Feb 27, 2010
Somewhere in England a hoarding read something like this - "Commit all your sins when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed coz even the GOD is watching"
In cricket crazy India, Sachin Tendulkar stays head and shoulders above the rest. For that matter, the genius has been recognised as the batting God and is being hailed as the greatest cricketer ever to set foot on earth. Even today, just like when he started his career, the thirst and hunger for runs remains as fresh and evergreen as ever. As his wife Anjali says, "I can be hundred per cent sure that Sachin will not play for a minute longer when he is not enjoying himself. He is still so eager to go out there and play. He will play as long as he feels he can play."
If you are playing cricket perhaps, the punishment can come in the form of a supreme batsman at the crease hammering the leather out of shape. So much so, the umpires have to change balls just as the batting genius changes his batting gloves. The sweat, strain and the success by the pocket sized little boy from Mumbai has been worth every run scored at the glorious cricket grounds around the world.
You can name any cricket lover from any corner of the universe and they know Sachin Tendulkar like the back of their palm. Opposing teams have got into unsuccessful meetings and discussions to find a chink in the batting and have come out with no real answers.
Every known cricketer has acknowledged his unquestioned supremacy at the crease. Yet another batting great from West Indies Brian Lara agrees that he is a mere mortal in front of Tendulkar. There can be no better appreciation from anyone else. Runs have flowed from his bat like water from the river Ganges. He has been like Mount Everest conquering every possible record in the cricket books. His cool temperament and unruffled behaviour even at the height of glory have given immense joy to all his countrymen. In a country where world records are a mere wish, Sachin Tendulkar has given them so much and more to hail when all other sportsmen have utterly failed.
At an age (Sachin will be 37 in April) when any other cricketer would take jobs behind the microphone or working desk, Sachin continues to smash the red cherry with utter disdain and damage much to the joy of his team and country. There is no looking back for Sachin at least for a few more years. Sachin’s record of 13447 runs in 166 tests with 47 hundreds and 17598 runs in 442 one day matches with 46 centuries is very hard to imagine ! He silenced everyone by being the first batsman ever to score a double century in a one day international on 17th Feb, 2010 against South Africa which included 25 boundaries and 3 sixes and etch another milestone in the record books. He is now aiming to be the first to score 100 centuries in both forms of cricket with only 7 centuries remaining to achieve that unbelievable feat.
Like pure wine getting better with time and age, Tendulkar is now becoming hungrier by the day to score more runs. In the last one year itself he has to his credit 10 centuries including 6 centuries in test cricket. What an appetite for runs !
His vital wicket has been valued like gold by the opposing teams. Dropping his catch is as good as losing a match. Even our neighbours and bitter rivals on the cricket field Pakistan have been quick to appreciate the master batsman. Everyone including former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, former stumper Rashid Latif, batsman Shoaib Malek have been one in praising the Indian superstar no end. There has been all round acclaim coming from every corner of the world as well.
In a span of 20 years of non stop international cricket Sachin has served Indian cricket and is hugely responsible for the country’s team now reaching the top spot in international rankings. From those early days in Pakistan as a kid making his debut in tests against the pace battery of Imran and company Sachin has come a long way in his quest for supremacy. All his runs scored in the process are a true testimony to the legend of cricket who is God for anyone and everyone who knows the Mumbai maestro. So many cricketers have come and gone before him but Sachin remains firm at the crease.
Cricket has never seen a player like him and will never see anyone like him again. Even after playing for 20 years, his passion for the game is an inspiration for everyone around him.
Let us all salute India’s greatest cricket wonder ! Thank you Sachin for entertaining us.
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