Sachin Tendulkar

I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two. his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel! - Don Bradman

There’s no better sight on the cricket field than watch Tendulkar bat. - Harsha Bhogle.

Introduction

I was cogitating about the topic to write on, for my century. With a wavering mind, I chose to write about the greatest ?centurion?. Centuries are somewhat of an honor. While it may be easy to digress into a debate about centurions and their quality, I wanted to write a review about one of the greatest sportsmen ever to have played the game that drives our country crazy. I am sure cricket has a frantic, fanatic, fervent, furious, frenzied following in our country than anything else. For better or for worse, cricket is an intricate part of our lives. In a country where Icons are considered as angels, Sachin is the REAL SUPERSTAR * . No one can deny the fact. He is a role model. People see a part of themselves, a brother, a son, a master or a role model playing the game, whenever he is in the cricket pitch. His achievements are humongous.

It would take couple of reviews to write his achievements alone. (I have included some of the trivial achievements in the comments). Sachin fails sometimes. It makes tremendous impact on the cricket lovers. Be it the psychological advantage to the opposing side or the melancholy/ebullience of viewers from the playing countries as well as bookies. The very effect tells how mortal he is and how he is mistaken for an angel. I will not get into his biography as Gulu Ezekiel has done a marvelous job for the same. Better yet, go to https://tendulkar.cricinfo.com site which has a dedicated and up to date information about this genius

His Cricketing Verve

Sir Don had mentioned he saw himself in him. Lara called he is the best. Hayden mentioned he is like a God. Warne has nightmares about him. Gavaskar says his best is yet to come. Not a single person can find fault in him, unless for a critical and indirect praise. How he bludgeons the best of the bowlers in the world teaches a lesson or two to aspiring students. How he pillages runs is an example for fast service. He breaks conventional techniques with his own and his textbook shots are classy. Every classy four or six he hits brings tears of joy. The very fact that no other person has brought so much excitement and joy in the minds of billions of people around the world is something! I am very sure no other living person has done the same except for the notorious reasons.

I never enjoyed a straight drive as much until I saw it coming from his bat. His leg glance makes you cry for its delicacy. His square cuts are as beautiful as Waugh or Richards. His Pull shots are truly awesome. His late cuts are heavenly. What about his wonderful shots over the top on either side? The shots he plays keeps getting better. It is true that you may need 25 fielders when he is on a flow.

I could remember his international OD debut in an exhibition match. The way he smashed a veteran Abdul Qadir for 4 consecutive sixes at Peshawar (53 of 18 balls) is an epic poem. He can single-handedly tear any attack in the world apart. Sachin is an object of obsession of many bowlers. He is the prized bounty of almost all the bowlers in the world.

While there are questions about his endurance for a big score like 400+, he is a genius in his own might. Richards had predicted that Sachin would break the 200 barrier in ODI.

Have you seen his

♥ 97 against Pak in WC? ( The way he hauled Shoaib as a rebuttal for his only golden duck in Test cricket at his nemesis of a venue Eden Gardens)

♥His 80, 143 and 134 at Sharjah(97/8) against AUS?

♥Marvelous 228 partnership with Azhar at Capetown Vs SA?s killer bowling quartet after India was reeling @ 58/5?

♥first test ton(119* at Old Trafford) against ENG?

♥114 at Perth in 92?

♥Masterful lost cause of 136 against Pak at his lucky ground Chepauk, Madras?

♥First Double Century against NZ?

♥Highest Test score against Aussies?

If you havent?t you have missed some of the greatest moments of cricketing history

There can be no doubt about his love for the game. He is a cricketer who is not ashamed of crying when his team loses and a person who dedicates a beautiful hundred to his father after his sudden death. Many times, he has helped the country with match winning bowling performances when he has failed with bat. He is a person who loses 12 nights of sleep before bludgeoning Pak bowlers. He is a person who grieves over a lost cause that he doesn?t receive the MoM. He is a person who bleeds every time India loses. No one can deny that. He is indeed a fast learner and gives out everything to the game he loves. He tries to give his best always.

His Popularity and Social Might

He is the ICON and stalwart of India. Being down-to-earth is another beautiful characteristic of this genius and every country will be proud to have a Sachin. The Mumbai PC is right when he says Sachin is a National asset. With so many admirers, he does have a lot of enemies as well as critics. How many of us pay customs duty loyally? How many of us are ready to pay 50% or more of the earnings to the nation? How many of us never resort to shortcuts by paying bribes? Many critics were venting out personal angst on him with an unwanted focus on him. There were allegations of him being a part of match fixing (Hello, wake up). CBI conducted the inquiry and both Kapil & Sachin were exonerated. (It is a well-known fact that many bookies take bets only after he gets out!). Some quip that he is not a capable captain and being unprofessional about his opinion on declaration when he was at 194*. All of them are unwarranted for. He takes care of many children in Mumbai and he contributes heavily in whatever way he can. Steve Waugh is popular with his Udayaan but Sachin is not getting his due credit for the philanthropy he does.

CONCLUSION

There can be thousand star cricketers on earth but there is only one Sachin. ??Ten??dulkar is makes the Indian team strength as 20. It is a great pleasure to see him drive everyone mad. He is a classic example of how mortal a genius can be, when he gets out cheaply. Hey, not everyone can be that consistent. He has his own share of downtime due to obvious physical strains. No wonder he does not have 99.94 average due to the amount of cricket he plays. He is a man.a machine. a genius. a gem of a person.

I Hope you liked this review. Do comment as time permits (Trivia and records in comments)

KALIL