster has the capability to destroy even the most ominous bowling attacks. Bowling greats like McGrath, Warne, Murli, Brett Lee, Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib etc all have praises for him and they say bowling to hem is the biggest challenge.
In words of Brett Lee ?You might pitch a ball on the off stump and think you have bowled a good ball and he walks across and hits it for two behind midwicket. His bat looks so heavy but he just waves it around like it’s a toothpick?
And who can forget the nighmares which Warne had? and this point I would also like to say something about his bowling prowess. He can ball offspin, legbreaks, googlies and is even medium pacers with ability to swing the ball both ways?..PRODIGY
People say that Sachin has passed his peak and has slowed down but in his own words and if a clear analysis is done u will find that he has changed himself according to the needs of game and need of the team. This sportsman has changed his game according to the needs of the team and the role he has been asked to play.
He has been criticized that he has not been able to win games on his own?. I think people have very short memory and this criticism is very unfair besides one should not forget that cricket is a team game and in the present time with teams being very professional and tough u have to put tremendous efforts as a team to win a game.
Some people also criticize him for being very business like. Its true that companies use his popularity to change their fortunes. But I thinks that?s wise enough. Now he has opened chain of restaurants in his name called ?Tendulkar?s?.
Like everyone Sachin has few memories which he would like to forget. To mention a few, his captaincy period, the allegations of ball tempering etc.
On reading the review u may feel that it has been written by a diehard fan but the stats and data speak about this genius.
Great Bradman saw himself in Sachin and no one can forget his meeting with Sachin, atleast not Sachin himself for whom its one of the most cherished moments in life. Some other cherished moments include some good victories of Indian team on professional front and the coming of daughter SARA on personal one.
He is also a true gentleman both on the field and off the field and says that he is a mortal man?. a simple man whose life is cricket and nothing else.
Hats off to you Tendlya?. Long way to go still (Sachin says)
Note: help from cricinfo.org taken for stats and comparisons