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11-10-2009, 01:16 PM #1

Chandan.

Join Date: Jan 2007Posts: 5,769$ICF: 9,143,869


November 15, 2009 will be the day when Sachin will complete 20th year in international cricket.

I'll request everyone to write something or post few images as a tribute to this phenomenal journey which is still going on.

I'm posting an interview which came out in HT:

The early years

Pradeep Magazine, Hindustan Times

November 09, 2009

First Published: 23:11 IST(9/11/2009)Last Updated: 01:19 IST(10/11/2009)

After two decades of international cricket, what childhood memories come back to you most vividly?

Those images would be that of playing for India, before that would be playing with my friends in my building where I wantedto be the best. I was nine or 10 then, we played with tennis balls and I liked accepting challenges.

Challenges like?

I was the top-scorer in our age-group events and when I was 10, a couple of my friends challenged me to face a guy of about22-23 without pads with a seasoned ball (a proper cricket ball). I straightaway said, ‘why won’t I be able to do it, what’s thebig deal’! I faced him and managed quite well.

What was the atmosphere like at home? Did they not mind your playing the whole day?

They gave me a lot of freedom, especially my father. My brother was instrumental in making everything possible. Father wasvery understanding, he would give the green signal, but the ideas were definitely my brother’s.

Did your father believe you were good enough to play for India?

He encouraged me. The first year of school cricket was not that big for me. In the second year, I managed to score a hundredand I believed I was good enough…

11/16/2009 Celebrating Sachin Tendulkar's 20 glor…

indiancricketfans.com/showthread.php… 1/36

Did you idolise anyone?

I was a huge (John) McEnroe fan and of (Viv) Richards and (Sunil) Gavaskar.

Why didn’t tennis become an option?

All my friends and people from 0 to 45 watched Wimbledon. I remember them backing Bjorn Borg but I rooted for McEnroe.

Why then did you opt for cricket?

I don’t know, I mean...maybe it was that one could manage to play together and cricket did not require a tennis court orwhatever. Cricket just needed three stumps, bat and ball and you could play anywhere.

At what stage did you realise you could make it big and play for India?

When I scored my first inter-school hundred, I thought this is something special and if I can do something like this on a regularbasis, then things can change.



Where did you get this confidence, even at that age — to believe you would make it big and when just 16, theway you faced one of the best pace attacks ever in the world (Waqar, Wasim and Imran)?

Yeah, I probably was just confident about my abilit ies and, as I said earlier, I like accepting challenges — that could be one ofthe reasons.

At any point, when you were a child, did you think you wouldn’t be able to make it to the Indian team?

While playing, I definitely did not think I wouldn’t make it. I was not overconfident, but somehow I knew that one day I wouldplay for India. It was just a question of when but I knew I would play for India.

Did you ever think that one day you would do to the world what you were doing to your friends in yourbackyard?

Honestly, I did not think that far. I felt I had to be considered as one of the top players to play this game.

When you failed in your debut, did you feel upset?

Definitely. I felt bad, started doubting my ability and started wondering ‘do I really belong here?’ I felt I was too tense, toonervous. Everything fell out of place. I was not so sure.

Was that your first failure in life?

Yeah, I mean it was a different ballgame altogether. I mean you are going to play Ranji and then you are going to play top-class bowling in the world, Wasim (Akram), Imran (Khan) on helpful tracks. It was a fresh experience.

How did things change for you?

When I was picked to play the 2nd Test, I told myself, come what may, I will hang around…I’m not going to accept defeat,I’m going to stay there. I spoke to a lot of guys in the team, they said, stay there for the first 20 minutes, thing would geteasier, and it actually happened. I started feeling normal, my nerves started to calm down and I could see the ball better. Myfootwork was better; my state of mind was better. After that, I scored 59 in my 2nd innings, which was the first innings of the2nd Test. After that I believed ‘yes I can’.



Last edited by Chandan : 11-10-2009 at 10:15 PM.

11-10-2009, 02:03 PM #2

champis here !!!

Join Date: Sep 2009Location: bangalorePosts: 861$ICF: 573,608

congrats sachin

btw the tit le you have put there makes me

11-10-2009, 02:57 PM #3

SachinismTetraHydroCannabinol

Join Date: Nov 2007Location: King Of LondonPosts: 19,169$ICF: 116,587,418

What a legend, 20 years in the game and still playing like a genius.I feel so privileged to be be living at this time, to be able to see the great man at work.Hope he will play for another 20 years

Sachin is perfect: VVS Laxman

11-10-2009, 09:38 PM #4

SachDanSach is life

Sachin is perfect: VVS Laxman



Sach is life..

Join Date: Nov 2007Location: Hell !Posts: 10,855$ICF: 34,877,432

My favourite Sachin innings

In ODIs, I’d choose the Sharjah century against Australia in 1998; I was the non-striker and watched it from up close. In Tests,the 1996-97 Cape Town hundred is a personal favourite, and for different reasons the double-hundred in Sydney, where hewas so much in control of his game plan. For emotional reasons, two Chennai tons: Pakistan in 1999 and recently againstEngland, where he hit the winning runs.

His greatest strength

From a batting point of view: balance. This helps him pick the length and get in position quickly. Then there’s the hunger forruns. Most importantly, even after so many years, he prepares with such intensity for each match, each situation. The work heputs in, the attention to detail, sets him apart.

Sachin and me

What stands out is the person. The achievements , the laurels, the expectations, everyone wants a piece of him ... the wayhe carries himself is a lesson. His respect for elders, how he encourages youngsters, his family values.

A weakness?

I can’t think of one. He’s perfect. He was born and made to play cricket.

My message for Sachin

I just wish him all the best and hope he carries on for as long as possible. The longer he carries on, the better it is for Indiancricket.

The encouragement, input and help he brings to the dressing-room are things that make a huge difference.

LINK

11-10-2009, 10:08 PM #5

ludhianviHail the Yuviness

Join Date: May 2007Posts: 4,821$ICF: 22,640,550

Very classy interview to watch of him. Most of you would have probably watched but its still always charming to watch.

YouTube- Sachin tandulkar first interview

11-10-2009, 10:33 PM #6

Chandan.


A tribute from close friend Ricky Couto

up close & personal -

HOPPINGO/BATTINGO, VADA-PAV AND BATTING TO STAY OUT OF SCHOOL

Ricky Couto



Let me be honest. Shardashram Vidya Mandir (SVM) was all about cricket for some of us. Sachin, Vinod (Kambli ) and I, hadspecifically moved to the school to play cricket, on the advice of (Ramakant) Achrekar sir.

We were not interested in studies and it showed; Sachin averaged about 50 % in exams. We were talkative, mischievous andoften got punished for throwing ink on others.

We also formed a gang in school that others were wary of. Some kids were so scared of being beaten up that they would notleave the school premises till we were gone.

Our Physical Training and Chemistry teachers were very strict, and sometimes threw a duster at us. Sachin, like any otherschoolboy, would say `sorry'.Now the teachers proudly say they punished Sachin in school.

Sachin was very good at table tennis and whenever he had time off he used to play in the car park.

Another game we played a lot was one we called Hoppingo/Battingo -- a game where one had the right to beat his mate if hedidn't say hoppingo/battingo before sitting/standing. Most of the time, I was at the receiving end. He plays the game eventoday with his best pals, surprising many in the dressing room.

We loved to skip classes at the pretext of playing cricket. Sharadashram used to give us leave for cricket and even if a matchwas to end on the first day with very less to achieve, Sachin and Vinod would bat the day out to take the game into the nextday, so that we would get a full day's leave. They'd finish the match early and we all would go for Hindi movies.

Sachin raised the toast at my wedding. While giving his speech, he said he was as nervous as he was during his Test debut.

(Ricky and Sachin were back-benchers at SVM from Standard VII to X).

A tribute by Leander Paes

It takesone to knowone - I took him on and he beat me hollow!

To me, longevity is the hallmark of greatness and Sachin epitomises that. That's talking pure sport. But when we begin tojudge greatness as a human being, then anyone's greatest asset is humility. Sachin's poise and composure in the face ofconstant public scrutiny is remarkable, in fact, it 's almost superhuman.

Over the years, I have met him a number of times but the one interaction ingrained in my mind is the time we spent togetherat the Taj Exotica in Goa. It was December 2000 and we had gone down there for an Adidas commercial.

Now, I earn my living from my skill with a racquet and consider myself pretty good at most racquet games. So I was not reallytoo bothered about being able to hold my own when Sachin challenged me to a game of table tennis.

I went in confident, but in a short while I was shellshocked. The man has incredible skill with the paddle and his reflexes arerazor sharp. He literally destroyed me.

Neither of us is known for giving up easy. What began as fun became a fierce contest of wills and we played over 30 games. Iwon about 10.

The incredible bit was his ambidexterity.



He could rip winning smashes with either hand! I am convinced that he would have been world-class no matter what sport heplayed. Cricket is lucky he chose to redefine that particular sport.

11-10-2009, 11:08 PM #7

SoodaSith Lord

Join Date: Oct 2006Posts: 2,184$ICF: 42,926

wow.

Thats a good interview Ludh, not seen that one.

You hear it said that he was 16 etc on debut, but its only when you see him so small makes you realise how young he was.Blimey, 16!!

11-10-2009, 11:09 PM #8

SachDanSach is life..


Quote by Sooda

wow.


You hear it said that he was 16 etc on debut, but its only when you see him so small makes you realise how younghe was. Blimey, 16!!

Really ??

11-10-2009, 11:10 PM #9

SoodaSith Lord


erm

yeah really havent seen it.

I iz ashamed.

call myself a fan, its disgraceful.

11-11-2009, 08:53 AM #10

transparentMarauder from Najafgarh

Join Date: Sep 2009Posts: 952$ICF: 2,000,718

I wanted to make this thread



11-11-2009, 08:54 AM #11



Quote by Sooda

wow.



Quote by Sooda

erm

yeah really havent seen it.

I iz ashamed.

call myself a fan, its disgraceful.

I have to agree with that last line, SORRY

I have seen that video at least 100 times! minimum...

The first line he says in that video is my favorite line in the entire universe "oh, I think it 's just a start" The god seemed toknow that w/e people are jamming about him at that point of time was nothing compared to what is stored in the future

Last edited by transparent : 11-11-2009 at 08:57 AM.

11-11-2009, 09:12 AM #12

GambitAye haye tere tashan

Join Date: Oct 2006Location: New DelhiPosts: 10,963$ICF: 3,509,635

Quote by Sooda

wow.



My favourite part of the interview is the way he pronounces bat. He says 'bat-tah'. It's almost as if he's mentally playing a shotwhen saying the word, hence the 'tah' addition, which is similar to the sound the bat makes when striking the ball.

11-11-2009, 09:48 AM #13



Quote by Gambit

My favourite part of the interview is the way he pronounces bat. He says 'bat-tah'. It's almost as if he's mentallyplaying a shot when saying the word, hence the 'tah' addition, which is similar to the sound the bat makes whenstriking the ball.

He still says bat the same way he did 20 years ago

find any of his videos (post match presentations/interviews etc.) and you will realize that he still pronounces bat the same way

what amazes me the most is that the interviewer is white and yet he pronounces all Indian names properly...

Last edited by transparent : 11-11-2009 at 10:02 AM.

11-11-2009, 09:54 AM #14





making of the legend

YouTube- 1of4 Tendulkar-Making of a legend

YouTube- 2of4 Tendulkar making of a legend

YouTube- 3of4 Tendulkar Making of a legend



YouTube- 4of4 Tendualkar making of a legend

I think now they can add another 30-60 minutes to this series "making of the legend"

11-11-2009, 01:11 PM #15

Chandan.


Here is the second part of the interview that I posted in OP.

THOSE WONDER YEARS - A LEGEND IS BORN

PART II

Don Bradman once said that Tendulkar's batting style was closest to his own. Here, Sachin talks cricket



Pradeep Magazine ( [email protected] )

When you look back today, what do you think was the turning point of your career, in terms of internationalstardom and becoming what you wanted?

I think my first Test hundred in England when I was 17, it kept us alive in the series. If you do well in England or Australia, theworld takes note.Immediately after, in Australia, I scored two hundreds, on different surfaces, one in Sydney and the other on the bouncywicket of Perth.



You still rate the Perth one as your best?

Yes, one of the tops.

Because of the quality of the innings or because you were so young?

Not age, but I think, the quality of attack, the kind of surface we played on... given the circumstances, what I was able toachieve.

Did you set yourself targets once you knew you were here to stay?

I would sort of set targets, but would obviously keep them to myself.



What sorts of targets would you set at that time?

It depended on that particular series or the kind of bowling attack -- what I was going to achieve, the contribution to theteam... all those factors were taken into consideration in setting a goal. I would look to achieve that.

At that time, did you ever feel you had shortcomings on fast tracks against pace and needed to improve?

By God's grace I have not felt uncomfortable in facing a particular attack. I felt I was in a posit ion to tackle anything andeverything. But at the same time, I took nothing for granted. I prepared to the best of my ability.

How did it feel to be talked about as the boy who would become the greatest?

It felt wonderful. I took confidence from all the posit ive statements made about me and with the help of that confidence Ilooked to climb the ladder. I would only look at the positives and not worry about negatives. Every individual will have faults, Iwould rather... I used my strengths, my energy in the right direction. I would think of factors that would help me contribute. I took thatconfidence along whenever I went out to bat. I did not read any newspaper -- I sort of avoided reading them!

Which bowlers did you admire, who troubled you the most?

I always felt that the Australians have been the leading side of the world and to do well against them was a great challenge,something I looked forward to.

Any names? Who would you say is the finest bowler of your time?

There have been many, I would say, right from first series. Wasim, Waqar, Imran, Qadir... the second series saw RichardHadllee; then Angus Fraser, Devon Malcolm, then we went to South Africa and it was Alan Donald. In Australia (Craig)McDermott really bowled well.

If you had to rate one bower?

It is tough to single out one bowler, you know there have been so many greats, all the guys with more than 400 wickets -- itis difficult. It is up to an individual to rate them because he feels that way about them.

So from your perspective?

Probably, (pauses, takes a lot of time) like, probably (pauses again) hmmm...(Glenn) McGrath would be the most accurate one.

Also the most troublesome for you?

Yeah, I have scored hundreds against him but he is probably the one who...

You demonstrated your anger, something so rare, while attacking him once. Was it because of his calibre as abowler?

It was sort of a strategy actually. This happened only once, in Kenya in the Champions Trophy (2001). We won the toss andbatted. The way he bowled the first over, Sourav was captain and I told him that this strategy might work, I told him to letme execute it, go after him and get into a little bit of a verbal battle. Basically unsettle him and not allow him to bowl where hewanted to.

And it succeeded...

It succeeded, because I hit him for three sixes.

What makes you such an outstanding all-surface player? Your game and style of play moulds itself around thenature of the wicket.

I don't know, I always discussed the kind of surface and all that with my brother (Ajit). His inputs have all always helped. Eventoday, I discuss cricket with him. His inputs are invaluable.



If a wicket is hard and pacy, you play on the rise, if it is slow and turning, you use your wrists more often. Is thisyour greatest ability, apart from technical skills?

It's a litt le difficult for me to answer this -- the opposit ion would be better placed to do so. A batsman looks to play accordingto the surface, and adjust according to it. That is what I tried to do. I have adopted a defensive strategy when I could be alitt le more patient, sometimes I decide to counterattack and take on the opposition.

For a man who hates being second best, will not being a successful long-term captain be a sore point in yourcareer?

Not really, not really, absolutely not.At no stage was I fond of captaincy. I have always been fond of playing. It really does not matter, as captaincy is not about anindividual. It is about the team.It has a lot to do with other members of the team.

You mean you did not have a good enough team under you?

The team was definitely good. But if I have to compare today, then we definitely have more match winners now.

(IN PART III, HE LOOKS AT WHAT LIES AHEAD, PERSONALLY & CRICKET-WISE)

DID YOU KNOW

A believer in Ganpati, Sachin goes to the Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, generally after midnight.

THE LITTLE MASTER IN NUMBERS

185 The number of ODIs he played between April 1990 and April 1998, a world record.

523 Is the number of runs he scored in the '96 World Cup -- the highest in the edit ion.

4The number of t imes (1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998) he scored over 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year.




11-11-2009, 01:35 PM #16

nospamuosdɐɯ

Join Date: Oct 2007Posts: 1,485$ICF: 9,028,622

http://images.google.com/images?q=si...ul.com/+sachin

11-11-2009, 01:42 PM #17

Under_ScorePwnjabi !!

to the Maestro SRT



Join Date: May 2009Posts: 851$ICF: 2,061,654

11-11-2009, 01:45 PM #18

Temujin KhaghanElf prince

Join Date: Dec 2007Posts: 932$ICF: 13,682,080

nice rare pics of sachin. thx

11-11-2009, 01:50 PM #19

yodaThe Legend


20 years that is some longevity and consistency.

11-11-2009, 01:56 PM #20

GambitAye haye tere tashan

Join Date: Oct 2006Location: New DelhiPosts: 10,963$ICF: 3,509,635

That 44 that Dravid mentioned was a most remarkable knock. Ambrose, Bishop, Rose and Walsh were ripping the Indians aparton a very helpful track and here was Tendulkar driving on the up, pulling, cutting his way to 44 off 43 with 10 boundaries.

11-11-2009, 06:44 PM #21

Il PrincipinoRain Man

Join Date: Jul 2009Posts: 1,425$ICF: 2,448,037

Thanks for the share Chandan, Trans, Dan brahs.

"The way he is batting," Dhoni remarked, "Sachin will not only play in 2011 but also in 2015.



11-11-2009, 07:19 PM #22



A must watch for every ICFer

This is nostalgia

YouTube- tendulkar at 25 part 1






11-11-2009, 07:22 PM #23

champis here !!!


this is too less for us .. how about a silver jubilee sachin



11-11-2009, 07:51 PM #24

Chandan.


A Tribute by Dhanraj Pillay

Sachin -- Hero No. 1

Representing the country for 20 years is no mean achievement and it shows Sachin's dedication and the hard work he has putin to become the best batsman in the world.

I should know what it takes to play at the highest level for a long period as I've played hockey for India for 16 years.

I have met him many times and we usually talk in Marathi. There's a mutual respect and he cares for other sports also and helpspeople quietly, without advertising it and that's what all celebrities should do.

One particular incident is a lesson for every celebrity. I've played in the Malaysian league and have many friends there. One ofthem has named his son after Sachin.

A few years ago when Sachin went to Malaysia, my friend wanted his fouryear-old son to meet the man he was named after,and called me from outside the hotel to arrange a meeting.

I requested him to take some time out for the kid. Sachin not only obliged but gave some presents to the boy and sat him onhis shoulders for a photograph. The boy was very thrilled and still cherishes those moments.

That incident made me realise what a great person Sachin is. He has earned so much fame and money but his feet are stillgrounded. That's the hallmark of a sound upbringing. He's got this ability of not letting things get to his head.This is one thing every celebrity should learn from him.

(Pillay, the former India captain, spoke to B. Shrikant)

A Tribute by Hemant Kenkre

`What's pressure?'



The year was 1987, shortly after the Reliance World Cup, when we picked up Sachin to play for CCI at the behest of Achrekar.Sachin was leaving for Pune for an under-15 camp and his pads were stolen. Only two people in Mumbai other than me hadultralight Morrant pads.

Achrekar called to say Sachin is a good cricketer and that he needed pads. I did not think twice about parting with mine.I captained CCI whenever Sandeep Patil was away playing in Kenya and early in the season, with players away in England weoften picked players from Achrekar's wards.

We were to play Sivaji Park Youngsters and Achrekar told me to have a look at Sachin before picking him for CCI. He scored abrilliant halfcentury on a rank turner. We wanted to give Sachin playing membership at CCI and had to amend the rules as hewas only 15 then!

Once CCI was playing Catholic Gymkhana and their manager asked how he plays under pressure. Sachin, standing next to me,replied "what pressure?"

Sachin's dad often used to call me to say, "Tell him to study". Once, after he had begun playing for India, I went to his house.Sachin returned from playing TT to make tea for us and his father asked why he wasn't studying. I said, "he has already got aPh.D in cricket".

(Hemant Kenkre, Sachin's first captain at CCI, spoke to G Krishnan)

11-11-2009, 08:05 PM #25



Quote by transparent

what amazes me the most is that the interviewer is white and yet he pronounces all Indian names properly...

He's Tom Alter.A well known theatre personlity.. When ever he appears on any cricket related discussions,he always bragsregarding this interview.The first one to interview 15 year old Sachin on TV.

PS Tom Alter is of American origin

11-11-2009, 09:00 PM #26

SachDanSach is life.. Awards and Honours




Padma Vibhushan

Padma Shree



Arjuna Award

Khel Ratna



Maharashtra Bhushan

11-11-2009, 09:03 PM #27

Lord20 years of magic!!!

Join Date: Sep 2008Posts: 4,867$ICF: 17,670,080

^ hes attented every presentation ceremony

btw wats Kareena doing with Khel Ratna award?

11-11-2009, 10:52 PM #28

riyaPrince of Calcutta

Join Date: Nov 2007Posts: 1,233$ICF: 24,167

Nice thread.His face hasn't changed that much still looking so young.

11-12-2009, 01:09 AM #29

SoodaSith Lord

You demonstrated your anger, something so rare, while attacking him once. Was it because of his calibre as a bowler?

It was sort of a strategy actually. This happened only once, in Kenya in the Champions Trophy (2001). We won the toss andbatted. The way he bowled the first over, Sourav was captain and I told him that this strategy might work, I told him to let




me execute it, go after him and get into a little bit of a verbal battle. Basically unsettle him and not allow him to bowl where hewanted to.--------------

Oh man, this was a hell of knock, really tore into McG- only scored 30-something I think but smashed Mcgrath out of the attack

Cracking match this was too, Zaheer bowling S Waugh, Yuvraj's 84.

Muhahaha

Last edited by Sooda : 11-12-2009 at 01:11 AM.

11-12-2009, 04:58 AM #30

KingThe Legend

Join Date: Oct 2006Posts: 11,398$ICF: 3,599,291My Blog

Terrific thread, good to see collection of articles and tributes.

The best tribute is paid by Paes when he said :

"Cricket is lucky he chose to redefine that particular sport."

11-12-2009, 10:11 AM #31

Chandan.


And now the concluding part of the interview:

PART III

He thinks T20s have a role, but believes that income from Tests should be higher than T20s to ensure peoplewant to play the five-day game.

THOSE WONDER YEARS : CRICKET CHANGES & ME

Pradeep Magazine , Hindustan Times

What major changes have you seen in cricket over a period of time? Which of these are good for the game andwhich, bad?

Test cricket has definitely become faster, there are more shots played, more runs scored, batsmen innovate more and areprepared to take more chances both because of the introduction of Twenty20 cricket and the fact that there’s plenty of one-day cricket played. That is one positive change.

Isn’t the amount of T20s played a worry?

At this stage I feel T20s are fine, something one would like to see, the game getting globalised that is. With the introductionof T20, more non cricket-playing countries are coming to the game.

Don’t you think T20s are more a game of hit and miss and take away the skills of the game?

This is (the opinion) for the connoisseurs of the game. But if you have to show cricket to a Japanese, Chinese or Korean guyand explain what is going on for five days, it would obviously require mega effort.

You obviously take pride in your Test achievements?

Absolutely, for me Test cricket is Number One.

Doesn’t the perception that T20 might dislodge Test cricket bother you?

No, it will not. Tests are in no danger at all. I think, just to introduce someone to cricket, Twenty20 is a good format. Oncethey start understanding the game, then Test cricket obviously has a lot more in it to study.

Aren’t you worried that the game’s administrators will ignore Tests, seeing how much money comes in from theshorter versions?

I don’t think so. Ideally, I would say that we all regard Test cricket as No. 1 compared to one-day and T20 cricket, so thematch fees and income from playing Test cricket have to be significantly more than from T20s. Then people would want toplay more Tests than other formats. And, it is not all about the money. When I started, playing Test cricket was my dream.

But that might not be the case for today’s kids?



Yeah, it is different era. Who knows what is going to happen 10-20 years from now? At this moment though, I feel Testcricket is by far Number One, for me.

Will you feel sad, if a day comes when Tendulkar’s Test record may not be important but his one-day or T20record will be considered a bigger achievement?

I am pretty sure it won’t happen.

You still play with child-like passion. What motivates you now?

Honestly, it is within me. I don’t think any external factor is needed to motivate me. Playing for India is in itself a hugemotivation and I take a lot of pride in playing for India. I care about cricket. This is all I ever wanted to do.

Have you ever thought that someday, you will have to give up cricket? Does that thought frighten you?

Not at this stage, I am enjoying my game and there is cricket left in me.

We all hope you carry on till 2011 and beyond, but does the thought that there could be a day when you won’tbe playing scare you?

At this stage I am not thinking of it at all. At some stage one will have to, but I don’t need to think about that right now.What I’m saying is that it will be appropriate to think about it when the situation arises. Right now, it is not something I wantto do.

Is playing the next World Cup your next big dream?

There is a lot of cricket before that. You want to take one step at a time. Right now I am not thinking about that.

But would you want to be part of a winning World Cup team in 2011?

Oh, yeah, yeah, that will be something special.

On a different tack, how does it feel when people say that Sachin does not help India win matches?

I don’t know. How can I answer that, it is for the people to look at a broader picture. How can I answer that? If I were notcontributing for India, then I would not have scored as many runs.

Who would you call the best Indian cricketer of your time?

Definitely (Anil) Kumble.

And the best batsman in the present lot?

There are two guys I have enjoyed watching, Viru and Yuvraj… and Dhoni.



The best captain you have played under?

I think two, Sourav and Dhoni.

Why these two, what were their special skills?

I liked the way Sourav handled the team. I liked the way he would mix around with the team. As for Dhoni, his thoughtprocesses and mine are the same. Whatever I would have done, he is pretty close to my thinking.

Finally, is there any crisis you faced or something you now feel you could have avoided?

No, I don’t think so. There are absolutely no regrets. I might have made mistakes while playing — like had I known I would getout while playing a certain shot, I would not have not done it. But no, I have no regrets as such.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to v iew the full image. The original image is sized 1177x656.



DID YOU KNOW He once challenged Kambli to run around the boarding house (at a junior event) with nothing but a towel on. Kamblicompleted the task.

THOSE GOLDEN YEARS

2000 Reaches his 25th ODI ton by ODI ton by scoring 122 vs South Africa at Baroda on March 17.

2001 Becomes the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score 10,000 runs.

2002 Equals Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries with 117 against the West Indies.

2003 Scores 673 during the World Cup and becomes the highest run-getter in the tournament.



Last edited by Chandan : 11-12-2009 at 10:20 AM.

11-12-2009, 06:22 PM #32



Thanks for the interview Chandan

11-12-2009, 06:48 PM #33

Chandan A Tribute by Narain Karthikeyan



.


SHARED LOVE FOR SPEED & ADVICE FROM THE BEST

Iwas surprised to realise that Sachin is one of those guys who comes up to you and asks for advice if he feels you know better.This was at a karting track in Mumbai a couple of years ago.

He was suffering from a tennis elbow injury and chose to drive with a single hand on the wheel. Still, he was really fast and hiscontrol over the kart was better than the instructors. There is a certain smoothness in his driving which made me realise whata gifted athlete he is.

For regular people it takes a long time to master a car, let alone a kart. We share a love for speed and Sachin has been verysupportive over the years.

When I was driving for Jordan in 2005, I was plagued with media requests and my managers were insisting that I interact asmuch as possible. It was all getting to be a bit too much.

That year Sachin came to at least three races. He told me to concentrate on the job and forget about the media.

As a man who's handled media pressure for so long, his words were a welcome balm. Thereafter I would withdraw from mediainteractions if they conflicted with my schedule free of any guilt. After all, I had been advised by the best.

(Karthikeyan, India's only F1 driver, spoke to Sukhwant Basra)

A Tribute by K Srikanth

`I will take care of it'

We first heard about this boy from Bombay in late 1988. Dilip Vengsarkar was captain of Bombay and India and he spoke highlyof him. Ironically, when it came to picking the team for the 1989 Pakistan tour, it was Vengsarkar who Tendulkar replaced, butby then the 16-year-old had scored tons on debut in Ranji, Duleep and Irani matches.

When we went to Pakistan, and I led the team, my job was to give the youngsters some confidence. One of the first things Idid was to tell Sachin that he would play all four Tests, irrespective of what he scored. I remember Sachin's brother was onthat tour and I spoke to him separately, asking him to give his brother the confidence he needed.



But really, even though Sachin was shy and reserved, he already had confidence in himself. Just as his back-foot play wasassured and precise, he was also a very composed individual.

The incident I remember most fondly happened when Sachin took apart Abdul Qadir in an unofficial game. We needed eightan over and when Sachin started hitting Qadir for sixes against the spin I, as the senior player, walked down the pitch to tellhim to take it easy.

He just waved and sent me back, as if to say, `I know what I'm doing. I'll take care of it.' And he has done that with Indiancricket over the last 20 years.

(Srikkanth, who was Sachin's first Test captain, is currently chairman of selectors, spoke to Anand Vasu)

11-12-2009, 10:31 PM #34

Chandan.


INTERVIEW/SACHIN TENDULKAR

Marathon man

Sachin Tendulkar has been on the road for 20 years, but still loves to carry on. “There is nothing like playingcricket. I like to play matches all season,” he says in a chat with Vijay Lokapally.

S. SUBRAMANIUM

(If I had not become a cricketer) maybe, I would have become a tennis player. Maybe, I would have won a Grand Slam.’

It was a journey that began on a humble note with an innings of 15 in his debut Test in Karachi in November 1989. And today,Sachin Tendulkar is ranked among the all-time greats of the game, having amassed 12,773 runs in 159 Tests and 17,178 runsfrom 436 ODIs (up to the India-Australia match in Guwahati on November 8, 2009). He continues to grow and promises muchmore. The legend gets up close with Sportstar.



Excerpts from the interview:

Question: Have you ever had the fear of losing your place in the Indian team?

Answer: Honestly, I have never had this fear. I have never had this feeling that I could lose my place in the team, not evenwhen I was playing junior cricket.

Don’t you get tired of playing so much cricket?

Why should I? There is nothing like playing cricket. I like to play matches all season. Of course — I have said this earlier too —we must have time to unwind, spend time with the family, recharge our energies and come back and play and with the samepassion.

Have you ever experienced days when nothing worked for you?

Yes, quite a few. It is human. You go through such things many times in your life — you are dying to get something, but youdon’t. It happens to everyone. It is part and parcel of life. Every time the team does not win, it is a bad day.

Which are the good days?

Every time the team wins. Individual delight fades before a team’s celebration. There are many innings where, even before aball has been bowled, it so happens that you know you would click. You connect the ball as you want to and hit it where youwant to. It is a great feeling when things work your way.

A family man... Sachin Tendulkar with his wife Anjali and son Arjun (below).

How has your journey been?

I have enjoyed every moment of it. The passion to play remains. Getting injured can be a part of your sporting career, but I amgrateful to God that I have managed to stay fit most of the time. I take pride in having played with some wonderful cricketers.Playing for India has been a great privilege indeed.

How do you control your emotions on the field?

See, emotions can vary from individual to individual. I may express disappointment, but the other person may not. We must aimto do our best. The reactions can vary. It is up to individuals to learn the lessons. There are times when I feel very sad after aloss, but what can you do? Can you just stay put in your room just because you have lost? You have to plan for the nextmatch and look to come back. That is the motivation for most players.

What is your mantra for staying fresh and not losing interest in the game?

‘Enjoy on the field’ is my mantra. I go out and work as hard as I can on my game and try to get better. I never stop thinkingabout my responsibilit ies towards the team. I try to get better and perform better. The rest follows automatically. There canbe no compromise on training. To me, effort and performance are important.

How do you look at the expectations of the people? They seem to grow each time you walk to the crease…

To me these expectations are a good sign. It is good if people have expectations from me because it only reflects their beliefin me. I also want to do something. I try my best. I have my own reading and the experience to back me, and nothing pleasesme more than meeting the expectations of the people. Of course, it is not possible to achieve that in every match.



Do you set goals for yourself before a match or a series?

Yes, I do. I set goals before a season, before a match and even before an innings. I try to the best of my abilit ies to achievethem. I keep myself focused and also remain realist ic.

How meaningful are these practice sessions since you have been playing so much of cricket in the last few years?Is it true that these sessions often lack seriousness?

Let me tell you that every player is serious when it comes to training. It is a misconception that they are not serious, and it isvery wrong to say that they don’t concentrate during training. They do train hard; every player wants to do well. They allcome for practice with an aim and eventually work hard to achieve success. They also know they cannot afford to relaxbecause it can affect their performance.

How do you approach your batting?

I have a simple philosophy. I look at the ball and I never think of anything else. I know what I have to do. I have my prioritiesclear once the contest begins. I only focus on the ball when I have a bat in my hand.

How do we protect the youngsters from burnout and also from distractions that can come with money and fameat a very young age?

That’s a tricky question. I think it depends on the individual. As far as I am concerned, money and fame are part of professionalcricket today but self discipline is the most valuable aspect. You can’t leave this (grooming) to a third person. Here, familyguidance is important but the individual must also know how to exercise control. Only then he will get his focus right. You can’tblame someone else if you lose your balance. I can only guide a person, but ultimately it is all in his hands. In my case, my familyensured that I did not lose my balance, but then I also knew what was right and wrong.

But there are cases of players giving more importance to tournaments like the Indian Premier League andChampions League and looking to play more and more T20 tournaments. How to counter this?

If you are a cricketer for the last 15 years you will know that you started playing because you loved the sport, you had apassion for it and you cared about every match. Just because there is money to be earned, it does not necessarily diminishyour passion for the game. They are two different aspects. I would request the youngsters to stay humble. This is the basicrule for stars or superstars. I keep telling the young ones that they must remember the great deeds of our past cricketers.After all, they were the ones who showed us the way.

How does a batsman develop his concentration? What was your approach?

Personally, nothing special. I have always tried to keep my mind simple. I have always told myself to remain positive. I watchthe ball very closely, right up to the point of release. It is important to control your breathing. But to tell you the truth, I didn’tdo anything special to improve my concentration.

I know you can recall every dismissal of yours and also the shot with which you got each of your centuries. Howdo you manage to remember all of them?

Not just I. I think most batsmen would remember their dismissals. Most bowlers would also remember how they got goodbatsmen out. I can speak for myself — yes, I can recall all of them.

What about your equipment? Do you preserve your cricket gear?

I do. I have each and every bat with which I have hit an international hundred. I have all the India caps that I have worn. Ihave every single trophy that I have won. I have kept them all carefully. I have had to work hard and make sacrifices to winthem.

Have you ever had dreams of being an achiever in any field other than cricket? Say, a surgeon pulling off a miracleon the operation table, a general winning a battle and so on?



No. To tell you the truth, I have always looked at myself only as a cricketer. As a kid, I always wanted to play for India andultimately achieved my dream. I do dream of making constant progress as a cricketer so that I can try and win more and morematches for India.

What if you had not played cricket for India?

In that case, maybe, I would have become a tennis player. Maybe, I would have won a Grand Slam (laughs).

Do you advise youngsters on your own or do you prefer to be approached?

I always go and tell individuals what I feel. I also remind them that it does not necessarily mean what I say has to be right.They can work on it and can get better. I tell them this is only my assessment but ultimately they have to decide. I can onlyshare my experience with them.

What was the turning point of your career?

It came very early in my career. My second Test match, in Faisalabad. I was disappointed with my first Test because I thought Idid not achieve what I had set out to do. I had got a chance (in Karachi) and thought I squandered it (bowled for 15 byWaqar Younis). And then, I got this one. I just decided to stay there. I told myself come what may I had to contribute. Thisknock (59 in the first innings) gave me immense confidence. I thought I belonged here (Test level). After the first Test, I wasnot sure if I belonged here. I was tense; my footwork was static and my grip shaky. I asked myself, ‘what have I done?’ Andthen this opportunity changed my life. I was so happy to have got that chance.

What is it that you don’t like in today’s cricket?

Nothing in particular, nothing as of now. But there are certain things we need to address. Like calling a no-ball. Umpires tend tomiss the no-ball and sometimes it becomes crucial. Now, there are no great skills involved in picking a no-ball. But the effort isirritating for the umpire. He has to look below for over-stepping and then look ahead for an edge, lbw, bat-pad, wide… It iscertainly not an easy job. We can certainly eliminate the human errors. I think laser technology can help in deciding all linedecisions.

Where does the umpire’s skill lie?

In judging a leg-before appeal. There you need to monitor and bring in greater consistency. It is not 100% possible to get alllbw decisions correct but definitely we can come closer to getting a fair result when it comes to picking a no-ball. The thirdumpire has helped a lot in getting closer to perfection with regard to line decisions. Why not make it as perfect as possible bygiving him the job of deciding a no-ball. It will ease the pressure on the field umpire.

Are you worried about Test cricket losing its popularity?

Test cricket is the ultimate cricket, and you have to keep it going. I had made an appeal to the BCCI in this regard. On theweekends of a Test match, why can’t we attract young cricket followers to the venue? We can keep a section free for 5000young cricketers. We can bring promising cricketers from schools and colleges to fill this section. We can go a step further —we can organise a banner competition on each day of the Test match. The group that makes the best banner gets to meetthe Indian team. Kids will come with banners and I know the youngsters today are very bright. This banner can be their ticketto meet the players and a huge motivation for the youngsters to come to the venue. There will be creativity in their bannersand will make things lively. And this should only be for a Test match, not one-dayers or T20. I am confident the youngsterswould help in reviving Test cricket if the administrators think it is dying in terms of spectator interest.

Why restrict this idea to Test matches?

The memory of a day at a Test match stays. I still remember my first day at a Test match (at the Wankhede Stadium) in 1983(India-West Indies). I can never forget that day.

Any more suggestions?

Yes. I feel strongly about junior cricket. I have an idea that could be experimented all over India. We must have inter-schoolmatches for the age group 14-15 and ensure that every kid gets to play.

Let me explain: a kid trains for one year and the expectations of his parents grow. It is sheer passion that pushes the kid to acricket academy. And then he gets selected to the team, but does not figure in the playing XI and his team loses the firstmatch. The kid returns home and there is nothing for him or his parents to cheer about. And then he waits another year forhis next opportunity. So, we must see that all 15 players of a team get to play. When a kid leaves his home in the morning, heis sure of playing the match and goes with that positive mindset. We have to encourage them to play. They will thus havemore passion to play. Some can bat, some can bowl. They can take turns to field. It will be fair to every kid wanting to make itbig. He should not suffer just because his team gets knocked out. Maybe if he gets to play he can alter the course of thematch.

How do you view our domestic cricket?

It will not be fair on my part to comment on domestic cricket because I have hardly been playing any matches, barring a coupleof Ranji matches. I am not in the best position to comment. But I keep myself informed and try and follow if someone tells methere is a good player coming up.

How much has batting evolved from the time you began?

It certainly has become more creative with the introduction of T20 and power play. The batsmen are prepared to take morechances. You have new shots like the scoop shot and the switch hit. It is good for the audience. There were creativebatsmen earlier also and ten years down the line you may have more creative batsmen with even more different shots. Thepitches have also improved all over the world. This is my opinion. The bowlers might differ on this.

You had recently suggested that 50-50 matches be split into four sections of 25 overs each. What prompted youto come up with this idea?



It is essentially to make them (50-overs-a-side matches) interesting and reduce the domination of the toss. Especially in SriLanka, the toss proves too crucial in a one-dayer because it is tough to chase since the pitch becomes slower in the secondhalf of the match. That is not good for the game or the audience. It is so different in a place like Lahore where you can evenlook to chase a target of 300 because there is less swing and the ball comes straight. Then, the dew factor also makes itdifficult for the bowling side in a one-dayer.

How important is education in a sportsman’s life?

Sportsman or not, education is important. Not everyone can be a successful sportsman, but most become successful throughsound education. It is very, very important. There can’t be any compromise in this regard. You have to concentrate oneducation for a secure future. What if you suffer an injury and can’t play?

Do you pamper your kids?

I do pamper them like any father would, but not to the extent where I would spoil them. I will not tolerate nonsense. I willjust not tolerate indiscipline or bad behaviour. I know they are still kids but then they should know how to behave and showrespect. If they expect something from me, I also expect good manners from them. I am only expecting effort and not justgood result. I don’t expect A-plus always. I don’t pressurise my children. I just tell them to give their hundred per cent. That’swhat I insist upon. There is t ime to play, and there is time to study. I like naughty kids. I was naughty myself. After all, if theydon’t make mischief then who would? My kids are taken care of well by Anjali. She is the one who works with them. We don’tpunish the kids.

How important is the time you spend with your family?

It is special. I always look forward to it. It is great to be with them. I know where ‘Aai’ (mother) would be sitting, where ‘bhau’(brother) would be sitting. And the kids — I have come to take them for granted; take for granted their affection for me.Each time I am away from my family, I realise the importance of my family members. I miss them so much on tours. When Icome home, I know someone will be there waiting for me. I treasure every moment that I spend with them. At home, anyonecan express his opinion frankly. You can say what you want, do what you want, but the respect is there, the affection isthere. I love my family, my home.

Have you ever been tempted to join some fans and mob someone? Mostly, you are the one who is mobbed?

Not anyone in particular. I am by nature a shy person. So I don’t think I will have the courage to do that. But I would love tomeet some of our freedom fighters, specially our unsung heroes. I have hundreds of questions to ask them on theirexperiences and the courageous decisions they took. Honestly, what they have done for us can’t be matched. And one moreperson I would have loved to meet is Michael Jackson. I grew up listening to him. In fact, I had booked tickets for the first dayfirst show of his London concert. But I was not destined to meet him.

You have been working a lot for the underprivileged people. How do you view the situation in India?

I will continue to do as much as I can. ‘The joy of giving’ is a fantastic concept. We have so many needy people in the country.Believe me, even a donation of Rs. 5 can make a difference. We must give whatever we can to help the needy. Last year, mydaughter (Sara) decided not to accept gifts on her birthday. She told her friends to bring cash and they all organised a partyfor the underprivileged kids. My family was extremely proud of her gesture.

What aspects of our society affect you emotionally?

I am moved by people’s sufferings. I wish I could change so many things in our society. What can I tell people? Actually it is forevery individual to understand how he wants to contribute to the nation. It is our country; we have to care for our country. Ifyou are a conscious citizen, I don’t think you will wait for somebody to come up with an appeal to make you understand yourresponsibilit ies. It has to come from within.

What are you proud of?

My integrity, my self-pride.

Any regrets in life?

None. I am thankful to God. I am very happy with the way I have lived my life and with whatever has come my way. I haveabsolutely no regrets, no complaints. I feel very humble with whatever I have. In fact, I have got more than what I expected.

11-12-2009, 10:37 PM #35



Chandan take a bow

I iz getting emotional



11-13-2009, 12:54 AM #36

Dark Warrior\m/

Join Date: May 2008Posts: 2,071$ICF: 5,340

Just love this thread. :)

11-13-2009, 01:04 AM #37

blue_brigadeKhelenge backfoot par se

Join Date: Aug 2007Location: TorontoPosts: 10,014$ICF: 84,004,920

Quote by SachDan

Chandan take a bow

I iz getting emotional

I still cannot believe he is actually 36 now, it 's still like watching a boy in his mid 20's playing for India with the same passion andaggression. Sachin (emotional)

11-13-2009, 01:06 AM #38

Domaink20 years!!


Quote by blue_brigade

I still cannot believe he is actually 36 now, it 's still like watching a boy in his mid 20's playing for India with thesame passion and aggression. Sachin (emotional)

Seems like yesterday when my dad was saying "Look at that boy, he hold a driving license, but he can murder bowlers aroundthe world". Time really flies by so quickly.

11-13-2009, 01:11 AM #39



Quote by Domaink

Seems like yesterday when my dad was saying "Look at that boy, he doesn't hold a driving license, but he canmurder bowlers around the world". Time really flies by so quickly.



Show your signature

11-13-2009, 01:14 AM #40

Domaink20 years!!


Amitabh Bachchan said a nice thing when he was asked about the pressure on Sachin Tendulkar. He said "Sachin is aconsummate artist and all such artists are gifted in handling pressure under all circumstances. Indeed, I believe if there were tobe no pressure in an artist’s life, his best would never emerge."

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11-13-2009, 01:16 AM #41

Domaink20 years!!


Amitabh Bachchan on Tendulkar. Interviewed published on 12th Nov.

Quote

They are the biggest two icons of the country; they are also unabashed admirers of each other. AmitabhBachchan Speaks About Sachin Tendulkar’s Genius In This TOI Exclusive...

Ajay Naidu | TNN

TOI: Sachin Tendulkar is going to complete 20 years in international cricket. Your reactions on this awesome feat bythe litt le great man of Indian cricket... AB: Incredible! It is a marvel that a sportsman can have such an extended, achievement-filled life. His recentperformance (referring to Sachin’s 175 in Hyderabad) was better than all those much younger than him. He is a truegenius! TOI: How does it feel to know that despite being an icon himself, Tendulkar has been a huge fan of yours since hewas a kid? AB: I am so, so humbled by this fact. It is Sachin’s greatness that he should consider me to be capable of his affectionand love. TOI: What is it that you admire about Sachin’s batting? AB: It is the absolute confidence his stance exudes, and the imperious manner in which he dismisses each delivery. Allhis strokes are poetry in motion but, for me, his punched off-drive is breathtaking. TOI: You are a legend yourself and have been in the limelight for so many years now. Do you appreciate the wayTendulkar has handled pressure, both on and off the field? AB: I am no legend, but Sachin is a consummate artist and all such artists are gifted in handling pressure under allcircumstances. Indeed, I believe if there were to be no pressure in an artist’s life, his best would never emerge. TOI: Have you ever delayed a shoot, or postponed an appointment, just because Tendulkar was going great gunsduring a match? AB: Yes, innumerable times! TOI: When Tendulkar is playing well, he puts a smile on a billion faces. Suddenly, people everywhere seem to be more accomodating and friendly, and even the cashier at the bank servesyou with a smile! Have you experienced similar feel-good vibes at your shoots? AB: There is an atmosphere of posit ivity when Sachin is doing well and, at shoots, there is a constant, uplift ing buzz.TOI: Talk us through some of the innings you cherish... AB: Look at his record! Do you really think anyone has the capacity to talk through his best innings? As far as I amconcerned, they have all been the best. TOI: When did you first meet Sachin and what was your first impression about him? AB: I cannot remember when exactly I first met him. But I do remember that from the day I met him to this day, hehas remained the same humble, quiet and shy person, one who almost wishes that he could avoid all the attention hegets in public. TOI: Tendulkar has appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati and also featured in a few commercials with you. What wasthe chemistry like during those shoots? AB: There was instant rapport between us and he was clinically correct in the execution of whatever he took up. TOI: Facing controversy is part of being a celebrity. Do you sometimes wonder how someone like Tendulkar hasmanaged to stay away from controversies despite being under the microscope for two decades? AB: It is the able manner in which he conducts himself in public and private that has made him what he is today. Itrequires great restraint and mental rectitude to achieve that. It is not easy to remain unaffected and aloof fromcontroversy, but Sachin has always exercised the qualities most achievers do: he has remained patient and allowed hisbat to do the talking. When his bat talks, controversy — right or wrong — can take a walk. TOI: Apart from his batting, what are the qualities you admire in Tendulkar? AB: His gentle, unobtrusive manner. TOI: Besides yourself, who else in your family is a Tendulkar fan? AB: Everyone in my family is a huge Tendulkar fan. TOI: Like in your case, age appears to be just a number for Tendulkar. Retirement seems far off... AB: Do not compare or put Sachin in the same class as me. May he continue to be with us, in our team, and be ourinspiration forever. At a public function for the promotion of his film, Aamir Khan made a very pertinent remark. He said despite the fact that they know they are the best, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar have never been



p y y , gheard saying so themselves. I would look at this remark in two ways. 1. Those who think they are the best, need to keep saying it becauseothers do not. 2. Those who know they are the best do not need to say it because others say it! So if they are notsaying they are the best, it probably means they still believe there is room for improvement. That’s the true mark of amaster.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

11-13-2009, 01:19 AM #42

Domaink20 years!!


Quote

Sachin wanted to know about my last shot: Bindra

I don't think I'm a cricket fan. How can I be? All my life, I've only been interested in watching SachinTendulkar, and none of the other Indian

batsmen. Every time he gets out, I turn off my TV, deeming it unworthy to watch anything else after that. Doesthat mean I'm not a true follower? I don't know. Is it possible to not follow cricket and still have Tendulkar as an idol?I don't know but I've done exactly that.

It was during the 1996 World Cup in India that I began to follow the game, or should I say Tendulkar. I got hookedto his game for the extra grace, for the aggression that he brought to the field. Of course, over the years, Tendulkarhas transformed his game. To last this long, he had to cut off a lot of shots. It was a brave move, considering all thepublic expectations. But he managed and got into that frame of mind. Now again, it seems like he's turning a corner.He looks more relaxed, he's playing more freely.

I know people have these big Sachin scores (like the famous one in Sharjah) as their favourites but funnily for me, itwas the 40-odd that he made against the West Indies in West Indies (44 in Trinidad in 1997, against an attackcomprising Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop) which I like the most. The pitch was difficult, the sky was overcast, the ballwas swinging and all the other Indian batsmen were just falling apart. Tendulkar played with such ease. It showedwhy he is so special and that's why there are such silly expectations when it comes to him.

Although I don't know him personally but from a distance, it looks as if Tendulkar lives in a bubble. Otherwise, how doyou explain the years he has been able to play without getting affected? To add to that, there were numeroussurgeries. It must have been a steep ask, I'm sure, to sustain the hunger.

I first met Tendulkar during the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games for only a brief moment, when I wasparticipating as a 13-year-old. Someone clicked a photo of us and I ensured that I had it. I came back and put it up inmy room, hoping that I would have more such classic encounters. My wish was fulfilled last Monday, when I met himduring an award ceremony, after 11 long years. We spoke general stuff - about our earlier meeting and a commonfraud trainer we were being conned by! He then asked me about my last shot, which fetched India the Olympic gold.I became his fan, anew, that evening.

11-13-2009, 01:23 AM #43

Domaink20 years!!


Lata Mangeshkar on Sachin. Interview published on 13 Nov, 2009.

Quote

I would like to honour Sachin with a 'Vishwa Ratna: Lata Mangeshkar

TOI: Like yourself, there seems to be no limit to Tendulkar's genius too. The entire country is celebrating his 20thyear in international

cricket. How do you look at this monumental achievement?

LATA: My heartiest congratulations to him. I have seen Sachin right from the time he made his debut as a sixteen-year-old. Since then, he has gone on to climb dizzy heights, he's got married, raised a family, and somehow remainedthe same humble man throughout. It's really amazing to know he has been around for 20 years. I greet him and hisfamily. May God bless him and may he go on for another 40 years!

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TOI:You have been an ardent admirer of the game, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin. What do you like about Tendulkarwhen he graces the crease?

LATA: Like Sunil Gavaskar, there's a comforting thought that Sachin will hold the fort, that Team India is safe.Though each stroke is a stroke of genius, I have a distinct liking for his straight drive. I also admire the way he looksup to the heavens every time he completes a half-century or century. It means he is thanking God for blessing him,and that's a great thing. Who can forget the 1999 World Cup, when he played on even though his father passedaway midway through the tournament? Sachin took a break to attend the funeral and returned quickly to score acentury, then looked up to the skies to seek his father's blessings. It was a very touching and emotional moment forevery Indian. The poignancy of that moment has stayed in the minds of all who watched that knock. I am noexception.

TOI: If you were asked to play favourites between Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin, who would you pick?

LATA: To be honest, it 's difficult to pick one. They played in different eras and both brought laurels to the country.Sunil had his own distinct style while Sachin is in a class of his own. Both are legends in their own right. Having saidthat, I think Sunil retired a bit early. And what else can I say about Sachin? The fact that Don Bradman, the greatestbatsman ever, was reminded of himself while watching Sachin bat is the best tribute he can ever get.

TOI: Talk us through your first meeting with Tendulkar...

LATA: Although I don't remember the first t ime, I remember having met him once at Raj Thackeray's residence. Thatwas on his birthday, on the 24th of April, which incidentally is also my father's death anniversary. I got a call from Rajrequesting me to come over to meet Sachin. Since it was his birthday, I asked Raj what gift I could get for the youngbatsman. I remember we all sat outside, chatting. I presented Sachin with an idol of Sai Baba. As I did that, Sachintouched my feet and said, 'you are like my mother'. Usne mujhe maa ka darja diya. I was really moved.

TOI: He is passionate about your singing, and that of Kishore Kumar's..

LATA: I know he likes to hear my songs and I feel humbled. He has also been to a couple of my concerts. But henever came up to me to say, 'I am here.' That's his greatness. In fact, I didn't notice him the first time he was thereto watch me sing. The next time he came with his wife. I think it was in Mumbai or Pune. My brother HridaynathMangeshkar informed me that Sachin was in the audience. Then I noticed him and said 'namaste' from the stage.

What I really like about Sachin is that despite being a great player, he is so humble and down to earth. I know he hasbroken so many records, done the country proud and won so many awards. For doing all that and still conductinghimself respectfully all along, I think, he deserves a Bharat Ratna. Why just a Bharat Ratna, I would like to honourSachin with a 'Vishwa Ratna'!

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...ow/5224542.cms

11-13-2009, 01:26 AM #44

Domaink20 years!!


Quote

I feel nervous while starting every new innings: Tendulkar

MUMBAI: Even after grabbing virtually every batting record in his illustrious 20-year career, Indian batting icon SachinTendulkar says he still

feels 'nervous' when he walks down to bat.

"I believe feeling nervous enables one to give his best. You can get nervous only when you care about somethingand I care about cricket," Tendulkar said while speaking at a felicitation function for batting legends Sunil Gavaskar andGundappa Viswanath on Thursday.

It was an evening of nostalgia and a walk down memory lane as four legends - Gavaskar, Viswanath, Tendulkar andAmitabh Bachchan - shared the dais.

The four celebrities enthralled the audience with interesting anecdotes as hordes of photographers captured the raremoment of these four legends being together on stage.

Tendulkar spoke about how his idol Gavaskar personally came to greet him after he broke his record of 34 centuries.and said it was indeed a touching moment to see Gavaskar wait ing for him.

"There is not a bigger thing than getting recognised from the person you adore. He advised me not to stop and carryon. I am trying to follow his advise," Tendulkar, the highest run-getter in both Test and One-day formats, said.

Tendulkar also spoke about how Gavaskar wrote a letter to him in his school days in 1987 after he had failed to winthe best junior cricketer of the year award.

"I was very disappointed not to win the award. That's when I got a letter from him. That letter was more valuable tome than the award itself."

"During the 1987 World Cup when I was a ball boy at the Wankhede stadium, I remember him (Gavaskar) calling meto the dressing room and introducing me to the entire team. I was too stunned and hardly spoke during the entireday," he added.



Gavaskar said that if he was reborn, he would like to be a fast bowler and give it back to all those who had hurledbouncers at him.

Viswanath also kept the audience spellbound with his witty and humorous stories about his playing days and how hehad struck a friendship with Gavaskar which is still going strong.

"We have had some wonderful partnership on the cricket field but our partnership in life has been going strong and Ihope it will continue to remain so," Viswanath said.

The felicitation was organised by Trikitadah, a musical group.


11-13-2009, 01:30 AM #45



YouTube- sachin tendulkar 193 vs england part 1

YouTube- sachin tendulkar 193 vs england part 2



11-13-2009, 01:31 AM #46



An innings to remember for both Sachin and his fans

YouTube- sachin's knock at chepauk vs england 2008

11-13-2009, 01:41 AM #47



Sachin vs Australia, 5th ODI HQ Highlights

http://www.mediafire.com/?m3zxz21zbmyhttp://www.mediafire.com/?dt3ynwma1yjhttp://www.mediafire.com/?ddfmwtwy1zlhttp://www.mediafire.com/?iygbmyyyqy5http://www.mediafire.com/?hwchgqrminmhttp://www.mediafire.com/?ooyz0yzyly1http://www.mediafire.com/?azujvmeummwhttp://www.mediafire.com/?fmzzq1qnyvzhttp://www.mediafire.com/?5wowznz2c5t




11-13-2009, 01:46 AM #48



Oh man some of these interviews, my eyes are welling up

11-13-2009, 01:47AM

#49

Domaink20 years!!



Sachin vs Australia, 5th ODI HQ Highlights

http://www.mediafire.com/?m3zxz21zbmyhttp://www.mediafire.com/?dt3ynwma1yjhttp://www.mediafire.com/?ddfmwtwy1zlhttp://www.mediafire.com/?iygbmyyyqy5http://www.mediafire.com/?hwchgqrminmhttp://www.mediafire.com/?ooyz0yzyly1http://www.mediafire.com/?azujvmeummwhttp://www.mediafire.com/?fmzzq1qnyvzhttp://www.mediafire.com/?5wowznz2c5t


Thank you.

Please upload more of his knocks.



11-13-2009, 09:53 AM #50

guju24Devils!!!


thx a lot for this guys...amazing thread...Sachin

11-13-2009, 10:14 AM #51

gloryof83Turbanator

Join Date: Nov 2006Posts: 69$ICF: 1,557,204

Harsha Bhogle: The Sachin I know

Quote

Sachin Tendulkar may have inspired others to write poetry but he batted in robust prose. Not for him thetenderness and fragility of the poet, the excitement of a leaf fluttering in a gentle breeze. No. Tendulkar is about aplantation standing up to the typhoon, the skyscraper that stands tall, the cannon that booms. Solid. Robust.Focused. The last word is the key. He loves the game deeply but without the eccentricit ies of the romantic. There isa match to be won at all times.

But Tendulkar too was a sapling once. And his brother Ajit sheltered him from the gale, kept him focused. Sachinlooked after his cricket, Ajit looked after Sachin. Twenty-two years ago, I was asked by Sportsworld to do an articleon this extraordinary schoolboy. It wasn't Sachin I had to speak to, it was Ajit. When the time for the interviewcame, at Ramakant Achrekar's net in Shivaji Park, Ajit was there with a cyclostyled copy of Sachin's scores. AndAchrekar admonished me for spoiling his child, for fear that Sachin would get distracted.

The interview was done. Sachin was neither overwhelmed nor garrulous; indeed he was so limited with his words thatyou had to hold on to every one of them. It was sent to Sportsworld in Calcutta by courier (or was it just put into anormal post box?) and then came a request for two photographs. Again it was Ajit who produced them. When I gotthe cheque, I noticed they had paid me an extra 100 rupees for the photographs. They weren't mine butSportsworld had a policy of paying for them and so I wrote out a cheque to Ajit for Rs 100. It was acknowledged andaccepted gratefully. We lived in different times then!

It was also my first realisation that young men in the public eye needed to be sheltered so they could focus onplaying cricket; that they needed an elder brother, or an equivalent, to put a gentle hand on the shoulder and,occasionally, lay one the back side. A lot of other young men today see Tendulkar's runs, eye his wealth, but theirbrattishness comes in the way of noticing his work ethic. For Tendulkar's life is not the story of extraordinary abilitybut of an extraordinary work ethic.

Twelve years later, on a cold evening in Bristol, preparing for a World Cup game against Kenya the next day, I sawhim in dark glasses, fiddling around with his kit. Aimlessly, like he was searching for something to do. At most times hewould be bounding around with energy, bowling off 18 yards, taking catches, shouting thoughts to other batsmen.

I approached him hesitantly, I couldn't see his eyes because they were shrouded by these huge dark glasses,probably the only t ime they were used to cover rather than to adorn, for he had just lost his father. I asked him if hewould talk to us about coming back to play. He nodded his head and only briefly took the glasses off. His eyes werered and swollen; you could see he had been crying copiously. For the interview he put them on, and once thecamera had stopped rolling, admitted he didn't want to return, that his mind was all over the place, that he feltanchorless. It was the only time he didn't want to play for India but he had been forced back by his family, awarethat only cricket could help him overcome his grief. When he got a hundred the next day and looked heavenwards,some other eyes were moist. Even in his grief there was resolve, for he wanted that century. It might only havebeen Kenya but he was battling himself, not the bowlers.

It has been fantastic having a ringside view of this journey, watching a cricketer, and a person, grow. But one thinghasn't changed. He still approaches every game like a child would a bar of chocolate, feeling happy and fortunate

Four years later he agreed to do an interview for a series of programmes I was then doing. Our producer thought wewould make it special, and to our surprise and joy, Amitabh Bachchan agreed to introduce the programme. In the firstbreak Sachin whispered, "That was a beautiful surprise." Litt le did he know there was more to come.

Sometime earlier he had told me he was a big fan of Mark Knopfler and we thought it would be great if we could getthe great Dire Straits man to talk to us.

"I'm recording all night but immediately after that, before I fall asleep," Knopfler said, and somehow we persuaded



g g y , p, p , pSachin to do the programme in the afternoon rather than in the morning. And when the moment came, we patchedthe line on and when I said, "Hello Mark," Sachin looked puzzled. A minute later his eyes lit up when he realised whichMark we had on the line. And then he was like a child, tongue-tied, fidgety, excited - much like most people arewhen they first meet Tendulkar. Even the stars can get starry-eyed!

And there have been moments of surprising candour. When asked, as batsmen tend to be, which bowlers hadtroubled him the most, he smiled an almost embarrassed smile and said, "You won't believe this." When probed, hesaid, "Pedro Collins and Hansie Cronje."

"In fact," he said, "I once told my partner 'Will you please take Hansie for me? I don't mind playing Allan Donald'"

Tendulkar's batting has been much chronicled over the years. Indeed, I believe he has been the most analysedcricketer in the history of the game. Yet he has found the urge, and indeed the solutions, to play on for 20 years.Now that is a landmark to be celebrated, not the many inconsequential others that we exploit for our own need. Ithas been fantastic having a ringside view of this journey, watching a cricketer, and a person, grow. But one thinghasn't changed. He still approaches every game like a child would a bar of chocolate, feeling happy and fortunate.

link

11-13-2009, 10:17 AM #52

gloryof83Turbanator

Join Date: Nov 2006Posts: 69$ICF: 1,557,204

The article from Sportsworld 1988

Quote

Author's note: This piece was written 21 years ago for Sportsworld magazine (and was only retrieved thanks toMudar Patherya, who was a young cricket writer then). Sachin Tendulkar was 15, a year and a half away from playingTest cricket and four months short of his first-class debut. I was not yet 27, in an advertising job out of businessschool, with one Test match and a handful of one-dayers on Doordarshan behind me. We were both looking ahead inour own spheres. What a t ime it was, it was, a time of innocence...

All of Bombay's maidans are a stage. Where every cricketer has a role to play. And his seems to be the blockbuster.Ever since he unveiled Act One early last year, audiences have been waiting, a little too eagerly at times, to watchthe next scene. Sachin Tendulkar is only, so far, acting in a high-school production. Yet critics have gone to town.And rave reviews have not stopped coming in.

I guess it can only happen in Bombay. That a schoolboy cricketer sometimes becomes the talk of the town. Why, atthe end of every day's play in the final of Bombay's Harris Shield (for Under 17s) everybody wanted to know howmany he had made. For he does bat three days sometimes! And for all the publicity he has received, Sachin Tendulkaris really still a kid. He only completed 15 on 24 April. And is very shy. Opening out only after you have coaxed him forsome time. As his coach Mr Achrekar says, "Aata thoda bolaila laglai" [He's started talking a bit now]. And it's thenthat you realise that his voice has not yet cracked.

His record is awesome. He has scored far more runs than all of us scored looking dreamily out of the window in aboring Social Studies class when we were his age.

For a prodigy, he started late. When he was nine years old. And it was only in 1984-85 that he scored his first school-level fifty. But 1985-86 was a little better. He scored his first Harris Shield hundred and played for Bombay in the VijayMerchant (Under-15) tournament. And 1986-87 was when he blossomed. Still only 13, he led his school, ShardashramVidyamandir, to victory in the Giles Shield (for Under-15s). He scored three centuries - 158*, 156 and 197 - and thenin the Harris Shield scored 276, 123 and 150. In all, he scored nine hundreds, including two double hundreds, a totalof 2336 runs.

By now everyone had begun to sit up and take notice. The beginning of the 1987-88 season saw Sachin at the Ranjinets. Once again the top players were away playing Tests and perhaps the Bombay selectors felt it wouldn't be a badidea to give Sachin first-hand experience of a higher category of cricket. He was named in the 14 for the first coupleof games, and manager Sandeep Patil kept sending him out whenever possible - for a glass of water or a change ofgloves. All along Sachin probably knew that he was still at best a curiosity, and that while Bombay was giving himevery blooding opportunity, he had to prove himself on the maidans.

And that is exactly what he did. Season 1987-88 was a purple patch that never ended. Playing in the Vijay Merchanttournament he scored 130 and 107 and then at the Inter-Zonal stage he made 117 against the champions, EastZone. Then in the Vijay Hazare tournament (for Under-17s) he scored 175 for West Zone against champions EastZone.

Then came the avalanche. A 178* in the Giles Shield and a sequence in the Harris Shield of 21*, 125, 207*, 329*and 346*! A small matter of 1028 runs in five innings! And in the course of that innings of 329* he set the muchtalked-about record of 664 for the third wicket with Vinod Kambli, who, it is not always realised, scored 348*.Perhaps the most fascinating of them all was the innings of 346*. Coming immediately, as it did, in the shadow of theworld record, a lot of people were curious to see him bat. Sachin ended the first day on 122, batted through thesecond to finish with 286, and when the innings closed around lunch on the third day, he was 346*. And then cameback to bowl the first ball. In April's Bombay summer.

"People don't realise that he is just 15. They keep calling him for some felicitation or the other. The other day he wasasked to inaugurate a children's library. This is ridiculous. These things are bound to go to his head. He will start



thinking he has achieved everything."Tendulkar's coach, Ramakant Achrekar

But when did this story begin? Like all children, Tendulkar took to playing "galli" cricket. His brother Ajit was a goodplayer and persuaded Mr Achrekar, probably Bombay's most famous coach, to look at him. Achrekar recalls, "When hefirst came to my net four-five years ago, he looked just like any other boy and I didn't take him seriously. Then oneday I saw him bat in an adjacent net. He was trying to hit every ball but I noted that he was middling all of them.Some time later he got a fifty and a friend of mine, who was umpiring that game, came and told me that this boywould play for India. I laughed at him and said that there were so many boys like him in my net. But he insisted. 'Markmy words, he will play for India.' My friend is dead now but I'm waiting to see if his prophecy comes true.'

Tendulkar is taking first steps towards getting there. He discovered that his house, being in Bandra, would not allowhim to be at Shivaji Park whenever he wanted. He now spends most of his time at his uncle's house, just off thisnursery of Bombay cricket. When he is not actually playing, that is.

Quite often, he is playing all day; important because it has helped him build the stamina to play long innings. "I don'tget t ired," he says, referring to them. "If you practise every day, you get used to it."

And what about that world-record innings? "I could bat very freely then because my partner Vinod Kambli was battingso well that I knew that even if I failed, he would get enough runs for the side."

Isn't there a lot of pressure on him now? Everyone assumes he will get a big score? "Only in the beginning. Till I getset. Once I get set, I don't think of anything."

Wasn't he thrilled at being invited to the Ranji nets? "Definitely. After playing there I got a lot of confidence."

Everything in Tendulkar's life has so far revolved around cricket. Including his choice of school. A few years back heshifted to Shardashram Vidyamandir, only so that he could come under the eye of Achrekar. "It helped metremendously because 'sir's' guidance is so good," he says.

Strangely his parents were never very keen about cricket. His brother Ajit says, "They were not very interested in thegame, though they gave him all the encouragement. You see, in our colony all parents were training their children tobe engineers and doctors. And they would say, "Gallit khelun cricketer hoto kai?" [You don't become a cricketer byplaying in the alleys]. I am so happy he is doing well because now people think he is doing something."

The question that arises then, given all the publicity is: Just how good is Sachin Tendulkar?

"For his age, unbelievable," says Sharad Kotnis, Bombay's veteran cricket watcher. "He is definitely comparable toAshok Mankad, who had a similar run many years ago. But remember Ashok had cricket running in his family and hisfather often came to see him play. I think Tendulkar's strongest point is that he is willing to work very hard."

Luckily for Sachin, there is a calming influence over him, just so he doesn't get carried away by this acclaim. His coachAchrekar knows exactly what he is talking about. "He is not perfect yet. Far from it. In fact, I would say he is noteven halfway there. He still has a lot of faults, particularly while driving through the on, which is an indicator of a classbatsman. He still has a long way to go, but what I like about him is his ability to work hard. I don't think we shouldget carried away by his scores. After all, one has to take into account the nature of the wicket and the quality of thebowlers. By his standards the quality of the bowling he faced was not good enough.

"His real test will come this year when he plays in the 'A' Division of the Kanga League. [Sachin will play for the CricketClub of India, which for him has waived the stipulation that children under 18 are not allowed inside the Club House!]He should get 70s and 80s there and not just 20s and 30s; particularly towards the end of the season, when thewickets get better."

Achrekar, in fact, is quite upset about the publicity Sachin is getting. "People don't realise that he is just 15. Theykeep calling him for some felicitation or the other. The other day he was asked to inaugurate a children's library. Thisis ridiculous. These things are bound to go to his head. He will start thinking he has achieved everything. I hope allthis stops so he can concentrate and work hard."

Yet both Achrekar and Kotnis agree on when they think Sachin will become a Ranji regular. "I think he should beplaying the Ranji Trophy next year. I think it is unfair to compare him to the [Lalchand] Rajputs and [Alan] Sippys yet,but I think he should play next year," feels Kotnis. And Achrekar adds, "Inspite of what I said about him, if hemaintains this kind of progress, he should play the Ranji next year."

Clearly the curtain call is still a long way off for Sachin Tendulkar. He has a lot of things going for him. Most importantlyhe is in Bombay, where the sheer atmosphere can propel him ahead. In how many cities would a 15-year-old bepresented a Gunn and Moore by the Indian captain? And in which other city would the world's highest run-getterwrite to a 15-year-old asking him not to get disheartened at not getting the Best Junior Cricketer award?

Sunil Gavaskar wrote to Tendulkar to tell him that several years earlier another youngster too had not got the awardand that he didn't do too badly in Test cricket. For him the letter from his hero is a prized possession. Another greatmoment was a meeting with him where "… he told me that I should forget the past every time I go to bat. I shouldalways remember that I have to score runs each time."

He is in the right company. And the right environment. The next few years will show whether he has it in him themental toughness to overcome the over-exposure. If it does not go to his head, surely there is a great futurebeckoning. This is really just the beginning and I will be watching this litt le star with avid interest for the next threeyears.

If he is still charting blockbusters, I'd love to do another review then.



link

11-13-2009, 11:36 AM #53

Chandan.


Wonderful interviews DomainK and Glory. Hope you'll put some more.

Here some of his friends are telling us how is Sachin like in his personal life.

Friends forever

GOOD SAMARITAN As his mother-in-law Annabel Mehta tells us, Sachin takes his responsibilities very seriously

The smallest hint of Sachin Tendulkar’s presence at a given place on a given day is enough to guarantee a huge turnout. Butthat wasn’t the case, six years ago, when he arrived at a function for a Mumbai-based NGO, Apnalaya.

“In 2003, we launched our sports programme and Sachin was invited to be chief guest,” said Leena Joshi, Apnalaya director.“No one believed that he would come. So the number of people who turned up for the event was a lot less than we



anticipated.”

It was a thing of disbelief for the people of Shivaji Nagar, in the Mumbai suburb of Govandi. More than six lakh of them arehoused on a small area around the dumping ground. They live in conditions where even basic needs are a struggle. Their worldis far removed from the world Tendulkar lives in.

Over the years, he has contributed to making their lives easier. The cricketer has been associated with Apnalaya — meaningOur Home — since 1994. He came to know about the organisation, which operates in a number of less-privileged areas inMumbai, through mother-in-law Annabel Mehta. Apnalaya was established in 1973, the same year that Tendulkar was born.

“Sachin’s dad was a teacher. That’s why he was really keen on doing something for the education of children, so he startedwith sponsorships,” said Mehta, who has been with Apnalaya for 35 years. “He donates money to the charity every year andeven gives the money he makes from auctions or interviews to it. He supports us financially and morally. I am sure he would liketo do a lot more with Apnalaya but it is not always possible.” His celebrity status takes care of that.

Though Tendulkar is by far the most popular cricketer in the country, neither party has sought to leverage publicity from theassociation. “It’s just the kind person he is,” adds Mehta. “He doesn’t like to speak about it. Though people have told us thatwe have got such a great brand ambassador, we are uncomfortable about using his name.”

Recently, Tendulkar donated the Rs 12 lakh he got from a charity coaching auction on ebay to the charity. Two people t ied forthe winning bid of Rs 6 lakh, and the batsman agreed to do personal clinics for both, with the proceeds going to Apnalaya.

With the publicity, the Apnalaya communities are more aware of their association with the superstar. “That’s why we haven’tcalled him for a function now,” says Joshi. “Because now that everyone knows, we are going to get so many people coming inthat we won’t be able to manage it!”

(For more on Apnalaya’s work or to contribute to the cause, please visit www.apnalaya.org)


DID YOU KNOW On the 1991 tour of Australia, Sachin stayed awake all night once as he had to bat the next morning.

THE MASTER BLASTER IN NUMBERS 186* The highest score by an Indian in an ODI. Sachin got this against NZ on Nov 8, '99.

5000 The no.of runs he had amassed when he was 23 years and 29 days old -the youngest to do so.

He loves movies and loves to dance



I’ve known him since he was born. My family moved to Sahitya Sahawas in Mumbai’s Bandra in 1967 and Sachin’s family movedinto the society in 1972, a year before he was born. He enjoyed cricket and was okay at it as a kid and for all of us, he was justa normal kid, till he was about 10. That’s when he went to Sharadashram and things changed.

Sachin enjoys his holidays, all of us do. Our families go to Lonavala together, and have been to Euro Disney (in May 2004) andto Iceland in July 2009 among other places.

This summer, Anjali said we had to vacation in Iceland. Initially, we didn’t think Sachin could join us. It was therefore a pleasantsurprise when he dropped in from England. It turned out to be a fabulous week.

We had informed the hotel staff that they were going to have someone more famous than the President of India. So whenSachin did get there, our local driver, who had driven the former President of India, Abdul Kalam, around Reykjavík a couple ofyears ago, was taken aback.

He had probably expected someone with a rockstar attitude. What he got was Sachin’s simplicity.

We took speedboats out on ice and also went horse riding. It was one of the rare times that Sachin actually sat on a horse,and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. He invariably does. Sachin and his son Arjun would also play cricket in the hotel’s passageand luckily for them, most of the rooms were unoccupied.

Incidentally, Sachin is a good dancer and though most people don’t know this, he enjoys dancing as much as the Yuvrajs andHarbhajans of the Indian team. He is the perfect host, makes an effort to involve everyone in conversation, and it’s almost



tradition that he prepares everyone’s first drink.

Sachin’s wife, Anjali, meanwhile, is like a group mother for our bunch of closely-knit families (Sachin’s, Atul Ranade’s, SunilHarshe’s, mine, and that of two other friends’). She’s always well informed and sensible and we take her advice on everything,even stuff like changing schools for our kids. The way she handles things, with poise and grace, is quite amazing.

So what is Sachin like? What he’s always been like! This probably sums it up. On his return from Pakistan after his Test debut,we had a party in our colony on New Year’s Eve. Early next morning, over 10 of us crammed into in an Ambassador and wentoff to Madh Island (in Mumbai). Because of the crush, Sachin perched on a friend’s lap. There, because of the crowd thatgathered around Sachin, we left. On our way back, the car, inevitably, broke down. Sachin came home in an auto, no fuss,nothing.

Thanks to Sachin, I have become a better human being.

(Vivek Palkar, a friend of the family, spoke to G. Krishnan)

Amol Muzumdar on Sachin


His first double hundred, 204 for Mumbai against Australia at Brabourne Stadium (Mumbai) in 1998. It was an unbelievableinnings and I watched it from 22 yards away. It was hitting at its best and the ball travelled from his bat at supersonic speed. Ihave never seen a cricket ball being hit so hard.

He went in to bat one hour before lunch and 30 minutes after tea, he had a double hundred. My other favourite innings wasthe 233 for Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu in the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy semifinal. The manner in which he got the double was out ofthe world.


His mind is his greatest strength. His greatest quality is the way he thinks out of the box, only a genius can be that way. If hesets his mind on something, he has to achieve it.

Weakness

What weakness can you point out about Sachin? His only weakness, as far as I know, is his passion for cars and the fact thathe drives so fast you have to fasten your seatbelt and hold on tight. He has a fascination for speed and is often drawn intolong, intense discussions on the speeds of BMWs and Ferraris.

Sachin & me

He is very mischievous. About 10 years ago, he was coming to my place for dinner and we had prepared a lot of things andwere eagerly awaiting his arrival. He called me from downstairs to say he could not make it. I was completely zapped becausethis was so unlike Sachin. Two minutes later, my doorbell rang. I was very upset and did not answer. In walked Sachin andmade my day. I was so happy that I still remember his face and the bright red T-shirt he was wearing. The aura around him issomething unbelievable, this despite knowing him from our school days.

My message to Sachin

Just carry on, but please, a humble request! Leave one odd record for someone else to get to!

(As told to G. Krishnan)

11-13-2009, 12:18 PM #54

Domaink20 years!!

Quote

I've never seen Tendulkar throw tantrums: Ganguly

What can I say about Sachin Tendulkar that has not already been said or written about? Isn't it enough to say thatplayers of my generation have

been lucky to share the dressing room with him?

Having known him from very close quarters right from our days we used to play under- 15 cricket, I have marvelled atthe manner in which he has built his career, admired his single-minded approach to batting and the way he has




handled fame and fortune.

After I took over the captaincy from him in 2000, I have often benefited from his cricketing wisdom. In my book,there are three aspects to being Sachin Tendulkar: the batsman, the person and the superstar.

The batsman Simply put, he is the best batsman that I have seen or played with or against. He is head and shoulders above therest and there is no comparison. Having opened with him in over 200 ODIs and been at the other end of the wicketon hundreds of occasions, I've marvelled at his ability to play shots that lesser mortals would not even think ofattempting. With a cricket bat in hand, Sachin is supremely confident. There is no better sight in cricket than Sachinin full flow.

The person The best thing about Sachin is that despite scaling new peaks of popularity, he has both feet planted firmly on theground. That's the reason he has not only survived for 20 long years as a top-level athlete but continues to prosper inall walks of life. In life as well as in cricket, Sachin always strikes the right balance. I have no doubt in my mind that hewill continue to do the country proud with the bat for as long as he chooses to play.

The superstar In a cricket-crazy country where everyone wants a piece of him, I have never seen Sachin throw tantrums, on or offthe field. He is a role model for the youth and carries himself with dignity. He also has very deep-rooted values andstands by them. He is easily India's biggest sporting icon of his generation. (As told to Sumit Mukherjee)


11-13-2009, 12:19 PM #55

Domaink20 years!!


Sania Mirza applauds India's super bat

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Thorough gentleman The best thing about Sachin Tendulkar is that he's completely rooted, down to earth, and a thorough gentleman.He's

probably the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket and maybe Indian sport as a whole. When he completed17,000 runs in ODIs, I sent him a congratulatory SMS. He replied immediately. He's obviously a champion, but despiteeverything he has achieved he remains a really gentle person.

First meeting I think it was at a press conference. After that we chatted, and we've met quite a few times since. I've even playedumpire for an exhibit ion tennis match that he was involved in and it was fun.

His achievements I don't know if I want to rate any one of his achievements over the others. He has achieved a lot, and I think itwould be unfair to rank it, simply because a lot of effort has gone into each knock. That he has lasted this long on the international stage is fantastic. For years, I've been reading about how heshouldn't play ODIs, and then he comes up with a knock like the 175 (in Hyderabad last week against the Australians)and silences everybody. I'm no expert on this, but it looks like he still has some good years of cricket left in him.


11-13-2009, 12:37 PM #56



ShaneThe Legend

Join Date: Aug 2008Location: MumbaiPosts: 11,226$ICF: 445,671,402

11-13-2009, 12:58 PM #57

holysmokechotta credit


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Samir Dighe peers inside Sachin's mind to discover what keeps the geniusticking.

I've known Sachin since I was in the tenth standard. He was then about twelve. He's four-and-half years younger tome and we went to Ramakant Achrekar's academy at almost the same time. I've also been privileged to have playedin a few teams with him. Yet, just like many others, I'm still trying to figure out if he's a normal human being.

The only thing I know for sure is that Sachin never shows his emotions. He always seems happy and never getsangry, but again, it 's difficult to figure out what is going on in that mind of his. He's basically a very shy and reservedperson who keeps to himself. At the same time, if he likes someone, he will spend quality time being free andmischievous.

While that is his other side, it 's his cricketing skills that make you wonder what makes him so great. I guess it 's hisdiscipline, focus, commitment and deep passion for the game.

On tours, Sachin is meticulous to a fault. Even off the field, if you happen to be in his room after a day's play, you'llfind him quietly busy. He'll make you comfortable but go on with little chores, like putting out the laundry, placing hisbats in one place, making the bed and keeping the room tidy. This routine hasn't changed in 20 years.

His focus is unparalleled and his desire to play is insatiable. In the last five years, specifically, he has learnt to keep hisbody in top shape. He knows that fitness is the key if he has to play more. Just the other day, he fielded for 50overs, batted for 47 overs and made 175 unforgettable runs. You may have noticed his body doesn't break down asoften now, thanks to new fitness regimes.

Recently, I was party to one of his training sessions in Goa during Diwali. While the nation was soaking in the festivespirit, Sachin was sweating it out for no less than three-and-a-half hours everyday in the October heat.Sachin continues to visualise being on the field while training. He will imagine he is batting out there in the middle,then think of a particular nerve or muscle that has maybe troubled him. He then trains to strengthen that specificarea.

Sachin has grown up with the game and has had to sacrifice many things along the way. He has even shunned somefavourite foods.

Wicketkeeper Samir Dighe played six Tests and 23 ODIs for India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...ow/5224594.cms



11-13-2009, 03:47 PM #58



Oh god so many new articles. gonna be a busy afternoon

11-13-2009, 04:03 PM #59

Domaink20 years!!


Quote by Sachinism

Oh god so many new articles. gonna be a busy afternoon

You better start reading immediately. Articles are being published in dozens.

11-13-2009, 04:05 PM #60

Domaink20 years!!


A 16-year old boy still lives within me: Tendulkar

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Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who will complete 20 long momentous years in international cricket, on Friday saidhis hunger for runs never died at any stage.

"The day I wore my India cap my most memorable moment. I was on cloud 9. The dream was to play for India.Nothing bigger than that. Very fortunate to be living that dream. Walking in the playing eleven the journey beganthere."

Sachin accepted the fact that his first tour in 1989 was not easy.

"45 days, party time, first tour. Wearing a moustache and lipstick, it was a party time. But the cricket in Pakistan wasvery tough."

"From 1989 thing have changed, T20, TV umpires. The most noticeable change is because of T20. It's forcingbatsmen to try new things with Test and ODI cricket. And now we see a lot more results in Test cricket", said themilestone man.

Tendulkar said he changed his batting style according to changing times.

"Along with time I've changed too. I've tried to make myself a better cricketer. Always believe there has to be apurpose when I practice. It 's a never-ending process. You need to be on your toes."

The ace batsman also took the opportunity to thank his family and the kind of support he as been bestowed with.

"Its a lot of hard work. There are a certain things that all sportsmen have to follow. For me, I was very lucky to havemy family. My mum fed me well, my dad supported me and my brother guided me. I represent my family. I'm therealone when I go out there. But I have great support. That's why I've managed to stay out there for so long. And forthat I also have to thank people of this country."



"I've not made any effort to stay humble. It 's just my upbringing. Nobody in my family got carried away by mysuccess. That is where my family made sure my feet were on the ground."

"My brother Ajit contributes to my learning the most. He knows my batting more than any other person. I also seekSunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri's advice."

He also thanked God and fans for showering blessings upon him.

"God's been kind. I've worked hard. And support and wishes have helped."

The Little Master, who is known for his amicable behaviour on and off the field, said aggression should help one inprogressing.

"Aggression should be inside, not on the outside. Aggression should help you, not the opposit ion."

On captaining Team India again, Tendulkar said, "Everything's working just find. I'm happy to play the mentoring role.It doesn't matter who's captaining the side as long as we're all contributing for India's cause."

David Boon was also one of those who gave the young Sachin some useful tips.

"David boon I met is Australia in 91, I hadn't played the West Indies fast bowlers. We were playing a triangular seriesin Australia. And I'd watched boon so I thought I should pick up tips from him."

Sachin mentioned the fact that he went through special training to face the legendary bowler Shane Warne.

"I prepared differently for Warne. I asked all my colleagues to keep bowling round the wicket in the rough outside legstump. L Siva also helped in the process."

When asked to pick either Warne or Muralitharan as his favourite, the ace Indian batsman said, "I think anyone whogoes past 500 or 600 wickets. Both are match winners and fabulous bowlers. I can't choose."

When asked about his most memorable on-field moment, Sachin recalled his first series and said, "When I got hurt bythe Younis bouncer in Sialkot, I clearly remember. A lot of people get shattered when you get injured. I've been hurtbefore on my nose. So the fear of getting hurt was not there. I decided I'm not going to move."

Sachin expected to get selected before Pakistan series in 1989 but his studies came in his way.

"I remember Raj bhai was the chairman(of the selection committee). We were playing semis against Delhi. Therewere talks that I would go to the West Indies (before pak series). But Raj bhai very clearly told me that I had to givemy SSC exams and would not be selected."

When asked about match fixing and its impact, Sachin said, " It was a dark phase. What was fascinating was theseries we played against Australia right after. Both these series were instrumental in bringing the crowds back."

Sachin's respect for bowlers only increased with every passing game

"Nothing is easy. I want to prepare to the best of my ability. I was always confident. I won't take anything forgranted.

"I felt earlier I could hit every ball. But after playing international cricket it taught me to be more selective, build andinnings and to respect a bowler."

Having completed 20 years in international cricket, Sachin said his teenage years of cricket is still in him.

"Cricket lives in my heart. Somewhere still a 16-year-old boy lives within me. I don't have to make an effort to beenthusiastic."

Source: http://cricket.ndtv.com/cricket/ndtv...OEN20090116646

11-13-2009, 04:50 PM #61



He must be a tired man by now. So many interviews in the last 3-4 days !



11-13-2009, 04:54 PM #62



^^ Most of them are interviews of other people talking about Sachin

11-13-2009, 05:00 PM #63



Quote by Sachinism

^^ Most of them are interviews of other people talking about Sachin

NDTV, CNN-IBN, Times Now, Hindustan Times, TOI, PTI.. to name a few who interviewed Sachin on this occasion.

11-13-2009, 06:29 PM #64

Domaink20 years!!


Sachin was a star from day one- Kiran More

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Former India [ Images ] wicket-keeper Kiran More relives Sachin Tendulkar's [ Images ] debut Test against Pakistanin Karachi on November 15, 1989.More, who went on to head India's selection committee, recalls how Pakistan were left stunned by the 16-year-old'sbatting prowess.

He still remembers the day when Tendulkar cried after getting out on 88 against New Zealand [ Images ] aftermissing out on a well-deserved century in 1990. Two years later, More was witness to one of the greatest innings inTest cricket when Tendulkar smashed a cracking century on a green pitch against Australia [ Images ] at Perth in1992.

"I knew Sachin very well because I played a lot of cricket in Mumbai [ Images ]. I knew how he had done in juniorcricket. When he came to Baroda with the Mumbai team for a Ranji Trophy match -- he was around 14 or 15 -- hecame over to my place for lunch.

He was certainly a star from day one. For me, he was a class player right from the start. I think history was made inPeshawar when he got a chance to play an exhibition match. The game was washed out and we played a 20 oversmatch.

Ravi Shastri and I had gone shopping to buy some jutis (tradit ional shoes) from the local market in Peshawar. Whenwe came back we heard the crowd shouting and cheering from a distance.

When we reached there, we saw this young boy hitting Abdul Qadir all over the place. After seeing that dashinginnings we knew that Sachin had it in him to succeed at the highest level.

When we played a Test at Sialkot, on a green pitch, he batted for around three-and-a-half hours and scored 59 tosave the match. He was facing the best bowling attack in the world in Imran Khan [ Images ], Wasim Akram [ Images] and Waqar Younis. They deliberately targeted him with short deliveries and once got hit on the nose by a bouncerfrom Waqar. He refused to take medical assistance despite blooding dripping from his nose.

That day it proved he was not shy of battle and ready to fight it out for his country.

He was a young boy, but showed he was born tough and man enough. Test cricket was tough those days because



there was no limit on the number of bouncers you could bowl in an over. And playing in Pakistan, in front of anaggressive crowd, is always tough. But Sachin showed his class and delivered under pressure. That day I knew he hadtremendous talent and would go on to break a lot of records.

The Pakistani players used to call him 'Gittu'. They always would say, 'Get this 'Gittu', then we will get the others.'

I heard Imran Khan saying this; they were scared of his hitting. I have never seen anyone comfortable against WasimAkram, but Sachin played him so confidently even though he was starting out in international cricket.

We had a partnership in New Zealand where he got out for 88 (at Napier [ Images ] in February 1990). He criedwhen he got out, because he wanted to score a century.

So when he got that hundred in England [ Images ] (at Manchester in August 1990), it was big relief for everyone inthe dressing room, because he was a young guy and had come close to a hundred on a few occasions before.

I still remember what a knock it was under pressure, against a good bowling attack. We could have lost the match,but Sachin's century ensured that we saved it.

One of the best innings I've seen him play was in 1992, in Perth, when he scored a brilliant century (114 off 161deliveries including 16 boundaries) on one of the fastest pitches you will ever see.

There were big cracks on the wicket and Australia had quite a few fast bowlers with fielders surrounding thebatsmen, but he came up with one of the best innings one will ever witness.

He has been quite sensational this year with his batting and it seems he is reminding us that he still has it in him toscore big centuries.

The way he is batting, I wish he keeps performing at this level and wins the 2011 World Cup for India, which is hisdream.

He is the best cricketer ever to have graced the game. Despite the amount of pressure and expectation he has toendure from fans and the media he has conduced himself so well.

The best part about him is his passion to play for the country, which shows in his eyes. I think that keeps him goingyear after year."

Source: http://cricket.rediff.com/report/200...-tendulkar.htm

11-13-2009, 06:30 PM #65

Domaink20 years!!


Sachin, don't quit till you are convinced- Manoj Prabhakar

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The first Test between India [ Images ] and Pakistan in Karachi, which began on November 1989, was memorablefor some Indian players.It was Kapil Dev's [ Images ] 100th Test, making him the first bowler to then play so many matches.

Mohammad Azharuddin [ Images ] stepped in for Raman Lamba and sealed a near permanent spot in the Test side.

On the first morning, a fanatic attacked Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who escaped unhurt.

But the reason the Test will always, always, be remembered is because it was the first Test for a 16-year-old residentof Sahitya Sahawas, a housing colony for writers and their families in Bandra East, north-west Mumbai [ Images ].

Yes, it was the first time the cricketing world glimpsed Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar in a Test.

On the occasion of the legend's 20th anniversary in international cricket, Manoj Prabhakar, who also played that Test(bagging five wickets), salutes Sachin.

"Very early on in that first tour it became obvious to everyone that this kid was here for the long haul. Both Indianand Pakistani players were showering praise on Sachin," recalls Manoj Prabhakar.

The teenager handled the Pakistani fast bowlers with aplomb. "The way he played that deadly attack was fantastic.The kid showed he had the guts to perform at that level. Some senior Pakistani players said: "Yaar, bachcha kahan sepakad ke aaye ho? Is ki lag laga na jai (From where did you get this kid? Nothing should go wrong for him)."

Early on in the match, Tendulkar was hit on the face by a fierce Wasim Akram [ Images ] delivery. Prabhakarremembers a follow-up incident in Sharjah a few years later.

"Akram hit Sachin on the head once again in Sharjah. The next ball disappeared even before Akram could finish hisfollow through. That is Sachin. He can say everything without speaking a word."

Though the 1989 series unveiled the legend-in-the-making, Prabhakar remembers Tendulkar from a year before.When he heard that a 16-year-old would be joining him on the tour to Pakistan, the Delhi [ Images ] all-rounderinstantly knew who it was.

"We (Delhi) were playing Bombay. Maninder Singh was bowling fantastically. Then, out of nowhere, this kid jumped



out of his crease and hit Maninder for a six. I was shocked, because when Maninder was on song, even anexperienced batsman could not step out to him. He was striking the ball well. It reminded us of Sunil Gavaskar [Images ]."

Tendulkar, who came in after the spinners had come on, scored about 30-odd runs in that game, but did not facePrabhakar.

"I don't think he had enough patience at that t ime," says Prabhakar, adding, "He was looking to score all the time. Idid bowl to him soon after in another domestic match."

Prabhakar was determined to get him out.

"I tried a slower ball. He hit me for a six. I then tried a bouncer. He hit me for a six. That is when I realised that thiskid is not easy to get out. My frustrations that day must have been shared by a lot of international bowlers in theyears to come."

Another early trait, Prabhakar points out, that stood out in Tendulkar was his body language.

"His body language was very positive... sort of arrogant. When he was on the field, if you did not look at his face, youwouldn't know it was a kid. He walked and behaved like an adult," Prabhakar, off whose bowling Tendulkar took hisfirst-ever Test catch, says.

Though the opposition may have been taken in, Tendulkar's on-field aggression never fooled any of his seniorteammates.

Sample this story with a touch of innocence.

"After the Pakistan series we were touring Zimbabwe. Sachin and I were batting together and we went to the toiletduring a break. When I was done, I saw Sachin was still standing there. I asked him what the matter was. He said,'Yaar, aa nahi raha hain' (Friend, it 's not coming out)."

The teenager then asked Prabhakar to turn on the tap.

"Listening to the water running got him going. When he came out I asked him if he was done."

"'It was just like when I was a child and some elder person in the family had to make a hissing noise for me to pee,'he said."

Prabhakar wishes Tendulkar, who will turn 37 next April, at least five more years of international cricket.

"If you keep fit, nobody can touch you. You are not a Gooch or a Border (Englishman Graham Gooch and AustralianAllan Border [ Images ], two batsmen who were still playing when they were a year short of 40 and pushed by theselectors to quit). Whatever you achieve from here on is your own milestone," Prabhakar tells Tendulkar through thisfeature, adding, "You only live one life as Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ]. Don't miss anything in that. Don't quit till youare convinced it is the end."

"I want him to get 100 international centuries. I know it is not easy, but it is also not very hard for Sachin!"

Source: http://cricket.rediff.com/report/200...-tendulkar.htm

11-13-2009, 06:32 PM #66

Domaink20 years!!


When Sachin Tendulkar played the role of a fan- by Sandeep Dwivedi

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In these days of intense frenzy about Sachin Tendulkar, Thursday was an unusual outing for the man who is twodays away from completing 20 years in international cricket. While the entire nation has been undertaking a collectivetrip down memory lane, recalling the tales of the boy wonder who travelled to Pakistan for his first international tourin the late 80s, Tendulkar got a chance to play a starry-eyed fan to three 70s stars he has grown up idolising.

It was a delayed 60th birthday party for cricketing legends Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath, and the silverscreen’s towering personality Amitabh Bachchan dropped in to honour them. With such a starcast on stage,Tendulkar’s status as chief guest for the function didn’t guarantee him all the attention. The occasion was arefreshing change for the 36-year-old, who has rarely been away from the media glare since adolescence.

All through the evening, it was an out-and-out Sunny and Vishy show. As footage of their schools, old tales by familymembers, loving recollections of friends, images of a clean-shaven batsman playing breathtaking straight drives and theone with a stubble essaying delicious late cuts played on the screen, Tendulkar and Bachchan joined those in theaudience to smile and shake their heads in awe.

Compelling aura

But so compelling was the aura of the Fab Four that each of them seemed unwilling to play the star and wasoverwhelmed on encountering the hearty appreciation of the other. After the tributes were over and the fourwalked on stage, there was a reluctance to take the spotlight. Vishy wanted Bachchan to take the central seat whileSunny seemed to be moving to the side chair. The order was soon restored as the birthday boys were made to sit inthe middle flanked by the special guests.



The presence of such strong personalities on the dais meant they all had been used to dealing with the pressure ofpublic expectations, and there ensued a discussion on the frequent appearance of ‘butterflies in the stomach’ beforea big game or when facing the camera. Bachchan acknowledged that the cricketing greats next to him were makinghim struggle for the right lines and Tendulkar too talked about pre-match anxiety. “When you are nervous, thatmeans you care about what you are doing. And I care about cricket,” he said.

The mutual admiration on stage continued for a while as each spoke about the other’s greatness. If Tendulkarwanted to know about Bachchan’s preparation for his award-winning role in the movie Black, Viswanath spoke abouthow Sunny’s power of concentration and his ability to judge the length of a ball was unparalleled.

Tendulkar relived the moment when he got a special phone call from Gavaskar after getting his 34th Test centuryand described it as one of the most memorable moments of his life. The boyish grin on his face and the halting shytone brought back memories of the days when the Indians stumbled upon a 16-year-old batting phenomenon in1989.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/wh...a-fan/540846/0

11-13-2009, 06:33 PM #67

Domaink20 years!!


Sachin is one of world's greatest sportsmen- Lewis Hamilton

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Ican't claim to be an expert on cricket. I've been involved in a couple of matches with Vodafone when we visitedNew Delhi and Melbourne; and while I used to play at school, I wasn't particularly good, so I'm not the best person tospeak to about Sachin Tendulkar.

But having said that, I think I know enough about the game and its history and his career to know that he's anabsolutely incredible cricketer - one of, if not the greatest, batsman in cricketing history.

In the same way that a racing driver has an extremely personal connection with his car, Sachin has that same, innateassociation with his bat and a cricket ball. When Sachin is batting, it 's almost as if he can anticipate how to attackeach shot before the ball has even left the bowler's fingers; he takes on shots with a feel that few others possess.

But that's not what makes him a great cricketer -- it 's Sachin's belief, determination and passion for the game thattruly marks him out as one of the sport's greatest superstars. He's always hungry for victory, he wants to win, and hewants to uphold the honour of India through even the toughest of situations. And that's great about him.

It was only when I visited India that I fully appreciated just how important cricket is to the country. In Sachin, thecountry has a superstar of whom it can be hugely proud - not only is he a national sporting hero, but he is also one ofthe world's greatest sportsmen.

(The writer drives for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and won the Formula One championship in 2008)

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report...rtsmen_1310934

Last edited by Domaink : 11-13-2009 at 06:43 PM.

11-13-2009, 06:35 PM #68

Domaink20 years!!


Bradman wouldn't be Don if he had played for 20 years- David Frith

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Don Bradman played till he was 40. By then he was not a fit man. He had lost the war years and was never quitethe same batsman after 1938. It is reasonable to suppose that had he been subjected to the intensive workload andtravel of today's cricketers over the 20 years separating his first Test and his last (52 Tests only), he would not haveaveraged 99.94.

Just how many runs and centuries he might have amassed is anyone's guess -- in one-day cricket as well as first-class -- not forgetting T20. I'm sure he would have "had a ball" but the average must surely have suffered. The very factthat we are analysing the supreme Don alongside Sachin Tendulkar speaks volumes I think.

I first saw Tendulkar bat in the Old Trafford Test in 1990 when as a 17-year-old he registered his first Test century. Itwas a breathtaking performance by one so young and small. He won the Man of the Match award and was given alarge bottle of champagne.

We heard him shyly tell the presenter, in his boyish voice, that he didn't drink! That hundred saved India and it ranks



y y p , y ,with a handful of brilliant performances by young cricketers such as Archie Jackson, who stroked 164 on Ashes debutin Adelaide in 1929.If somebody had asked me in 1990 if this wonderful litt le batsman would still be around 20 years later, I would havebeen strongly inclined to say: "No chance".

I last saw him "live" in the Sydney Test in January 2004 when he made a small matter of 241 not out and 60 not out.India made 705/7 and Tendulkar put on 353 with VVS (Laxman). And Australia wondered what was going on. It waslike Bradman was back, only playing for the wrong side.

I've watched Tendulkar many times since on television. He seems a permanent part of my life. His maturity wasevident at the age of 17. Has anybody thought to check his birth certificate?!

The standard features of Sachin, I'd say, are his dignity and a lack of flashiness. What separates him from the rest,apart from his exquisite skill, is that dignity. The exhibitionists should think hard about what type of player enhancesthis wonderful game best.

Had Tendulkar been an Englishman it's hard to see how he could have broken into international cricket much beforehe was 20 or so. More young cricketers have been blooded by England's selectors than is generally realised but BrianClose, at 18, remains the youngest ever and I think Sachin might have had to hang around another couple of yearshad he not been an Indian.

That first Test century of his remains, I think, the most vivid memory for me -- allied with that Sydney double-centurywhich provided a sort of completion of a wonderful pair of brackets -- though I'm glad to see him marching on stillfurther.

I like his cover drive. It is the mark of class, and it's astonishing how one so diminutive can get over the ball and lash itthrough the covers. There is certainly a romanticism in his batting that amazes the purist in me. Today batsmanship isvigorous, aggressive and sometimes ugly and violent: but not from this little genius.

The writer is a formereditor of Wisden Cricket Monthly--As told to Vijay Tagore

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report...-years_1310933

11-13-2009, 06:38 PM #69

Domaink20 years!!


The League Of One- TOI editorial

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As Sachin Tendulkar completes 20 years in international cricket on Sunday, it is t ime to go beyond cricketscape tofully comprehend his

contribution to India's sporting history. Sir Donald Bradman too had played international cricket for nearly two decadesbetween 1929 and 1948. However, with not more than a handful of Test matches scheduled per year and with noODIs and T-20 matches cramping the cricket calendar then, let alone the IPL, his body hadn't endured half of whatSachin's has. This statistic coupled with the pressure of a billion expectations that Sachin has played under in each ofhis 159 Tests and 435 ODIs makes him the greatest-ever sportsman to have played the game.

In fact, it is now passe to suggest that Sachin is India's greatest-ever cricketer. Rather, it is time to step up thecomparison and compare him with the world's greatest, to come to terms with his place in the global sportingpantheon.

At a time when Sachin emerged on the international scene in 1989, India was gradually falling prey to escalatinginternational and domestic tensions. Kashmir was on the boil, ULFA was eating into the edifice of Assam and thedemand for Gorkhaland was gathering momentum in Bengal. It wouldn't be wrong to say that our democracy was atrisk and the concept of Indianness was being threatened by secessionists and insurgents.

In this atmosphere of growing political instability, Sachin emerged, someone who helped us feel uniquely Indianeverytime he stepped out into the middle to espouse the national sporting cause. Be it at the Eden Gardens inKolkata, at the Kotla in Delhi or at Chepauk in Chennai or indeed any stadium in this country he was always greetedwith the same intensity and cheer. He helped carve out a truly pan-Indian imagined community.

It is this singular contribution that places him on the same pedestal as a Jackie Robinson or a Jesse Owens. WhileRobinson's breaking the colour line in 1947 justly continues to be hailed as a huge breakthrough in major leaguebaseball and went a long way to address the race issue in America, Owens standing up against the Nazi might in 1936remains a significant sporting fairytale. His achievement helped in giving coloured sportspersons a respectability theyhad craved for years.

Sachin's case is somewhat similar. Just as the nation was reeling under the impact of the Mumbai terror attacks andneeded something to lift the collective national spirit, Sachin scored a match-winning fourth innings century atChennai against the English in December 2008. His determination to do it "for India" was sure to rub off on everyIndian sports fan. His gesture of dedicating the century to the memory of the victims of 26/11 did much to elevateIndian sport to a different level. He provided a salve for a troubled nation.

Sachin's innings of 136 against Pakistan at Chennai in 1999, while suffering from severe back pain, was a pointer to hisdedication to playing for the nation's cause. Kargil wasn't a far-away memory. The resilience and the will to fight werewhat we most wanted to see in our icons. Striving for success for the country at times of adversity while enduring



maximum pain was the best message Sachin could offer his fellow cit izens. If Chennai 1999 ended in tragedy, withIndia losing the match by a meagre 12 runs, Centurion, South Africa, in March 2003 marked a spectacular resurgence.In one of the most intensely fought World Cup encounters in the history of the competition, India triumphed overPakistan thanks to Sachin's 78-ball 98. The impact was such that he was worshipped across the country alongsideLord Shiva on Shivratri.

Sachin's aura isn't restricted to Indians at home. In the ever-growing Indian diaspora, Indian professionals will inevitablyhave a desktop scorecard open on their computer monitors every time Sachin steps out to bat. It is an instantconnect with things Indian that helps unite the diverse but powerful Indian community in the West.

While we can compare Sachin with legends like Nadia Commaneci, or more recently Usain Bolt, it is important toremember that Sachin is member of a collective and for a large part of his career has had to wage his battle with amediocre team behind him. While Shane Warne had a Glenn McGrath or a Jason Gillespie to back him all through hiscareer, Sachin, for most of the 1990s, was India's only answer to the best that world cricket hurled at us. For thosewho still need convincing of his stature as India's best-ever cricketer, his stay at the top of world cricket for 20 longyears is the answer. Two long decades at the helm of international cricket, and still counting.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...ow/5223802.cms

11-13-2009, 06:39 PM #70

Domaink20 years!!


20 years on, India icon Tendulkar takes fresh guard- by Kuldip Lal

Quote

NEW DELHI — Sachin Tendulkar begins a third decade in world cricket next week, insisting he is still as passionateto play for India as he was as a wide-eyed teenager 20 years ago."My love for cricket and the honour of playing for my country have kept me motivated all these years," saidTendulkar, 36, ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Ahmedabad on Monday."Cricket is my life and I am lucky and absolutely honoured that I have been able to wear the India cap for 20 years."The Ahmedabad match will be Tendulkar's 160th Test appearance -- surpassed only by retired former Australiancaptain Steve Waugh's tally of 168 -- since his debut aged 16 against Pakistan in Karachi on November 15, 1989.He has risen to become the world's most successful batsman in both Test and one-day cricket, a result of both hisunparalled genius with the bat and amazing longevity in the game.The world was a different place when Tendulkar began. No one sent e-mails or browsed the world wide web, NelsonMandela was still in jail, the Soviet Union had not broken up and mobile phones had not become a way of life.When he started, Tendulkar's current captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was an eight-year-old schoolboy and team-matesRavindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli were barely a few months old."We call him 'grandpa' in the dressing room," joked compatriot Yuvraj Singh. "But he is just amazing. He has achievedeverything there is to achieve, but still wants to improve with every game."Frankly, I can't think of an Indian team without Tendulkar."Among post-war cricketers whose careers spanned 20 years were Pakistanis Imran Khan and Mushtaq Mohammad,West Indian Garfield Sobers, Colin Cowdrey of England and Bobby Simpson of Australia.But Tendulkar has scaled the summit, scoring more Test runs (12,773) and centuries (42), and more one-day runs(17,178) and hundreds (45) than any other batsman.And he is not done yet. One of his cherished dreams is to win the World Cup in front of millions of worshipping homefans when India co-hosts the 2011 showpiece with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.Tendulkar has appeared in five World Cups and helped India reach the final in South Africa in 2003, but SouravGanguly's men failed to emulate Kapil Dev's winning feat in England in 1983.Tendulkar, born in a middle-class family of a Marathi novelist and named after famous Bollywood music director SachinDev Burman, is a multi-millionaire in a country where he is revered like a demi-god.But retirement has not even crossed his mind despite the wear and tear of a 20-year grind that has left him nursinginjuries to the shoulder, elbow, back, hamstring and feet."I know there is lot of cricket left in me because I am still enjoying it," said Tendulkar. "I am not thinking ofretirement. At some stage, I will have to, but I don't need to think of it right now."Team-mates and rivals alike rejoice at his feats. Australian spin legend Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as number oneon his list of 50 contemporary cricketers prepared for the London-based Times newspaper.Former captain Ganguly calls him "the king of cricket", West Indian great Viv Richards, one of Tendulkar's childhoodheroes, regards him as "99.5 percent perfect."Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara says the Indian is the "greatest modern cricketer."For his countless fans, Tendulkar is a joy to behold. For there may never be another like him again.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...Nt6nMg1aQVBI5A

11-13-2009, 06:40 PM #71

Domaink20 years!!

Not a run machine- Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief , IBN Network

Quote

Where were you on November 15, 1989? I know where I was: glued to the TV watching a 16-year-old boy withcurls and rosy cheeks take on Pakistan’s fast bowlers. Twenty years later, the locks are showing a hint of grey but




Sachin Tendulkar is still doing what he does best: score runs for India. Much has changed in the world around us inthe last 20 years. One thing hasn’t: the presence of Tendulkar on the cricket crease.

Remember 1989? It was the year that the Berlin Wall fell, Rajiv Gandhi lost the general elections and V.P. Singh wastransformed into a middle-class hero. It was the year that the militant’s gun first echoed in the Kashmir Valley whilethe bugle of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was sounded in Ayodhya. In 1989, $500 was your forex limit,Manmohan Singh was far from being the finance minister, there were no private TV news channels and India was stillstruggling with the Hindu rate of growth. To many Indians of my generation, there is only one link between then andnow: the batsmanship of Tendulkar.

Forget the runs and the records. That is for historians and statisticians. For the genuine cricket fan, Tendulkar hasalways been much more than a run machine: he has played the game the way it was meant to be played — withpassion, unbridled enthusiasm and, above all, dignity. It’s true that the gay abandon with which he lit into Abdul Qadiron his first tour to Pakistan has given way to a more methodical approach to batting. Yet, as he showed inHyderabad, the core of his being is still in playing attacking cricket. Incredibly, even towards the end of his epic, hewas running faster than his partners who were almost half his age.

It can’t have been easy. Cricket’s history is littered with stories of prodigies who never quite made the transit ion tothe big league. Not only did Tendulkar make the great leap, but he did it in the span of less than two years. Lessermen would have simply buckled under when hit on the face as he was in the first series by a Waqar bouncer. But hedidn’t. In that one fleeting moment, when he dusted himself up, a teenager became a man.

We all have our favourite Tendulkar moment: was it the sliced cut off Shoaib Akhtar for a six in the 2003 world cup?Maybe, it was the emotional century within a week of his father’s death? Or was it his demolition of Shane Warne inChennai? Or the Sharjah innings that remains his signature one-day knock? Or the double century in Sydney? Or thematch-winning innings last year against England within weeks of the 26/11 terror? When you’ve scored a staggering87 international centuries, then picking a single cricketing achievement isn’t easy.

But his real achievement is beyond the boundary. We live in an age of instant stardom and mini-celebrit ies, wherefame is an intoxicant that can easily consume the best of us. Sachin, remarkably, has been almost untouched by thefact that he is contemporary India’s biggest icon, arguably bigger than even an Amitabh Bachchan or a Shah RukhKhan. As Khan revealed in an interview, at a party there was a big noise when Big B entered. Then, Sachin enteredthe hall and Bachchan was leading the queue to grab hold of the cricket champion!

Through the many highs and a few lows, Tendulkar’s balance has never wavered both on and off the field, driven bya single-minded devotion to the game. He has avoided controversy, remaining a private individual. He may not havegone to college, but life has perhaps taught him more than he could have ever learnt there. He is aware of hiscommercial value but his badge of identity is that he is the Maharashtrian middle-class boy who has remained true tohis roots. He may lack the gravitas of Sunil Gavaskar, but on cricketing matters he can be just as articulate.

In a sense, the passing of the baton from Gavaskar to Tendulkar represents the coming of age of Indian cricket and anew India. Gavaskar was the architect, who built every innings with a clinical precision, that perhaps was symbolic of aNehruvian India when neither Indian cricket nor the country could afford any form of extravagance. Tendulkar is thefree-spirited artist who bats with the freedom of an India unshackled of its socialist baggage, where cricket is nowpart of a lucrative entertainment industry.

So, how much longer will Tendulkar continue? Sir Don Bradman, statistically the greatest-ever batsman, played forAustralia for 20 years, interrupted by war and benefit ing from the fact that cricket was then a seasonal sport. Sachin,whom the great Don likened to himself, has been playing virtually non-stop for two decades in the most high-pressureenvironment that modern sport can throw up. Maybe, the body is creaking a little, but the mind doesn’t seem tohave given up yet. Maybe, the goal of the 2011 World Cup is still the ultimate motivation. Of course, he will retire oneday, but t ill he does, we must savour the magic. A banner in Sharjah once said it all, “I will see God when I die, but tillthen I will see Sachin!” Amen.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-a-...e1-475748.aspx

11-13-2009, 06:42 PM #72

Domaink20 years!!


Tendulkar@20: Gavaskar pays tribute

Quote

In November 1989, a 16-year-old from Mumbai made the most anticipated debut in the history of Indian cricket.In November 2009, that boy was 36, but he was still batting and battling for India, playing an innings which left thosewho saw it breathless.

In 20 years, Sachin Tendulkar has become a constant indulgence. Superlatives fail those who go in search of them.Tendulkar at Twenty is a modern colossus, a genius beyond compare: the boy from Bandra who lorded over thecricketing world.

CNN-IBN celebrated two decades of Sachin Tendulkar's glorious international career with Sunil Gavaskar on a specialedition of Sunny Side Up.

Tendulkar owns almost all the records in the cricketing world, but this is an achievement of playing two decades ofinternational cricket, and he still wants to keep playing.

"Apart from Sir Garfield Sobers, nobody has played 20 years of international cricket," Gavaskar told CNN-IBN in atribute to Tendulkar. "Playing at the highest level and playing to the highest standards for 20 years is an achievement



beyond compare."

"No praise can be too high for this young man," he added. "He is young, because as far as his enthusiasm for thegame is concerned, he is almost child-like. That's what is keeping him going on and on, and I hope he keeps going onfor a few more years."

When he quit the game, Gavaskar spoke openly of how his desire to play was waning. What keeps Tendulkar going?

"The way he played that innings (of 175 against Australia) at Hyderabad and the emotions that he expressed afterIndia missed out by just three runs, I don't think it 's waning," he said. "It is an indication that he is enjoying the gamethoroughly, and as long as he is doing that, he will continue to play.

"The moment the game starts to get a little tedious or monotonous or something which he doesn't quite enjoy, Ithink he will be the first one to quit," Gavaskar added.

There has been a Bradman, there's been a Garry Sobers, there has been a Sunil Gavaskar, Shane Warne, Viv Richards.Is Tendulkar the greatest cricketer to ever play the game? Gavaskar doesn't quite agree.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/tendu.../45080-18.html

11-13-2009, 06:44 PM #73

Domaink20 years!!


Tendulkar is god of Indian cricket- Kiran More

Quote

Former India stumper Kiran More, who played in the 1989 Test against Pakistan in which Sachin Tendulkar madehis debut, pays tribute to the legend.

Though I had heard a lot about a 14-year-old Mumbai lad with loads of talent, it was only during the 1989 tour ofPakistan that I got a good look at the future face of India cricket and my first impression was ‘this lad is really amazingand will go a long way’.

An India-Pak series is always an high intensity series and the players, especially the younger ones, are normally tenseand slightly nervous as they know fully well that it would be a make-or-break series for them but not this little fellowfrom Mumbai, who was on the contrary, oozing with confidence and was eagerly looking forward to facing the thanmost feared fast bowlers in the world – Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Not many fast bowlers would have given a second look at the curly haired, chubby faced young lad always interestedin practicing with a tennis ball thrown at him from all angles. But the Indian players had already heard about his talentand knew quite well that the pocket dynamo was ready to explode given a chance.

In fact Sachin was so confident of making his debut in the match, his mere presence in the dressing room had madequite a few seniors a bit nervous about their chances of playing in the final eleven. He was dynamic, highly potentialand was like a rocket ready to explode into the skies.

He was mentally very strong, like most of the Mumbai players are, that he could grasp all the advices given to him bythe seniors and wanted to know the strong points as well as the weaknesses of the opposition players. His bodylanguage had to be seen to be believed and gave an impression as if he was playing international cricket since he wasborn.

In my mind, I had no doubt about Sachin Tendulkar would serve the country for a long, long time though nobodymust have expected him to last for two decades. He could manage it simply because of his fearless approach to thegame and his ability to bounce back from career threatening injuries.

I was also aware that young Sachin would invariably be compared, as he grew in status, with the little master SunnyGavaskar as they were both identical in many ways.

Both were small built with curly hair, both had all the strokes in the game, both could concentrate for hours togetherand more importantly both had a positive body language while facing the best of spinners or the fast bowlers in theworld.

Perhaps the only difference I can point out is that Sachin is more aggressive and hungry for runs than Sunny, whowas more patient and would build his innings brick by brick.

Whenever, we speak about Sachin, we praise only his batting and forget that he is a very talented bowler and one ofthe finest fielders I have seen.

Not many know that Tendulkar loves to practice his bowling as much as his batting in the nets. I have found him tobe a very hard worker and enjoy his fielding as much as he enjoys his batting and bowling. I remember during his earlydays as an international cricketer, he and Ajay Jadeja used to compete against each other to save runs and effect runouts and it was very difficult to pick a winner between them.

Sachin Tendulkar has been criticized for his captaincy and later for not accepting it but I can tell you the captaincywas offered to him at a very early stage of his career and I am sure if he had got the opportunity to lead say a coupleof years later in his career, he would certainly have succeeded and probably would have ended up being one of thebest in the country.



Not leading the country for a longer period of time has proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Indian team whohave benefitted immensely. To me he is a perfect cricketer, whose innovative batting in the One-Dayers has led tomore innovations by the Twenty20 players around the world.

The best thing about Sachin is whatever he does, he does it in style and all the youngsters in the present Indianteam have benefitted with his advice at some point of time in their career. I think all the hard work he has put in as ayoungster has also helped him to keep himself fit and I am sure he will continue to entertain the world as long as heenjoys the game.

I call Tendulkar the god of Indian cricket simply because he has made cricket popular among all ages and in a way haschanged the face of cricket in the world.

A cricketer of his caliber is born only once in a century and we are lucky and proud that he is an Indian.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/tendu...5031-13-2.html

11-13-2009, 06:46 PM #74

Domaink20 years!!


Playing for India my greatest pride: Tendulkar

Quote

Mumbai: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar acknowledged his international debut in Pakistan in 1989 as the mostimportant moment of his life.

Speaking at a press conference to mark his completing two decades in international cricket, the Little Master said,"playing for India for the first time" was the most important moment for him.

"Playing for India for the first time was the most important moment for me," he said, adding that the innings againstPakistan at the 2003 World Cup was his best knock.

Playing for the country was my childhood dream and I have fulfilled my dream. I am fortunate to have played for mycountry for so many years," he added.

Asked what changes have occurred in the game in the 20 years of his career, Tendulkar picked the advent ofTwenty20, television assistance for umpiring decisions and batting innovations as the major changes that have takenplace.

"From 1989, the game has changed a lot from the introduction of third umpire and Hot Spot system to theintroduction of Twenty20 and so many things," he said.

"The most significant is that lot of innovative shots which were earlier occasionally used but left are being played bythe batsmen now," Tendulkar said.

"There is a lot more risk taking by the players now. Because of this, the total in the one-dayers have increased.Nowadays, 275 on a good pitch is not a great score.

"The same is the case in Test also. There are a lot more results now than in the past. Earlier, people used to getbored of Test cricket because there were few results but nowadays there has been more results and that has madeit more entertaining," said the 36-year-old champion batsman.

Asked how much has changed in his game in the 20 years, Tendulkar said, "I have changed a lot. I am trying toimprove myself every game. It is a never ending process as everyday is a fresh challenge. So it is hard job to be onyour toes everytime."

"A combination of factors made me remain focussed on the game. My parents, brothers, sisters and wife supportedme all through. My mother does not know cricket but will pray for my success and for the country. I discussed cricketwith my elder brother a lot. The other brother and the sister also supported me. With my wife, I talk about cricket toher also and that is the main reason why I was able to last such a long time," he said.

"Above all, the affection and support from the cricket fans of the country was immense. You need people to shareyour success and I have more than a billion people. That is more than enough for me," Tendulkar said.

Since his debut Test against Pakistan in 1989, Tendulkar has played 159 Tests, scoring 12,773 runs with 42 centuriesat an average of 54.58. From the 436 ODI matches he played since December 19, 1989 against Pakistan inGujranwala, he had amassed 17,178 runs at an average of 44.50 with 45 hundreds.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/playi.../45122-13.html



11-13-2009, 06:48 PM #75

Domaink20 years!!


Srikkanth recalls Sachin's 1989 debut

Last edited by Domaink : 11-13-2009 at 07:01 PM.

11-13-2009, 07:21 PM #76

Domaink20 years!!


Sachin Tendulkar The early years

11-13-2009, 07:41 PM #77

Chandan.


A Tribute by Geet Sethi

At the pinnacle of his career, yet grounded



Geet Sethi

I interacted with Sachin a few years ago in Bangalore. I was invited by the Indian cricket board to give a talk to the Indianteam during their camp there, just before they were to leave for a tour of Australia.

I talked about concentration and focus and about techniques to build concentration. I remember him as being most earnest,genuinely interested in the talk.

In fact, he was the only one who came to me later and wanted to talk more about the subject and sharing a situation similarto what I had referred to during the talk.

His intensity, willingness to listen and, most importantly, his calm impressed me tremendously. Here was a guy at the pinnacle ofhis profession, which had made him unarguably the most famous person in India. Yet, he was completely grounded, completelyat ease with himself and so very earnest and enthusiastic.

(Geet Sethi is a former six-time world professional billiards champion)

A Tribute by Sunil Harshe

Some people are lucky to be rich. Some people are lucky to be born intelligent. Given our belief in destiny and the virtues ofpast lives, I think I probably did something very good to be Sachin’s friend in this one.

In good and bad times, Sachin has always been there, to help out in some way or just to provide comfort. Beyond that publicpersona, is just a very regular guy, friendly, impassioned, loving.

For instance, Sachin is not just father to his children. He is their friend. But, he insists on certain things with them. Like, thefact that both kids call him baba (father in Marathi).

Growing up in a society (Sahitya Sahawas) full of literary stalwarts, Sachin chose cricket instead, that in itself was out of the



ordinary. He chose his career at the age of 10 and then became a totally different Sachin. He was from a middle-class familyand it was after Sungrace Mafatlal took him on, that he got to see new pads, new bats. His first seasoned bat though, hissister got him from Kashmir.

He comes from a close-knit family and enjoys spending time with his friends. Among the things he loved was watching Marathicomedy movies. His favourite actors were Laxmikant Berde and Ashok Saraf. Even now, whenever Sachin has the time and is inMumbai, we go out to the movies.

The other thing about him is that he loves junk food! But he’s also a fabulous cook and loves experimenting with differentcooking methods and styles.

He’s quite precise in his preparations for cooking, much like he is in cricket. It’s also quite amazing to see that it ’s been 20 yearssince he first made his debut. May God be with him and give him and his family good health.

(Sunil Harshe, Sachin’s childhood friend from Sahitya Sahawas, spoke to G. Krishnan)

A tribute by Rajdeep Sardesai

Not a run machine

Rajdeep Sardesai

Tendulkar is a free-spirited artist who bats with the freedom of an India unshackled of its socialist baggage

Where were you on November 15, 1989? I know where I was: glued to the TV watching a 16-year-old boy with curls and rosycheeks take on Pakistan’s fast bowlers. Twenty years later, the locks are showing a hint of grey but Sachin Tendulkar is stilldoing what he does best: score runs for India. Much has changed in the world around us in the last 20 years. One thing hasn’t:the presence of Tendulkar on the cricket crease.

Remember 1989? It was the year that the Berlin Wall fell, Rajiv Gandhi lost the general elections and V.P. Singh wastransformed into a middle-class hero. It was the year that the militant’s gun first echoed in the Kashmir Valley while the bugleof the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was sounded in Ayodhya. In 1989, $500 was your forex limit, Manmohan Singh was farfrom being the finance minister, there were no private TV news channels and India was still struggling with the Hindu rate ofgrowth. To many Indians of my generation, there is only one link between then and now: the batsmanship of Tendulkar.

Forget the runs and the records. That is for historians and statist icians. For the genuine cricket fan, Tendulkar has always beenmuch more than a run machine: he has played the game the way it was meant to be played — with passion, unbridledenthusiasm and, above all, dignity. It’s true that the gay abandon with which he lit into Abdul Qadir on his first tour to Pakistanhas given way to a more methodical approach to batting. Yet, as he showed in Hyderabad, the core of his being is still inplaying attacking cricket. Incredibly, even towards the end of his epic, he was running faster than his partners who werealmost half his age.

It can’t have been easy. Cricket’s history is littered with stories of prodigies who never quite made the transition to the bigleague. Not only did Tendulkar make the great leap, but he did it in the span of less than two years. Lesser men would havesimply buckled under when hit on the face as he was in the first series by a Waqar bouncer. But he didn’t. In that one fleetingmoment, when he dusted himself up, a teenager became a man.

We all have our favourite Tendulkar moment: was it the sliced cut off Shoaib Akhtar for a six in the 2003 world cup? Maybe, itwas the emotional century within a week of his father’s death? Or was it his demolition of Shane Warne in Chennai? Or theSharjah innings that remains his signature one-day knock? Or the double century in Sydney? Or the match-winning innings lastyear against England within weeks of the 26/11 terror? When you’ve scored a staggering 87 international centuries, thenpicking a single cricketing achievement isn’t easy.

But his real achievement is beyond the boundary. We live in an age of instant stardom and mini-celebrities, where fame is anintoxicant that can easily consume the best of us. Sachin, remarkably, has been almost untouched by the fact that he iscontemporary India’s biggest icon, arguably bigger than even an Amitabh Bachchan or a Shah Rukh Khan. As Khan revealed inan interview, at a party there was a big noise when Big B entered. Then, Sachin entered the hall and Bachchan was leadingthe queue to grab hold of the cricket champion!

Through the many highs and a few lows, Tendulkar’s balance has never wavered both on and off the field, driven by a single-minded devotion to the game. He has avoided controversy, remaining a private individual. He may not have gone to college,but life has perhaps taught him more than he could have ever learnt there. He is aware of his commercial value but his badge



of identity is that he is the Maharashtrian middle-class boy who has remained true to his roots. He may lack the gravitas of SunilGavaskar, but on cricketing matters he can be just as articulate.

In a sense, the passing of the baton from Gavaskar to Tendulkar represents the coming of age of Indian cricket and a newIndia. Gavaskar was the architect, who built every innings with a clinical precision, that perhaps was symbolic of a NehruvianIndia when neither Indian cricket nor the country could afford any form of extravagance. Tendulkar is the free-spirited artistwho bats with the freedom of an India unshackled of its socialist baggage, where cricket is now part of a lucrativeentertainment industry.

So, how much longer will Tendulkar continue? Sir Don Bradman, statistically the greatest-ever batsman, played for Australia for20 years, interrupted by war and benefit ing from the fact that cricket was then a seasonal sport. Sachin, whom the great Donlikened to himself, has been playing virtually non-stop for two decades in the most high-pressure environment that modernsport can throw up. Maybe, the body is creaking a little, but the mind doesn’t seem to have given up yet. Maybe, the goal ofthe 2011 World Cup is still the ult imate motivation. Of course, he will retire one day, but t ill he does, we must savour themagic. A banner in Sharjah once said it all, “I will see God when I die, but till then I will see Sachin!” Amen.

Rajdeep Sardesai is Editor-in-Chief , IBN Network


11-13-2009, 08:54 PM #78



11-13-2009, 08:55 PM #79





Is Sachin Tendulkar the greatest schoolboy cricketer ever ? [21 years old article]

11-13-2009, 09:17 PM #80

sunnyji_2kThe Wall

Join Date: Apr 2009Location: IndiaPosts: 2,561$ICF: 12,190,396

Is Sachin Tendulkar the greatest schoolboy cricketer ever ? [21 years old article]

Author's note: This piece was written 21 years ago for Sportsworld magazine (and was only retrieved thanks to MudarPatherya, who was a young cricket writer then). Sachin Tendulkar was 15, a year and a half away from playing Test cricket andfour months short of his first-class debut. I was not yet 27, in an advertising job out of business school, with one Test matchand a handful of one-dayers on Doordarshan behind me. We were both looking ahead in our own spheres. What a time it was,it was, a time of innocence...

All of Bombay's maidans are a stage. Where every cricketer has a role to play. And his seems to be the blockbuster. Ever sincehe unveiled Act One early last year, audiences have been waiting, a little too eagerly at times, to watch the next scene. SachinTendulkar is only, so far, acting in a high-school production. Yet critics have gone to town. And rave reviews have not stoppedcoming in.

I guess it can only happen in Bombay. That a schoolboy cricketer sometimes becomes the talk of the town. Why, at the endof every day's play in the final of Bombay's Harris Shield (for Under 17s) everybody wanted to know how many he had made.For he does bat three days sometimes! And for all the publicity he has received, Sachin Tendulkar is really still a kid. He onlycompleted 15 on 24 April. And is very shy. Opening out only after you have coaxed him for some time. As his coach MrAchrekar says, "Aata thoda bolaila laglai" [He's started talking a bit now]. And it's then that you realise that his voice has notyet cracked.

His record is awesome. He has scored far more runs than all of us scored looking dreamily out of the window in a boring SocialStudies class when we were his age.

For a prodigy, he started late. When he was nine years old. And it was only in 1984-85 that he scored his first school-level fifty.But 1985-86 was a little better. He scored his first Harris Shield hundred and played for Bombay in the Vijay Merchant (Under-15) tournament. And 1986-87 was when he blossomed. Still only 13, he led his school, Shardashram Vidyamandir, to victory inthe Giles Shield (for Under-15s). He scored three centuries - 158*, 156 and 197 - and then in the Harris Shield scored 276, 123and 150. In all, he scored nine hundreds, including two double hundreds, a total of 2336 runs.

By now everyone had begun to sit up and take notice. The beginning of the 1987-88 season saw Sachin at the Ranji nets.Once again the top players were away playing Tests and perhaps the Bombay selectors felt it wouldn't be a bad idea to giveSachin first-hand experience of a higher category of cricket. He was named in the 14 for the first couple of games, andmanager Sandeep Patil kept sending him out whenever possible - for a glass of water or a change of gloves. All along Sachinprobably knew that he was still at best a curiosity, and that while Bombay was giving him every blooding opportunity, he had toprove himself on the maidans.

And that is exactly what he did. Season 1987-88 was a purple patch that never ended. Playing in the Vijay Merchanttournament he scored 130 and 107 and then at the Inter-Zonal stage he made 117 against the champions, East Zone. Thenin the Vijay Hazare tournament (for Under-17s) he scored 175 for West Zone against champions East Zone.

Then came the avalanche. A 178* in the Giles Shield and a sequence in the Harris Shield of 21*, 125, 207*, 329* and 346*! Asmall matter of 1028 runs in five innings! And in the course of that innings of 329* he set the much talked-about record of 664for the third wicket with Vinod Kambli, who, it is not always realised, scored 348*. Perhaps the most fascinating of them all wasthe innings of 346*. Coming immediately, as it did, in the shadow of the world record, a lot of people were curious to see himbat. Sachin ended the first day on 122, batted through the second to finish with 286, and when the innings closed aroundlunch on the third day, he was 346*. And then came back to bowl the first ball. In April's Bombay summer.

"People don't realise that he is just 15. They keep calling him for some felicitation or the other. The other day he was asked toinaugurate a children's library. This is ridiculous. These things are bound to go to his head. He will start thinking he has achievedeverything." Tendulkar's coach, Ramakant Achrekar

But when did this story begin? Like all children, Tendulkar took to playing "galli" cricket. His brother Ajit was a good player andpersuaded Mr Achrekar, probably Bombay's most famous coach, to look at him. Achrekar recalls, "When he first came to my netfour-five years ago, he looked just like any other boy and I didn't take him seriously. Then one day I saw him bat in an adjacentnet. He was trying to hit every ball but I noted that he was middling all of them. Some time later he got a fifty and a friend ofmine, who was umpiring that game, came and told me that this boy would play for India. I laughed at him and said that therewere so many boys like him in my net. But he insisted. 'Mark my words, he will play for India.' My friend is dead now but I'mwaiting to see if his prophecy comes true.'

Tendulkar is taking first steps towards getting there. He discovered that his house, being in Bandra, would not allow him to beat Shivaji Park whenever he wanted. He now spends most of his time at his uncle's house, just off this nursery of Bombaycricket. When he is not actually playing, that is.

Quite often, he is playing all day; important because it has helped him build the stamina to play long innings. "I don't get tired,"he says, referring to them. "If you practise every day, you get used to it."

And what about that world-record innings? "I could bat very freely then because my partner Vinod Kambli was batting so wellthat I knew that even if I failed, he would get enough runs for the side."

Isn't there a lot of pressure on him now? Everyone assumes he will get a big score? "Only in the beginning. Till I get set. OnceI get set, I don't think of anything."

Wasn't he thrilled at being invited to the Ranji nets? "Definitely. After playing there I got a lot of confidence."



Everything in Tendulkar's life has so far revolved around cricket. Including his choice of school. A few years back he shifted toShardashram Vidyamandir, only so that he could come under the eye of Achrekar. "It helped me tremendously because 'sir's'guidance is so good," he says.

Strangely his parents were never very keen about cricket. His brother Ajit says, "They were not very interested in the game,though they gave him all the encouragement. You see, in our colony all parents were training their children to be engineersand doctors. And they would say, "Gallit khelun cricketer hoto kai?" [You don't become a cricketer by playing in the alleys]. Iam so happy he is doing well because now people think he is doing something."

The question that arises then, given all the publicity is: Just how good is Sachin Tendulkar?

"For his age, unbelievable," says Sharad Kotnis, Bombay's veteran cricket watcher. "He is definitely comparable to AshokMankad, who had a similar run many years ago. But remember Ashok had cricket running in his family and his father often cameto see him play. I think Tendulkar's strongest point is that he is willing to work very hard."

Luckily for Sachin, there is a calming influence over him, just so he doesn't get carried away by this acclaim. His coach Achrekarknows exactly what he is talking about. "He is not perfect yet. Far from it. In fact, I would say he is not even halfway there.He still has a lot of faults, particularly while driving through the on, which is an indicator of a class batsman. He still has a longway to go, but what I like about him is his ability to work hard. I don't think we should get carried away by his scores. After all,one has to take into account the nature of the wicket and the quality of the bowlers. By his standards the quality of thebowling he faced was not good enough.

"His real test will come this year when he plays in the 'A' Division of the Kanga League. [Sachin will play for the Cricket Club ofIndia, which for him has waived the stipulation that children under 18 are not allowed inside the Club House!] He should get70s and 80s there and not just 20s and 30s; particularly towards the end of the season, when the wickets get better."

Sachin Tendulkar with his coach Ramakant Achrekar in the mid-1980sTendulkar as a wee thing with coach Ramakant Achrekar © Unknown

Achrekar, in fact, is quite upset about the publicity Sachin is getting. "People don't realise that he is just 15. They keep callinghim for some felicitation or the other. The other day he was asked to inaugurate a children's library. This is ridiculous. Thesethings are bound to go to his head. He will start thinking he has achieved everything. I hope all this stops so he canconcentrate and work hard."

Yet both Achrekar and Kotnis agree on when they think Sachin will become a Ranji regular. "I think he should be playing theRanji Trophy next year. I think it is unfair to compare him to the [Lalchand] Rajputs and [Alan] Sippys yet, but I think he shouldplay next year," feels Kotnis. And Achrekar adds, "Inspite of what I said about him, if he maintains this kind of progress, heshould play the Ranji next year."

Clearly the curtain call is still a long way off for Sachin Tendulkar. He has a lot of things going for him. Most importantly he is inBombay, where the sheer atmosphere can propel him ahead. In how many cit ies would a 15-year-old be presented a Gunn andMoore by the Indian captain? And in which other city would the world's highest run-getter write to a 15-year-old asking himnot to get disheartened at not getting the Best Junior Cricketer award?

Sunil Gavaskar wrote to Tendulkar to tell him that several years earlier another youngster too had not got the award and thathe didn't do too badly in Test cricket. For him the letter from his hero is a prized possession. Another great moment was ameeting with him where "… he told me that I should forget the past every time I go to bat. I should always remember that Ihave to score runs each time."

He is in the right company. And the right environment. The next few years will show whether he has it in him the mentaltoughness to overcome the over-exposure. If it does not go to his head, surely there is a great future beckoning. This is reallyjust the beginning and I will be watching this little star with avid interest for the next three years.

If he is still charting blockbusters, I'd love to do another review then.

Harsha Bhogle is a commentator, television presenter and writer. This article was first published in Sportsworld magazine in 1988

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/con...ry/434247.html



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11-13-2009, 09:25 PM #81



11-13-2009, 09:59 PM #82



'Proud' Maharashtrian Sachin says Mumbai belongs to all Indians

Even as politicians in Maharashtra like Raj Thackeray are increasingly using the "Marathi Manoos" card, iconic Mumbaikar SachinTendulkar on Friday walked a middle path and said the financial capital belonged to India.

"Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and proud to be a Maharashtrian, but I am also an Indian," saidTendulkar to a specific query at a media meet here on the eve of completing 20 years in international cricket.

Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in the first Test at Karachi in 1989 and is all set to play his 160th Testagainst Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, the venue of the first Test of a three-match series, on November 16.

LINK

11-13-2009, 10:03 PM #83


Yep. MNS ghatti janta


World Cricket CollectionNew cricket encyclopedia Cool cards to collectwww.world-cricket-collection.com




11-13-2009, 10:03 PM #84

Domaink20 years!!


Quote by SachDan


Even as politicians in Maharashtra like Raj Thackeray are increasingly using the "Marathi Manoos" card, iconic MumbaikarSachin Tendulkar on Friday walked a middle path and said the financial capital belonged to India.

"Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and proud to be a Maharashtrian, but I am also anIndian," said Tendulkar to a specific query at a media meet here on the eve of completing 20 years in internationalcricket.

Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in the first Test at Karachi in 1989 and is all set to play his160th Test against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, the venue of the first Test of a three-match series, on November 16.

LINK

This is one guy Raj Thackray will not take panga with.

11-13-2009, 11:03 PM #85

satishgSRT is life

Join Date: Jul 2007Location: San Jose, CAPosts: 2,683$ICF: 1,527,940

amazing collection of articles. Truly great work guys!

11-13-2009, 11:11 PM #86



Sachin fit to be an ambassador

Ali Bacher

I met Sachin for the first time when South Africa played their first ever One- Day International on Indian soil at the EdenGardens in Kolkata on the 1991 tour. He scored 62 to win the game for India. I remember walking into the Indian change



room to say well done to him. I have followed his progress since and have met him many, many times.

Sachin is one of the greatest players the world has seen. But the most important thing for me is Sachin Tendulkar the person.His feet are on the ground, he's humble, he's respectful, and he never boasts about his achievements.

He came to South Africa for medical treatment a few years ago. It was a Sunday and I took him out for lunch along with LeeIrvine, a great friend of mine who played Test cricket for South Africa along with me. After we dropped Sachin off, I rememberLee saying to me he could not believe the chap was so humble.

He is an icon; he's a superstar. I have huge admiration for Sachin.

If it was left to me, I would tell him ' Sachin, when you finish, I would like you to be the game's ambassador'. Heis the ideal ambassador for world cricket and I would recommend him as strongly as I can. Not so much as topromote the game, but to promote the ethos, the culture and the good things about the game - what you doand what you don't do; what you say and what you don't say. He is a fantastic individual.

A couple of years ago, I went to see Ratnakar Shetty ( BCCI's chief administrative administrator) and after he dialled Sachin'snumber I spoke to him. I told him, ' The last t ime I came here ( Mumbai) I went to your shop ( restaurant) to buy memorabiliafor my eight grandchildren'. That night when I went to my hotel, I found there was stuff from him for my grandchildren,unannounced.

He's an extraordinary person.

I have no doubt that the media worldwide has tried to find skeletons in his cupboard. And I am sure they fished and fished,and found nothing.

LINK

11-14-2009, 12:07 AM #87



Sach-a icon

Mumbai: At 36 and 17,000 runs, Sachin Tendulkar continues to inspire children. In a DNA poll of 100 kids between the ages of10 and 14, an impressive 40 percent voted for the cricket legend, making him a clear winner in our Kids Ka Icon Kaunpoll. Most children said that he inspired them to be successful.

Shah Rukh Khan, who narrowly lost out to Sachin Tendulkar, still remains a hot favourite. "He is an awesome actor and I lovehis hair-style," said 12-year-old Divya Kumar. Some children mentioned that the reason they idolised SRK was that he made 'lotsof money'.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor (8 percent votes each) were favourites amongst girls. "She is very beautiful," said10-year-old Dipti Shah when asked why she chose Kareena as her icon. Hrithik Roshan, who was a kiddie favourite since Koi MilGaya and Krissh, seems to have come down the popularity ladder, as has Aamir Khan after Taare Zameen Par. While tennis star



Sania Mirza got 3 percent votes,the only businessman on the list was Anil Ambani (2 percent) and the only politician was RahulGandhi with 3 percent votes.

LINK

11-14-2009, 12:12 AM #88

sunit224Join Date: Aug 2009Posts: 5$ICF: 626,378

The Atlas who would not shrug - by Saurabh Somani

Might be a bit over the top but i loved it...

In Greek mythology, Atlas was the Titan who was cursed to hold the heavens on his shoulders, supporting the weight of theskies for all eternity.

Ayn Rand thought this terribly unjust, and suggested that he didn't deserve the punishment, and he should shrug off theburden and end his suffering.

In times to come, it is possible that the world Atlas would be replaced by a historical, non-mythological, living and breathingembodiment of the story.

For twenty years, Sachin Tendulkar has given his blood, sweat and tears to Indian cricket and by extension to the whole ofIndia. For much of those years, he has borne the burden alone, and not once has he given a hint of wanting to shrug it off.

As he soldiered on alone in the fifth ODI against Australia, it seemed as if nothing had changed. The Indian team was supposedto be on the cusp of becoming the best ODI side - at least according to the rankings - but when it came right down to thecrunch, it was the familiar old tale of one man standing up while the rest crumbled around him. It was impossible not to thinkof another improbable chase a decade ago, when India played Pakistan in a Test match at Chennai in 1999. Then, as now,India were facing a foe that made the intensity and quality of matches rise beyond the ordinary. Then, as now, India's effortsin the field and with the ball left something to be desired. Then, as now, one man alone stood between the opposition and anepic Indian victory. And tragically, then as now, India stood on the cusp of greatness before it was cruelly snatched away.Actually, Tendulkar stood on the cusp of greatness - the rest of the Indian team hadn't contributed too much to be deservingwinners.

When he came out to bat today, it didn't look as if he was going to compose a classic. He seemed weighed down by theimpending 17,000 run landmark. Once he crossed it however, the Tendulkar of old started to re-appear. Vintage flicks,delectable cuts, power-packed pulls, and jaw-dropping straight drives all made their appearance as the innings progressed.

Sure this was a weakened Australian side, but a bowling attack of Hilfenhaus, Watson, Hauritz, Bollinger and McKay was stilldecent enough. And when you have a total of 350 as a cushion, a decent bowling attack is more than enough to do the jobon most occasions.

All around him wickets continued to tumble, but the diminutive Tendulkar stood tall. As Indian fans despaired, he never gaveup. And by continuing to dazzle, he rekindled hope in a billion hearts. With every stroke, every lofted shot, every tight single -the country lurched, stepped and danced to one man's tune. And as he got us closer and closer, we dared to dream aboutthe impossible.

And then it happened. The miracle ended. A debutant bowler had a wicket whose significance is unlikely to be matched in hisinternational career. As Tendulkar's mis-timed paddle-scoop rose high in the air, a billion voiceless thoughts would have racedthrough the fans - through our - heads.

"Let it carry over the short-fine leg. Please, God almighty let it carry over him."

"Let him drop it. Let the pressure get to him."

"No. He can't be out! It can't end like that! Noooooo!"

The pin-drop silence in the stadium was a silent homage by ordinary men to the man who had given them so much more thanthey could.

The silent applause gave way to the more traditional one as the Atlas of Indian cricket made a slow and interminable walk backto the pavilion.

Was he too thinking of Chennai '99? Did he dare hope that his team-mates would do the job? Was he racked by the thoughtthat he had left another chase unfinished? I don't know, and I don't presume to know.

What I do know is that in his t ime at the crease there were 318 runs scored off the bat off 287 balls. He made 175 off 141,scoring more than 55% of the runs in less than 50% of the balls.

What I know is that from a starting asking rate of 7 an over, to seeing it balloon to 8 an over, he departed leaving thebatsmen to come after him with the task of getting just 6 an over for 3 overs.

What I know is that everyone who watched even a part of his innings should feel privileged and honoured, because they haveseen sublime genius at work.

What I know is that he set out to achieve a win for India single-handedly. He had seen the generous bowling and fieldingdisplay which saw India gift Australia runs by the bucketful, he had seen catches that ought to be taken dropped, and in a raregesture of symbolic defiance, he had thrown the ball to the ground in disgust, in frustration - after pouching a fine catch offthe last ball of the Australian innings. Every stroke of his while batting seemed to say that no matter what the challenge, I willdo it.



What I know is that no matter how much pain the fans felt, no matter how hard Team India was hit by the loss, none of thatcould match the pain that Sachin Tendulkar felt.

That he can feel more pain than the youngest team member and the oldest fan, is a fact that deserves a story by itself. Butfor me, that is enough to forget my pain and stand in unreserved applause for the man who makes me feel more Indian thanany other.

11-14-2009, 12:48 AM #89

rahuliverpoolSachin > ∞

Join Date: Feb 2009Location: USAPosts: 562$ICF: 1,819,737

what a thread....my eyes are swollen. Brilliant, simply awesome.

11-14-2009, 01:08 AM #90



'FIRSTS' for Sachin

FIRST COACH

Ramakant Achrekar is one of the most gifted cricketing coaches in India, and he has given the country one of its biggestsporting gifts. Like the shishya, the guru too remains humble about the role he has played in shaping this glittering cricketingcareer. “When I first saw him, it was clear that he had this immense hunger for doing well at whatever he was doing,”Achrekar says. The coach is not surprised by Tendulkar’s accomplishments. “He is a once-in-a-generation player, but the mostimportant thing is that he has kept his feet firmly on the ground.” For any other man in Tendulkar’s position, that wouldprobably have been impossible.

FIRST SCHOOLEverybody in Dadar knows where Shardashram Vidya Mandir is. It ’s not his first school, it ’s the place where his cricketingjourney began. It’s a mere coincidence that I end up asking its directions from a little boy in a school uniform. “That’s Sachin’sschool,” he says enthusiastically, before adding “and mine.” The sense of pride is as evident in others associated with theschool. The guard at the gate says he’s even had “tourists” coming to see the school which Tendulkar attended as a child. Theteachers have changed since those days, but even the new ones drill into schoolchildren the idea that they have a legacy tolive up to.

FIRST FRIEND



It’s a well-known fact that Vinod Kambli and Tendulkar were thick as thieves in their boyhood. But Atul Ranade, a former first-class cricketer, has known Tendulkar from his kindergarten days. “There has been no change in him in the last 30 years,”Ranade says. “He’s still the same guy who cared about his family and cricket with a single-minded focus.”

Ranade recalls that the young Tendulkar was a prankster. Once he applied a balm on Ranade’s eyes and then pretended to beasleep. To compound the practical joke, Tendulkar handed Ranade a toothpaste to wash away the balm! Ranade adds, “He hasnever been intimidated by anyone, and even as a kid he was quite a bully.” Long-suffering bowlers around the world will vouchfor that.

FIRST CAPTAIN

Krish Srikkanth is proud of many things in his career. The 1983 World Cup win, the fact that he played a considerable amountof cricket for India. But one thing he remembers with particular pride is that he was the leader of the pack at the time whenTendulkar made his debut. “We were all aware about this young curly-haired boy’s exploits in domestic cricket,” he recalls.

But no one, it seems, knew how good the prodigy actually was. Though shy and reserved, Srikkanth says, there was not aniota of fear in Tendulkar’s eyes. “In those days, a 16-year-old visiting our biggest foes was completely unheard of. He is aspecial, special cricketer and a wonderful man. His dedication to the game of cricket and country is exemplary.” We won’t seeanother Tendulkar for years to come, he says.

FIRST CENTURY



One urban legend has become part of the Tendulkar folklore. An old man sitting in the stands at Old Trafford cricket ground inManchester applauded Tendulkar’s first century. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best batsman to have graced the cricketingfield,” the old man is said to have said. “And unlike you, I have seen Bradman bat.”

Tendulkar was 17 when he scored his first century. Manoj Prabhakar was on the non-striker’s end, and says he had the bestseat in the town. “Such maturity on young shoulders was breathtaking to see. He wasn’t fazed by anything,” he says.

Prabhakar was also his opening partner when Tendulkar scored his first century in limited-overs cricket. He recalls that therewas no case of nerves as the youngster approached his hundred. “I just told him to carry on and he would reach the magicalfigure.” Little did he know then that many such magical numbers would be attained in the future.

FIRST AD CAMPAIGN

An ad for Band-Aid was the first one Tendulkar ever did. It was the Pepsi campaign, however, which put him on the A-list ofcelebrity endorsers. Ad-man Prahalad Kakkar says Tendulkar is a highly committed performer. He has no airs, is always on timeand pays attention to details, says Kakkar, who has done a few ads with the cricketer.

There was one occasion, though, where Tendulkar refused to shoot until the script was changed. In the ad in question,Tendulkar is shown hitt ing the ball with a stump in time with the jingle, which goes “Ae Sachin aaya re bhaiyya”. This was themodified version of the ad. The original ad showed bowlers bowling to him and Tendulkar hitting the bowlers all over the parkwith a fly swatter. Tendulkar refused to shoot the ad, saying, “The commercial would indicate that I am bigger than thegame.” Kakkar says Tendulkar’s humility “has left me spellbound”. You are not alone, Mr Kakkar.

FIRST DUCKYou can judge a person’s greatness when he is down, when some people make hay while the star’s sun temporarily ceases toshine. No one had heard of first-class cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh until January 11, 2009, when he entered the historybooks by becoming the first bowler ever to dismiss Tendulkar for a duck in domestic cricket. “I will always cherish thatmoment,” he says. Though he was also part of the Royal Challengers IPL team, Singh’s claim to fame remains that duck. “Hehas only gotten out for duck just once, so it is a very special feeling for me,” says this bowler.

FIRST INTERVIEW



“I just want to play cricket.” Those words, uttered in a squeaky voice, still echo in the heads of Indian cricket fans. Tom Alterinterviewed Tendulkar for that programme. He remembers a boy who was supremely confident about his abilit ies. “He was shy,but confident and not at all nervous.” It was clear to Alter that he treated all the fuss as part of being a cricketer.

“Remember that this was all when he was 15 and he wasn’t the phenomenon he has grown into,” says Alter. There wererumours that the cricketer was going to be picked for the West Indies tour of 1988-89. Yet Tendulkar was unfazed. “He saidhe was ready to face the fearsome West Indian quicks, and I was thinking ‘Boy, do you realise you are still 15?’” There’ssomething about adolescence which gives you that feeling that you can conquer the world. Tendulkar, however, actually did.

FIRST BUSINESS VENTUREThis image has been resized. Click this bar to v iew the full image. The original image is sized 1600x1200.



When Tendulkar’s — the restaurant — opened in Colaba about seven years ago, the trend of celebrities having their ownbranded eateries was not as well-established as it is now. Tendulkar’s is not operational at the moment, but it used to be ashrine for Tendulkar devotees. The idea for the restaurant was Tendulkar’s own, but he set it up in partnership with SanjayNarang.

I remember having had a meal there once and having gotten a number of tidbits of information about the famous owner. Therecipes included his favourites, and the cricketer offered a lot of inputs in the décor of the space as well.

Though Tendulkar later opened another café, called Sachin’s, that too was shut after a cool response from the public. It’s stillnot clear whether Tendulkar’s has closed permanently. Stand-alone restaurants in India have, in general, not had an easy time.

FIRST INJURY ?

The term “tennis elbow” entered the vocabulary of Indian cricket fans in 2004, when Tendulkar was diagnosed with the injury.Many fans rushed to query their doctors about how it happens and, more importantly, how long it takes to recover.Orthopaedic specialist Dr Anant Joshi treated Tendulkar. He recalls how his patients suddenly wanted to learn more abouttennis elbow!

Joshi, who was then BCCI’s medical consultant, says that patience is the one thing which Tendulkar has in abundance. “He wasanxious but knew that these things take time.” Tendulkar, says Joshi, is one of the most hard-working cricketers he knows,“Never shying away from extra training sessions, and he knows how his body responds to minor niggles.”

FIRST BOWLING SPELL



The 1993 Hero Cup will always be remembered for Sachin Tendulkar the bowler. In the semi-finals against South Africa, Indiawas in a spot of bother. Then-captain Mohammed Azharuddin recalls that it was a gamble to throw the ball to Tendulkar forthe last over. Needing six to win, putting in a part-time bowler could have backfired.

“Not even once did he say ‘Don’t give me the ball’,” says Azhar. “[He] was confident that he would lead us to victory.” BothAzhar and Tendulkar would have been crucified if the gamble had not paid off. “As a captain,” says the captain, “you alwayshad confidence that Sachin would deliver, be it with the ball or bat.”

LINK

11-14-2009, 01:11 AM #91



Christ, what terrific stuff Danny boy

11-14-2009, 01:37 AM #92



Tendulkar thanks Gavaskar for letter written in 1987

Tendulkar recalls how a hand-written letter from Sunil Gavaskar helped him get over the disappointment of not winning MCA'sbest junior cricketer award

The letter...

Dear Sachin,I wanted to write earlier but something or the other came in the way. Then I thought it better to write at the beginning ofthe new season rather than at the end of the last season.

Congratulations on your performance last season. What was most impressive was the way you batted alonewhen the others around you were not contributing much. Keep it up.

Also please do not neglect your studies. My experience is that education helps you through bad patches in whichever careeryou choose.

So go ahead and God bless.

Regards,Sunil Gavaskar.



PS: Don't be disappointed at not getting the Best Junior Cricketer award from BCA. If you look at the past award winners, youwill find one name missing and that person has not done badly in Test cricket!!

It was in August 1987, little over two years before he made his international debut that Sachin Tendulkar received one of hismost prized souvenirs.

It was a letter written by Sunil Gavaskar to a 14-year-old budding cricketer who was disappointed not to have been adjudgedthe best junior cricketer, by the Mumbai Cricket Association.

Tendulkar, who will complete 20 years in international cricket in 48 hours from now, still can't thank his idol enough forpersonally writing in to him.

"I remember when I didn't get the best junior cricketer award, he sent me a hand-written letter," Tendulkar said during afunction to felicitate Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath on the completion of their 60 years.

"A hand-written letter by someone who I worshipped, that too at that age helped me get over the disappointment of notwinning the award. It 's important to get right advice at the proper age."

In the letter (left), Gavaskar cited his own example of missing out on the best junior cricketer award in the 1960s. Tendulkarwas hugely inspired by the feats of his fellow Mumbaikar. And Gavaskar time and again has indicated that he is a hugeTendulkar admirer.

"When I scored the 34th Test ton, I think Sir (Gavaskar) was in Nepal. In the evening, he called to wish me. When someonewho has been your hero, whom you've idolised, makes an effort to wish on your achievement, nothing else can be bigger andbetter.

"When I scored the 35th (ton), Sir told me: "Carry on from here on. Don't stop". I am trying to do just that."

LINK

11-14-2009, 01:37 AM #93



Christ, what terrific stuff Danny boy




11-14-2009, 01:41 AM #94

Domaink20 years!!


That's pure gold Dan. Thanks a lot.

11-14-2009, 02:32 AM #95

littlemaster1982

Join Date: Jul 2007Posts: 3$ICF: 12,851

Terrific thread and amazing stuff, guys!!!

Spl thanks to Blue_brigade for videos of 175

Last edited by littlemaster1982 : 11-14-2009 at 02:34 AM.

11-14-2009, 02:35 AM #96



Late Ramesh Tendulkar and Rajni Tendulkar and brothers - Nitin (right behind) and Ajit Tendulkar (left)

11-14-2009, 03:00 AM #97

blue_brigade Quote



Khelenge backfoot par se


Quote

I don't even move when Sachin is batting: Goddess Tendulkar

TOI: How easy or difficult is it to be Mrs Sachin Tendulkar? How do you cope with the pressures?

ANJALI: For me, it 's very easy because I've known Sachin for 19 years now. I understand him so well. So whether Iam his girlfriend or his wife, it 's the same thing, just an extension of that bond. I don't find it very difficult and I'mused to it. Maybe, it 's also because I've not known any other person in my life except Sachin. Of course, there aremany challenges and difficulties to being his wife but the whole family, including my children, has learnt to deal with it.

TOI: Any regrets at all on the home front?

ANJALI: The only regret, even though we've learnt to cope with it, is that he's not at home most of the time. Ithink even Sachin has realised this, now that the kids are growing up fast. Sara is 12 and Arjun is 10. We sometimeswonder where all the years have gone. Since he used to be away most of the time when they were growing up,now he tries to come home as much as possible. If a match gets over early, he'll come home, stay overnight andthen leave again in the morning. Though he's trying his best to spend more time with the family, sometimes he's notat home for birthdays, special occasions or even for the kids' annual day at school. It matters a lot to the kids.

TOI: Is it true you can't bear to watch Sachin live, and only see the recordings?

ANJALI: I don't know where this came from. The fact is I watch every game, that too right from the start. Yes, Inever go to the stadium but I watch it on TV. Actually, I have one particular spot in the house from where I canwatch TV and also keep an eye on my Ganpati (Ganesha). I don't eat. I don't answer phones. I don't drink. I don'teven move. I don't reply to any sms until he's out.

TOI: What is it about his batting that you admire the most?

ANJALI: I'm not a cricket connoisseur. I can't talk about particular shots. What I like about him is that no matter howtense he is, or how much pressure there is on him, when he goes out to bat you don't see any of it. I've oftenasked him how it 's possible not to get distracted while playing in front of thousands of screaming people. I do havefriends whose husbands are also in highly stressful jobs, but they are not being scrutinised by the whole world everyminute. So the way Sachin deals with the burden of expectations and doesn't seem to get affected is what I admirethe most.

TOI: Do you enjoy watching him bat? Is there any knock of his that you rate as the best, or is etched in yourmemory?

ANJALI: My problem is, unlike Sachin, who remembers each of his innings, each ball and how he got out, I don't.Because when I am watching him bat, I'm so stressed and so focused that I just want him to do well, I cannot enjoyor remember much. For example, his 175 at Hyderabad has come in for huge praise, but I cannot say I enjoyed it. Iwas stressed out. But yes, I do remember that his Sharjah centuries were special. Then again, it is faint memory. Ihad had my first baby then and my attention was divided.

TOI: Do you lose sleep when he does well and the team does not, or vice-versa?

ANJALI: It's much worse when he does well and the team doesn't. I know how much it affects himbecause, for him, the country always comes first. To me it doesn't matter whether he scores one run or10 runs or even a 100. I'll still be happy because I know he's really trying hard. But I know how much itaffects him when he does well and the team loses, like it happened in Hyderabad. It's very upsetting. Itwas a terrible feeling for me when I got up the next morning. In fact, it was devastating. Had he notdone so well and had the team still won, it would've made us all feel much, much better.

TOI: Does Sachin ever talk about the game with you? Or does he just shut himself out of all things cricket when he iswith his family?

ANJALI: I think what he liked about me was that I knew nothing about cricket when I first met him. But then, mebeing me, I read everything about the game. I came to know all the fielding positions but he doesn't like mediscussing cricket at home. But at times when he is low or upset, I do talk to him about cricket. Again, it 's not thegame but things related to it that we discuss.

TOI: Have you ever grown tired of wait ing for Sachin to return from a tour?

ANJALI: It's always been like that. These days, whenever he goes on a long tour, we usually try and plan a shortholiday with the kids. Maybe during the school vacation or something. There's no other option for us.

TOI: Don't you regret the fact that Sachin's fame prevents him from being a normal father?

ANJALI: It's been like this from the beginning, so you accept it. It's part of life even for our children. They know theirfather cannot do certain things. So we take the trouble once every year and go somewhere where he can be anormal father. Like in London, he takes Arjun to the park to play. Even there people recognise him, but they don'tmob him and give him his space.

TOI: Please go back in time to when you met Sachin for the first t ime...

ANJALI: (Laughs) We've not really told many people this. I first met him at the Mumbai airport when he returnedfrom his first tour of England in 1990, after scoring his maiden Test ton. In fact, when I first saw him at the airport, Ididn't even know who he was. It was purely by accident! I was there to pick up my mother and Sachin was arrivingwith the Indian team. That's where we saw each other for the first time... we had a courtship of five years and gotmarried in 1995. We had got engaged a year before that in 1994 and that was in New Zealand.

TOI: Do you believe in destiny?



ANJALI: Yes, it is destiny and I believe in that.

TOI: Sachin has been known to go out in disguise sometimes. Did he ever use a disguise to meet you?

ANJALI: Yes he did, just once. We had gone to see the movie Roja. I was studying medicine then and acouple of my friends planned it. Sachin did try telling me that that it would be difficult, but I insistedthat he come along. To make sure nobody recognised him, we even got him a beard. He wore specs aswell and we went in late. We watched the first half of the film, but during the interval Sachin droppedhis specs and people immediately recognised him! It was a bit of a disaster and we were forced to leavehalfway.

TOI: You could have been a very successful doctor...

ANJALI: I loved medicine and a lot of people often ask me if I'm wasting my education. I don't think so. Though Iloved every moment of my studying days and my days at the government hospital, it then came to a stage when Irealised that I could not be married to Sachin and also have a full-time career. It wasn't possible because he dependson me for almost everything. It was my decision. I thought I should be at home with him and make everythingperfect for him.

In his childhood, brother Ajit did everything for Sachin, sacrificing his own interests. I thought I should do the same.Besides, mine would not have been a 9 to 5 job. I'm a paediatrician, so if there's a patient calling me or someoneadmitted at odd hours, I have to make myself available. With Sachin not around and me with two kids at home, itwouldn't have been possible. I took a decision and I have never, ever regretted it.

TOI: How good is your Hindi?

ANJALI: (Smiles). Not as good as my English. But my Marathi is better as I converse with my mother-in-law in thatlanguage. Actually, my mother is English so we spoke the language at home, but I studied Hindi without tuitions tillthe tenth standard. At St. Xavier's in the XIth and XIIth class, I studied Russian. My children speak Hindi much betterthan both of us.

TOI: Have you ever dreamt of your son Arjun playing alongside Sachin?

ANJALI: Actually, I have thought about it but, realistically speaking, I don't think it 's possible. If it ever happens it willbe fantastic.

TOI: Are you aware there are emails being circulated with pictures of your new, under-construction shell house inBandra? There are pictures of the interiors too...

ANJALI: Yes. They're all fake!

TOI: When will the house be ready for you to move in?

ANJALI: It will take one more year.

TOI: Can you tell us a bit about the new house? Will it look like a huge mansion or just a normal bungalow?

ANJALI: It will be a normal house. If you look at Mumbai and its space constraints, we are lucky to be having a nicehome which will have everything Sachin wants. If he wants to go and play cricket with Arjun there is a garden, not abig one but there is one. There is a parking area for our cars down in the basement, room for Sachin's mother andthe kids.

Sachin is very clear and sure about what he wants. A lot of things in the house are what he's always wanted. But weare in it together. Also, I'm the more scientific type, the more practical one. I'm only bothered about where theswitches are going to be placed, where the TV connections are going to be, what the kitchen and bathroom layoutis going to be. He's into the fancy and decorative side.

TOI: No swimming pool?

ANJALI: There is one lap pool on the terrace and a shallow one just for Sachin's fitness. A gymnasium will also bethere.

TOI: Have you ever driven the Ferrari?

ANJALI: When Sachin got his Ferrari home I asked him to show me how to change its gears because they are nearthe steering and move with the fingers. To my surprise, he said, 'You don't need to drive my Ferrari.' In fact, Ineeded to know because at times we need to move it when he's not around. It actually happened once and wecouldn't move it. I've been longing to drive his Ferrari.

TOI: Any idea which is Sachin's favourite Lata Mangeshkar or Kishore Kumar number?

ANJALI: There are so many, I can't name one. He always likes listening to them. Initially, I had no knowledge aboutHindi movies and songs, it 's only after marriage that I began watching movies and now I really enjoy Hindi songs.

TOI: Do you have a big circle of friends and do you socialise much?

ANJALI: No, we have a close set of friends. They are either Sachin's long-time friends or my friends from the medicalfield. We don't get much time to socialise but we do go out for family dinners whenever possible.

TOI: What comes first in Sachin's life? Cricket, wife or family?

ANJALI: I think it was cricket first but now things have changed, which I feel is a natural progression. So now, it isboth cricket and family.



TOI: Have you and Sachin ever thought about what life is going to be like after cricket, or how long he intends toplay?

ANJALI: People often tell us that we ought to start thinking about what he's going to do after cricket. But I feel thatwhen you are playing, you need to focus 100%. You cannot even think of what you'll do after cricket. So I alwaystell Sachin not to think about it. I tell him, 'It doesn't matter, surely you'll find something to do, you have lots ofinterests.' Also, maybe we can just take some time off and travel the world and then look ahead. I always insist thathe should not worry about the future. At the same time, he will be at a total loss because his whole life has beencricket.

Goddess Anjali devi

11-14-2009, 09:23 AM #98

rahuliverpoolSachin > ∞

Join Date: Feb 2009Location: USAPosts: 562$ICF: 1,819,737

Sachin Tendulkar: Making of a genius

The young boy with his curly locks and chubby cheeks - for whom the world wasn't enough. Obliged by the early detection ofhis prodigious talent and hurled into the world of fame and glory.

Never once did those young but firm shoulders give in - the nation rejoiced in hope and smiles to the messiah of the game.The willow that resounded even louder than the collective rants of all his cynics.

CNN-IBN retraces those first footsteps - this is how the journey started for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

To give us an insight into his early years, a man who covered Tendulkar's first series in Pakistan, journalist Pradeep Magazine,and his first captain at a senior club level, Hemant Kenkre from Mumbai, joined CNN-IBN.

Kenkre has known Tendulkar even before he started playing for India. He was his first captain at senior club level. It isunderstood that the Cricket Club of India had to alter its rules to accommodate an Under-18 cricketer to play for them.

"It 's a very strange thing," Kenkre says. "CCI was playing a game against Shivaji Park Youngsters at the famous Shivaji ParkGymkhana which is the cradle of Indian cricket. Ramakant Achrekar, who was his coach, asked me to come and watch him andalso try to get the senior persons from the club there so that we could get him into the club.

"There was nobody better than the President of the club who happened to be a former Indian Test cricketer, Madhav Apte,who was playing that game when Sachin played against CCI," he adds. "And on a rank bad turner, Sachin scored a brilliant 70-odd runs and Apte had no doubt that he had to change the rules. We did decide to take him as a playing member of the side,but none of us realised that he was not 18. And if you're not 18 even today, you can't enter the club.

"Eventually, it was Milind Rege, Apte and the late Raj Singh Dungarpur, who convinced the club committee to change the rulesand they did," he says. "Sachin Tendulkar then became the first person in the history of cricket in India who could enter theClub House at an age younger than 18."

Veteran journalist Pradeep Magazine has followed Sachin Tendulkar ever since his first tour of Pakistan in 1989. Magazine recallsTendulkar to be a frail 16-year-old, wondering if India had thrown him in front of sharks, referring to the Pakistan fast bowlers intheir prime.

"He got out in the first innings for nothing or very few runs," Magazine says.

"Everyone thought we might have made a mistake. But then when he came back, hitt ing Abdul Qadir, one of the great leg-spinners, for all those sixes, standing up to Waqar Younis, Imran and Wasim Akram, one could realise that he wasn't just a boy.He had the strength and the technique to withstand any attack. To have seen him perform at that age, we knew there weregreat things ahead of him."

Asked what was the perception of the media after looking at Tendulkar, Magazine says: "I don't think India had seen anattacking player like Sachin before. Yes. there were. There was Sandeep Patil and others who would tear into rival attacks. Buteven at that young age, Sachin gave you the impression that he not only had the temperament and technique to stay there,he had it in him to dominate an attack.

"Once we saw that, we felt that maybe India had found a Viv Richards, someone who would be enjoying not just trying tosave matches for India, but someone who would get back at rival bowlers. That impression gave a lot of thrill to everyone, andover the years he has successfully proved that whatever people thought of him was true," he adds.

At a press conference reflecting on his journey in international cricket, Tendulkar recalled a particular incident of losing his Moranpads which Kenkre had gifted to him during an Under-15 camp in Indore.

"I had a pair of Moran pads, which were given to me by a friend, who had inherited them from Sunil Gavaskar, they were veryimportant to me. And in the middle of the camp of 12-14 days, that boy wasn't to be found in the camp," Tendulkar says.

"I would love to be the person who stole them," says Kenkre. "The pads which were used by Sunil Manohar Gavaskar and thenused by Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar are a piece of history. I was just a repository of the history in between those two legends.

"It was (coach) Ramakant Achrekar who asked me to give him my pads," he adds. "He had rightly said that my cricketing careerwas over. I didn't even bat an eyelid and gave them to him. But when he came to pick the pads, I told him, 'Listen, I'm givingyou a piece of history,' not realising whom I was talking to at the point of t ime.

"'I'm giving you the pads which belong to Gavaskar,' which he wore while scoring 221 at the Oval where India almost 400 runsagainst England. He was astounded while looking at those pads," he concludes.



LINK

11-14-2009, 10:33 AM #99

nikreddo I smell fear?


Quote

TOI: Sachin has been known to go out in disguise sometimes. Did he ever use a disguise to meet you?

ANJALI: Yes he did, just once. We had gone to see the movie Roja. I was studying medicine then and a couple of myfriends planned it. Sachin did try telling me that that it would be difficult, but I insisted that he come along. To makesure nobody recognised him, we even got him a beard. He wore specs as well and we went in late. We watched thefirst half of the film, but during the interval Sachin dropped his specs and people immediately recognised him! It was abit of a disaster and we were forced to leave halfway.

WTF???

11-14-2009, 12:00 PM #100

Chandan.


15 Nov 1989 to now : His life, our journey

MARATHON MAN

From cherubic teen to the cricketing world's biggest brand, from golden boy to iconic legend; from the maidans of Mumbai tothe moors of Yorkshire, Sachin's journey has also been ours. Kind of!



$ , ,




YOU KNOW

Sachin and Brian Lara reached 10,000 runs in an identical number of Test innings -- 195



Grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy his idol, John McEnroe.

Batted the entire 1996 World Cup without a sponsor for his bat. Ended the event as the highest run-getter

THE MASTER NUMBER

2009 Becomes the Ist to get 17,000 runs in ODIs. Got to this against Oz at Hyderabad on Nov. 3, when he scored a breezy175.

2007 Was dismissed seven times on scores between 90 and 100. Believe it or not, he was out on 99 thrice that year.

A tribute by Anil Kumble

What keeps him going? He just hates losing!

ANIL KUMBLE

Sachin and I came into Indian crickt at around the same time, a seaon apart perhaps. There was just one difference -- he hadto prove everyone right and I had to prove everyone wrong!

It had always been predicted that he would be destined for greatness, that he would go on to be the highest runscorer forIndia, beat every batting record there was to beat, create history. He did all that and more.

Speaking from the vantage point of having done almost 20 years of international cricket myself, it just isn't easy.

Managing your time, your body and the expectations of millions, it takes a toll.But Sachin's dealt with it all with grace and determination. For instance, take his battles with injury. Shoulder, elbow, groinback... you name it, he's had it.

Let me give you a little insight into injuries. The coming back process is painful and time-consuming and you need to have anunshakeable desire to succeed. You go through one rehab, two, three but where do you call the line?

Some injuries take two months, some four, some stay on as constant niggles and others become more serious as you keepplaying. You manage it all, often live with the pain and just focus on your game. Sachin's done that right through.

Sachin has this uncanny ability to take in, analyse and assess things very quickly, much faster than others. That therefore, giveshim more time to play a shot. That's why he's No 1.

And he's enjoying himself. The last three-four years especially, he's been really enjoying his cricket and it shows in the way heinteracts with the team.

In terms of his preparation, he's always seriously involved. If there are a couple of innings where he's not scored, or if he feelshe's not hitting the ball well, he invariably spends extra time working on whatever's wrong.

The other thing is that despite who he is, he's always ready to listen to any advice. He's often gone up to a rookie and asked ifhe could look at his batting -- he has no hang-ups whatsoever.

So what keeps you going through 20 years of playing a sport? Simply that when you go onto that field, you want to excel. Ifelt that way and I know Sachin does too. You put him in gully cricket, any cricket, even a TT match -- he doesn't like losing.

You also have to shut out the burden of expectations and opinions about yourself. It is a no win situation. At low times, under-fire, you ask yourself this: Am I giving a 100 per cent? If you are, forget about the rest. It gets to you but you need to lookahead. The more you react to things people say, the more you feel like saying `I've had enough'.

Sachin clearly hasn't, even through all he's faced as the man who's the answer to a billion prayers. I also think what keeps himgoing is an unwavering pride in performance and an ability to put the team's cause before his own.



When I decided to call it a day after almost 20 years in the game, it was a decision born purely out of the fact that my bodycouldn't take it. Sachin was one of the first guys I told. I went to him and said, "My time has come". He said `No, you can'tquit, you can play a bit more'. I had to convince him that I couldn't go on.

Finally, to stay on top of your game, to be able to handle everyone -- players, teams, public and sponsors -- wanting a piece ofyou, you need lots of support. He's had that in a wonderful, supportive family. They've been the key.

(KUMBLE, THE FORMER INDIA CAPTAIN , WAS SACHIN 'S PICK FOR INDIA'S GREATEST PLAYER FROM AMONG HISCONTEMPORARIES)

A Tribute by Praveen Amre

FORMER STATEMATE

My Favourite Sachin inning

I have three. His test ton against Australia at Perth in 1991-92, where the cracks on the pitch were so big it was very difficultto bat. The others are in ODIs, the 134 in the Sharjah final against Australia (1998) and the 175 in Hyderabad last Thursday.


How he stays modest. His passion for cricket, commitment and his respect for the game are tremendous.

Sachin and me

This is from 24 years ago. I returned from East Africa with a pair of Adidas shoes and he liked it. I told him he could have it if hescored a century in his next schools game. He promptly did and the shoes were his!

A weakness/something missing?

Can there be one? You cannot play 20 years with a weakness.

My message to Sachin

Keep enjoying the game.


11-14-2009, 12:24 PM #101


Sachin's first ever interview published in Mid Day in 1986



Sach is life..


Read the last sentence

11-14-2009, 01:27 PM #102

Domaink20 years!!

Quote by SachDan

Sachin's first ever interview published in Mid Day in 1986




Read the last sentence

Quote

Seems to be another Sandeep Patil in the making.

:hyste rical:

11-14-2009, 09:23 PM #103

champis here !!!

Quote by SachDan


Even as politicians in Maharashtra like Raj Thackeray are increasingly using the "Marathi Manoos" card, iconic MumbaikarSachin Tendulkar on Friday walked a middle path and said the financial capital belonged to India.




"Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and proud to be a Maharashtrian, but I am also anIndian," said Tendulkar to a specific query at a media meet here on the eve of completing 20 years in internationalcricket.

Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in the first Test at Karachi in 1989 and is all set to play his160th Test against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, the venue of the first Test of a three-match series, on November 16.

LINK

way to go sachin ..

11-14-2009, 10:20 PM #104



India's proudest possession

By Peter Roebuck

Tendulkar has gone two decades being a blend of the sublime and the precise, incapable of ugliness or of being dull; and thoseare among the least of his achievements

Sachin Tendulkar has been playing top-class cricket for 20 years and he's still producing blistering innings, still looking hungry, stilldemolishing attacks, still a prized wicket, still a proud competitor. He has not merely been around for two decades. From hisfirst outing to his most recent effort, a stunning 175 in Hyderabad, he has been a great batsman. Longevity counts amongsthis strengths. Twenty years! It's a heck of a long time, and it's gone in the blink of an eye.

The Berlin Wall was taken down a week before Sachin Tendulkar first wore the colours of his country, Nelson Mandela wasbehind bars, Allan Border was captaining Australia, and India was a patronised country known for its dust, poverty, t imidbatsmen and not much else. In those days Tendulkar was a tousle-haired cherub prepared to stand his ground against allcomers, including Wasim Akram and the most menacing of the Australans, Merv Hughes. Now he is a tousle-haired elder stillstanding firm, still driving and cutting, still retaining some of the impudence of youth, but nowadays bearing also the sagacity ofage.

It has been an incredible journey, a trip that figures alone cannot define. Not that the statistics lack weight. To the contrarythey are astonishing, almost mind-boggling. Tendulkar has a scored an avalanche of runs, thousands upon thousands of them inevery form of the game. He has reached three figures 87 times in the colours of his country, and all the while has somehowretained his freshness, somehow avoided the mechanical, the repetitive and the predictable.

Perhaps that has been part of it, the ability to retain the precious gift of youth. Alongside Shane Warne, the Indian master hasbeen the most satisfying cricketer of his generation.

Tendulkar's feats are prodigious. He has scored as many runs overseas as in his backyard, has flogged Brett Lee at his fastestand Shane Warne at his most obtuse, has flourished against swing and cut, prospered in damp and dry. Nor can his record betaken for granted. Batsmen exist primarily to score runs. It is a damnably difficult task made to look easy by a handful of expertpractitioners. Others have promised and fallen back, undone by the demands, unable to meet the moment. Tendulkar has keptgoing, on his toes, seeking runs in his twinkling way.

In part he has lasted so long because there has been so litt le inner strain. It's hard to think of a player remotely comparablewho has spent so little energy conquering himself. Throughout, Tendulkar has been able to concentrate on overcoming hisopponents.

But it has not only been about runs. Along the way Tendulkar has provided an unsurpassed blend of the sublime and theprecise. In him the technical and the natural sit side by side, friends not enemies, allies deep in conversation. Romantics talkabout those early morning trips to Shivaji Park, and the child eager to erect the nets and anxious to bat t ill someone took hiswicket. They want to believe that toil alone can produce that straight drive and a bat so broad that periodically it is measured.But it was not like that.

From the start the lad had an uncanny way of executing his strokes perfectly. His boyhood coaches insist that their role was toensure that he remained unspoilt. There was no apprenticeship. Tendulkar was born to bat.

Over the decades it has been Tendulkar's rare combination of mastery and boldness that has delighted connoisseurs andcrowds alike. More than any other batsman, even Brian Lara, Tendulkar's batting has provoked gasps of admiration. A singlewithering drive dispatched along the ground, eluding the bowler, placed unerringly between fieldsmen, can provoke wondereven amongst the oldest hands. A solitary square cut is enough to make a spectator's day.

Tendulkar might lose his wicket cheaply but he is incapable of playing an ugly stroke. His defence might have been designed byChristopher Wren. And alongside these muscular orthodoxies could be found ornate flicks through the on-side, glides off hisbulky pads that sent t ight deliveries dashing on unexpected journeys into the back and beyond. Viv Richards could terrorise anattack with pitiless brutality, Lara could dissect bowlers with surgical and magical strokes, Tendulkar can take an attack apartwith towering simplicity.



Nor has Tendulkar ever stooped to dullness or cynicism. Throughout, his wits have remained sharp and originality has beengiven its due. He has, too, been remarkably constant. In those early appearances, he relished the litt le improvisations calculatedto send bowlers to the madhouse: cheeky strokes that told of ability and nerve. For a time thereafter he put them into thecupboard, not because respectability beckoned or responsibility weighed him down but because they were not required. Shotselection, his very sense of the game, counts amongst his qualities.

On his most recent trip to Australia, though, he decided to restore audacity, cheekily undercutting lifters, directing the ballbetween fieldsmen, shots the bowlers regarded as beyond the pale. Even in middle age he remains unbroken. Hyderabadconfirmed his durability.

And yet, even this, the runs, the majesty, the thrills, does not capture his achievement. Reflect upon his circumstances andthen marvel at his feat. Here is a man obliged to put on disguises so that he can move around the streets, a fellow able todrive his cars only in the dead of night for fear or creating a commotion, a father forced to take his family to Iceland on holiday,a person whose entire adult life has been lived in the eye of a storm. Throughout he has been public property, India's proudestpossession, a young man and yet also a source of joy for millions, a sportsman and yet, too, an expression of a vast and ever-changing nation. Somehow he has managed to keep the world in its rightful place. Somehow he has raised children who relishhis company and tease him about his batting. Whenever he loses his wicket in the 90s, a not uncommon occurrence, his boyasks why he does not "hit a sixer".

Somehow he has emerged with an almost untarnished reputation. Inevitably mistakes have been made. Something about acar, something else about a cricket ball, and suggestions that he had stretched the facts to assist his pal Harbhajan Singh. Butthen he is no secular saint. It's enough that he is expected to bat better than anyone else. It's hardly fair to ask him to matchMother Teresa as well.

At times India has sprung too quickly to his defence, as if a point made against him was an insult to the nation, as if he werebeyond censure. A poor lbw decision- and he has had his allocation- can all too easily be turned into a cause celebre. HappilyTendulkar has always retained his equanimity. He is a sportsman as well as a cricketer. By no means has it been the least of hiscontributions, and it explains his widespread popularity. Not even Placido Domingo has been given more standing ovations.

And there has been another quality that has sustained him, a trait whose importance cannot be overstated. Not long ago KeithRichards, lead guitarist with the Rolling Stones, was asked how the band had kept going for so long, spent so many decades onthe road, made so many records, put up with so much attention. His reply was as simple as it as telling. "We love it," heexplained, "we just love playing." And so it has always has been with Tendulkar. It's never been hard for him to play cricket.The hard part will be stopping. But he will take into retirement a mighty record and the knowledge that he has givenenormous pleasure to followers of the game wherever it is played.

LINK

11-14-2009, 10:29 PM #105



Guys stop

11-14-2009, 10:32 PM #106


Practice makes you Sachin




11-14-2009, 10:33 PM #107





11-14-2009, 10:48 PM #108



Vengsarkar pays tribute

"What I admire about Sachin is his humility, respect for elders and the passion for the game that he has retained even after somany years and after achieving so much in cricket. He has not changed at all," former India captain Vengsarkar said in praise ofthe master batsman who made his international debut on November 15, 1989.

The former chief selector told PTI that he had his first look at Tendulkar's precocious talent during the 1988-89 series againstNew Zealand when he invited the prodigiously talented schoolboy to the Indian team's net session.

"I had heard about his exploits (in schools and junior cricket) in 1988-89 when I was India captain and Vasu Paranjpe (formerMumbai cricketer) told me I must make it a point and see him play. We were in the middle of the series against New Zealandand I invited Sachin for the nets," Vengsarkar recalled.

"I was very impressed after seeing the way he batted against Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Maninder Singh and Arshad Ayub atthe nets and the same evening the Mumbai selectors met and picked him to play his first Ranji Trophy tie against Gujarat. Heplayed very well and went on to make a hundred (100 not out) in his first game," the former middle-order stylist said.

"Then he got picked for India. At that time we never thought he would score so many thousands of runs or play for 20 yearsfor the country," Vengsarkar said.

Vengsarkar was emphatic that the 36-year-old batting genius, scorer of 12,773 runs in Tests and over 17,000 runs in ODIs, isthe best batsman ever to play for India.

"I can definitely say he has been the best batsman produced by India, not only for the sheer number of runs hehas scored but also for the pace at which he has got those runs which has given the bowlers enough time tobowl out the opposition," said the 53-year-old former captain.

Vengsarkar remembers very well the brilliant hundreds scored by Tendulkar as his India teammate in England and Australia atManchester, Sydney and Perth and said even at that age he had a very mature head on his shoulders.

"As a teammate, I have seen him score his first 100 that saved the Test for India against England (119 not out at Manchesterin 1989-90 series) and the hundreds he scored against Australia (on his first tour in 1991-92) at Sydney (148 not out) andPerth (114 out of 272)," he said.

"They were amazing innings and even at that young age he showed a lot of maturity. He was also physically strong. We knewthen that he would go on to achieve bigger things in cricket," he said.

One of Tendulkar's best innings in domestic cricket was a blistering near-ton he scored against Haryana in the Ranji Trophy finalin 1990-91 at the Wankhede Stadium when Vengsarkar was the team captain.

"I can also never forget his blistering innings of 96 against Haryana (led by Kapil) in the 1990-91 final at the Wankhede Stadiumwhen we chased 350-plus runs in 65 overs and were down to 30-odd for three. It was an amazing knock, one of the best Ihave seen," he gushed.

Mumbai lost that match by a heart-stopping two runs after they made a great effort to chase the target (355) by riding onTendulkar's early pyrotechnics and Vengsarkar's brilliant unbeaten knock of 139 on virtually one leg.

LINK

11-14-2009, 10:56 PM #109

LurkerNow playing

Quote by SachDan



Join Date: Nov 2006Posts: 8,565$ICF: 10,275,807

The Berlin Wall was taken down a week before Sachin Tendulkar first wore the colours of his country, NelsonMandela was behind bars, Allan Border was captaining Australia, and India was a patronised country known forits dust, poverty, timid batsmen and not much else. In those days Tendulkar was a tousle-haired cherubprepared to stand his ground against all comers, including Wasim Akram and the most menacing of the Australans,Merv Hughes. Now he is a tousle-haired elder still standing firm, still driving and cutting, still retaining some of theimpudence of youth, but nowadays bearing also the sagacity of age.

Worst Peter Roebuck article in a long time. Oddly enough Sachin fans are much happy to see their "God" appreciated when itis their country that is being dissed.

Timid batsmen Peter? Wasnt Amarnath acknowledged by every great fast bowler of his time as the bravest batsman?? Pray dotell which English, or Australian for that matter, received the same accolodate at the time? And that is not even consideringGavaskar who was easily one of the top 2 bats of his t ime alongside Viv Richards. Has flowery language deluded yourjudgement so much that you completely forget Sunny's record in cricket??

And while we are discussing 80s did you happen to forget how India won the 83 World Cup, and was the favorite to win the87 World cup too? Speaking of 87 World cup was it not the most popular World cup till date, with the most mammoth crowdsand better arrangements than what your nation England could provide in 75, 79, 83?? It is bewildering to see you mention asIndians being patronised and do exactly that!

Get real Peter, India was a cricketing power much before Sachin arrived. Sure as a batsman Sachin achieved a lot for India butif folks like you dont relate India with poverty these days it has nothing to do with Sachin, more to do economic reforms.

What a sweet and juicy piece of trashy article this was.

xxx

11-14-2009, 11:13 PM #110



Quote by Lurker

Worst Peter Roebuck article in a long time. Oddly enough Sachin fans are much happy to see their "God"appreciated when it is their country that is being dissed.

Timid batsmen Peter? Wasnt Amarnath acknowledged by every great fast bowler of his time as the bravest batsman?? Pray do tell which English, or Australian for that matter, received the same accolodate at the time? And that is noteven considering Gavaskar who was easily one of the top 2 bats of his time alongside Viv Richards. Has flowerylanguage deluded your judgement so much that you completely forget Sunny's record in cricket??

And while we are discussing 80s did you happen to forget how India won the 83 World Cup, and was the favorite towin the 87 World cup too? Speaking of 87 World cup was it not the most popular World cup till date, with the mostmammoth crowds and better arrangements than what your nation England could provide in 75, 79, 83?? It isbewildering to see you mention as Indians being patronised and do exactly that!

Get real Peter, India was a cricketing power much before Sachin arrived. Sure as a batsman Sachin achieved a lot forIndia but if folks like you dont relate India with poverty these days it has nothing to do with Sachin, more to doeconomic reforms.


xxx

Tbh while reading the article I too felt bad with the way how Roebuck ridiculed our country and players of the past. He couldhave easily avoided mentioning that since it was never going to add any charm to what he wrote. Except for that silliness,article is quite good.

11-14-2009, 11:24 PM #111


Aamir Khan Pays tribute



Sach is life..


You will be surprised to know that I have seen Sachin bat against the best bowlers at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) evenbefore he played for India. I clearly remember, Dilip Vengsarkar had come to the Indian team nets with a 14-year-old. After thenets he asked the boy to pad up and handed over a brand new ball to Kapil Dev.

Kapil thought Dilip was trying to play a prank and he bowled some dollies to the kid who looked visibly upset. Dilip went to Kapiland insisted that he should bowl at his normal speed. Kapil, reluctantly, bowled some quick balls but the boy faced all of themwith great confidence. Now he was happy.

Kapil’s ego had been hurt. After all, how can a 14-year-old handle him so easily? He marked his run-up and bowled some nastyballs. But the lad faced them with supreme confidence. We were stunned.

After the session, Dilip told Kapil, “This is the wonder boy I was talking about. His name is Sachin Tendulkar.”“Goodness me,” said a startled Kapil. “At this age he seems so matured. You are right; he is special.” All of us weretracking his progress, primarily through newspapers. Less than two years since that amazing net session, Sachin was awardedthe India cap. Our career started almost at the same time.

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was released in 1988; Sachin made his international debut in 1989.

I first met him when he was invited to give the muhurat-shot clap for our new film Avval Number. He was very shy and far toopolite. Since then we have nurtured a special friendship. I would like to narrate two stories which are close to my heart. Wewere in the final stages of Lagaan and were in need of some sound bytes. You usually hear two kinds of noises in a packedcricket stadium. One is a giant roar when something spectacular happens. The second is a deafening silence when somethinggoes unexpectedly wrong.

An India-Australia match was played at the Wankhede Stadium. I called Sachin so that he could get us approval from the rightauthorit ies to record sound bytes when the match was on. Sachin promptly got us the consent. The stadium was full and wegot the bytes we dearly wanted. When we listened to the track, we had to cut almost 80 per cent of the footage. Thereason? When Sachin is on the field spectators will continuously chant: Saaaachin, Saaaachin.

It was not possible to use those sound bytes given that Sachin was not playing any role in Lagaan. Before itsrelease I invited him for a private screening. It was an amazing scene: Sachin watching Lagan and I watching him.I was dying to see his reactions. The film rolled on and when Bhura took his first wicket in the film, Sachinunwittingly lifted his left hand and appealed: “How’s that.”

I was relieved. That was it; I knew we were on the right track. I felt confident that the cricketing part in the film was just fineand the chances of success bright. I was invited for the Indian Premier League final (of its first edit ion) at the DY Patil Stadium.I was damn lucky since I got a seat next to Sachin. During the course of the match I asked him about the possible bowlingchanges. He explained the situation and predicted who would be bowling next. The change was made and the same bowler,who he had foreseen, came in to bowl next. For the next half an hour he was reading the game like an open book. He wasonly making an accurate prediction of the bowling changes; he was spot on with his views on field placement. He could evensense what shots the batsmen would play. It was unbelievable. I was stunned by his observations, his knowledge of the game,and the way he read the minds of the opposition. Completing 20 years in international cricket is a great achievement. I thinkhis single-mindedness, dedication, passion for the game and his values have made this possible. His enthusiasm remainsundimmed. Even after reaching this stage, he is so simple and humble. He is still fighting fit and motivated too. Let us enjoywatching the legend for a couple of more years at least.

LINK

11-14-2009, 11:27 PM #112


Join Date: Sep 2009

Enough is Enough guys

tears ready to flow and I still cant stop reading all these articles! Thank you



Posts: 952$ICF: 2,000,718

11-14-2009, 11:35 PM #113

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Join Date: Nov 2006Posts: 8,565$ICF: 10,275,807

Quote by SachDan

Tbh while reading the article I too felt bad with the way how Roebuck ridiculed our country and players of thepast. He could have easily avoided mentioning that since it was never going to add any charm to what he wrote.Except for that silliness, article is quite good.

I am reluctant to let it go as a mere mistake, more so since Peter Roebuck was a cricketer in his own right and was captainingSomserset in 80s. All the examples I mentioned earlier are from his cricketing days. I did not even bother to mention 2nd classexamples: Dileep Vengsarkar scoring 3 100's at Lords(probably Roebuck's hallowed ground), Kapil scoring 292 runs in about 240deliveries in 82(I would dare Mr Roebuck to give me a single example of a "cavalier" English batsman who has scored at that SRabroad) etc etc.

This is either complete ignorance or just a blantant act of setting the bar of Indian cricket heritage so low that Sachin comesacross as being a Superman.

Thats my 0.02c, didnt mean to change the theme of this thread.

xxx

11-14-2009, 11:36 PM #114

Chandan.


Quote by SachDan

Tbh while reading the article I too felt bad with the way how Roebuck ridiculed our country and players of thepast. He could have easily avoided mentioning that since it was never going to add any charm to what he wrote.Except for that silliness, article is quite good.

If you read closely, his article has nothing special,. I preferred that article much more which Harsha retrieved from Sports world,or some of the interviews where Sachin said that Kumble was the best Indian cricketer of his generation.

Yesterday, he had a long press conference where journalists kept asking him question which he has replied several t imes.

One journalist had an interesting way of repoting this conference:

...how we wonder what you are

HIS EYES give it away. Behind the public reserve is an animated man. THE AFFECTION AND SUPPORT from the cricket fans of the country was immense. You need people to share your success and I have more than a billion people. That is more than enough for me.

Sukhwant BasraMUMBAI:

Somewhere, far removed from his public face, frolics the real Sachin Tendulkar. Perhaps that man is not reserved, modest oralways in control. Under the glare of the arc lights it seems to peek hrough once in a while -- in the form of a blazing sil ver beltbuckle that's almost as wide as his hand, or the shiny black crocodile skin shoes that match the buckle twinkle to shine. Theflashy Tendulkar inhabits a private world; facing his nth press conference, he is decidedly bland. There's an u nderlyingrestlessness to the man sitting in the chair. His neck bobs all the time-- back and forth and sideways with a distinctive tendencyto flop towards the right shoulder.



Then, it 's all stretched out when responding to a question that has him more animated than most. Its all very bird-like.

Sometimes hawk, largely dove.

The left hand's steady with the microphone grasped. The right is whirring about with fingers splayed when he gropes for thecorrect words and lies limp when the query refuses to excite him. The shiny-shoes-clad feet begin to move as an answer dragsout. In the hour plus that he faced a volley of questions, they have done a full tap dance circumambulating the space underthe table. They, after all, are free from scrutiny under the wood. There, they can frolic a bit.

The man who terrorises bowlers with temerity, refuses to hold eye contact with a questioner for the length of a retort.

After all, those eyes are the most naked bit in the shell that he cocoons within. The warmth is there, the vibe is posit ive butthe armour is always up. Just, the eyes are a giveaway. They glaze over at a controversial poser, sparkle with boyish humour atquestions that amuse and come alive when he is talking pure cricket.

The focus of a mind that spells 175 even at the age of 36 is clear in the way he streams out all the background commotion. Itis white noise. He does not ask for long questions, which are actually a series of them woven into one, to be repeated. Hereels off the answers. Just that the answers have been accumulating over 20 years. It's the same stuff over and over again.



"Every individual should respect another... whatever you say or do you have to think twice," he says to a query on why he hasnever lashed out with angry words. That attitude doesn't make great copy but perhaps that's exactly why he makes a greatcricketer.

"Cricket lies in my heart. I enjoy playing cricket. It comes naturally. It is my life and I enjoy every moment of it." There's arobotic one-dimensional aspect to his subservience to his God. Something that does not allow him to rest easy on the lastgreat knock. "Others talk about the last game, I think about the next one."

Perhaps someday Tendulkar will let his guard down and speak his mind without being too bothered about the ease of others.He may yet take on the toughest of posers and rip through them with the abandon only his willow flashes as of now."People have appreciated me the way I am. Why change what you are when people anyway like you the way you are?"Perhaps someday he will get over the bit that he has to be liked by everyone and allow a peek into his private world -the placewhere he is all human and no superstar. Perhaps.

(The interaction was organised by the World Sports Group, who manage Tendulkar)

VERBATIM 20 YEARS is a long time and I have many special moments and it would be difficult to count them.

But the first one (Test), the first day walking out in the playing XI in Pakistan probably was the greatest moment.



I KNOW there is lot of cricket left in me because I am still enjoying it. I am not thinking of retirement.

At some stage, I will have to, but I don't need to think of it right now.

IT WAS a long journey and what I did after that was a reflection of my contribution to the game in the country. Playing forthe country was my childhood dream and I have fulfilled my dream. I am fortunate to have played for my country for so manyyears.

11-14-2009, 11:38 PM #115



A tribute by Sir Viv Richards

Sunny (Sunil Gavaskar) hung his shoes in 1987, and Sachin Tendulkar emerged in the international cricket scene in 1989. I envyIndian cricket’s fortune as they have had two batting legends (back to back) in Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.

For a number of years, I have enjoyed watching Sachin bat. He has got a perfect blend of defence and aggression. I alsoadmire his ability to score runs in both forms of the game. I distinctly remember one interaction between us. The 2007 WorldCup was a disaster for the Indian team. They lost to Bangladesh – it was just one bad day and suddenly the Indian team wasunder tremendous pressure. Eventually, they lost to Sri Lanka and were thrown out of the tournament. Now they had to facethe wrath of one billion Indian fans.

A friend of Sachin told me that he was in a state of shock and feeling depressed. He wanted me to have a chat with him. Iwas more than happy to do so. During the course of the next match in Antigua, I got a phone call from Sachin. We had ahearty chat for almost half an hour.I told Sachin that he was already a legend and that he should not pressurise himself to perform in every match. I said, “Sachinwhenever you are going in to bat, do not expect that you should play a match-winning knock. At this stage of your careeryour role in the team is more than just a player. You should be a mentor to the team, a guide to the younger players.”

I also bluntly asked him, “Are you sure in your mind about why you are playing now?” He told me that his body was holding upand he was not merely going through the motions. His motivation to perform at the highest level was still there. He is sohonest in whatever he does. He proved that his hunger to perform at the highest level was st ill there when he played somegreat knocks during the Indian team’s tour to Australia (2007-08 series). He scored two centuries in the Test series.Furthermore, he helped India win the triangular ODI series.

I admire Sachin as a person too. He is so polite; his mannerisms are heart-touching. He is a living legend and a wonderful rolemodel for world cricket.

LINK

11-14-2009, 11:44 PM #116



Beast pays tribute

It’s an honour to talk about the man I’ve admired all my life. As a kid I enjoyed watching Sachin’s feats on television and hewas one of the reasons why I fell in love with the game. His style in his init ial years was all-aggression. Now, of course, he is



more matured in his approach.

I got my world record (fastest century in one-day cricket) with Sachin’s bat. I remember we went to Kenya afterplaying an under-19 tournament in the West Indies. Incidentally, Waqar Younis was in possession of that bat.Sachin wanted him to get a willow of a similar make from Sialkot. Waqar suggested that I try it, for somehow hefelt it would work for me and I would enjoy myself.

I instantly liked the feel of the wood and the balance. With the bat I achieved the world record but if my memoryserves me right, Sachin has also got out with it a few times. I still have the bat, for it holds a special significancefor me. First, I got the world record with it. Second, the prized possession belongs to Sachin. I value the bat asthough it is my bride. But let me emphasise that be it Sachin or Brian Lara, I have never allowed myself to be intimidated byanyone. I’ve, in all these years, played cricket from the heart.

It is natural that you would be in awe of Sachin but at the same time you need to lift yourself. True he has been brilliantagainst us, but there were occasions when I was in rhythm and managed to dismiss him. Yes, it ’s never easy when you are upagainst him. Usually I want to have him at the non-striker’s end, so that I can concentrate on plotting the downfall of theother batsman.

On my first tour to India I asked him to point the areas where I could improve. We had a one-on-one chat and he did give mea couple of suggestions. I know he is the kind of person who will always have something useful to offer whenever I need it. Ihave fond memories of many of his special innings. There was one knock at the Lord’s but, in Pakistan’s context, I would like topick his innings in the Bangalore Test in 2005.

He was in his elements on the last day. I remember dismissing him which opened the floodgates for us to win the game. I thinkI got him out seven-eight t imes in our exchanges, which is an honour for me.

LINK

11-14-2009, 11:45 PM #117



Quote by Domaink

This is one guy Raj Thackray will not take panga with.

My first thought

11-14-2009, 11:51 PM #118



Quote by Lurker

Worst Peter Roebuck article in a long time. Oddly enough Sachin fans are much happy to see their "God"appreciated when it is their country that is being dissed.

Timid batsmen Peter? Wasnt Amarnath acknowledged by every great fast bowler of his time as the bravest batsman?? Pray do tell which English, or Australian for that matter, received the same accolodate at the time? And that is noteven considering Gavaskar who was easily one of the top 2 bats of his time alongside Viv Richards. Has flowerylanguage deluded your judgement so much that you completely forget Sunny's record in cricket??

And while we are discussing 80s did you happen to forget how India won the 83 World Cup, and was the favorite towin the 87 World cup too? Speaking of 87 World cup was it not the most popular World cup till date, with the mostmammoth crowds and better arrangements than what your nation England could provide in 75, 79, 83?? It isbewildering to see you mention as Indians being patronised and do exactly that!

Get real Peter, India was a cricketing power much before Sachin arrived. Sure as a batsman Sachin achieved a lot forIndia but if folks like you dont relate India with poverty these days it has nothing to do with Sachin, more to doeconomic reforms.


xxx

I never liked Roebucks' article for the same fact that he never misses a chance to take a potshot anything that is Indian. Lastweek he took his cheapest shot at one of the Indian franchises' in IPL (KKR). I never bothered reading his tribute to SRT oncricinfo...was planning to but thanks to you for highlights his dull low-blows.

And "you" folks need to go easy on SRT fans' bashing. Even we consider that no one is greater than our country, then whythe need of generalizing ?



11-14-2009, 11:55 PM #119

Domaink20 years!!



I never liked Roebucks' article for the same fact that he never misses a chance to take a potshot anything that isIndian. Last week he took his cheapest shot at one of the Indian franchises' in IPL (KKR). I never bothered readinghis tribute to SRT on cricinfo...was planning to but thanks to you for highlights his dull low-blows.

And "you" folks need to go easy on SRT fans' bashing. Even we consider that no one is greater than our country,then why the need of generalizing ?

His articles reflect some arrogance. He believes in sensationalism. He has written some quite pathetic stuff in the past.

Yesterday, 12:18 AM #120



Quote

Time to stop talking Tendulkar

All around us today all of India is talking a language called 'Tendulkar'.

His twenty years has led to actors delivering lines, singers hitting notes, academics offering profundities, colleaguesoffering praises over partnership, coaches delivering theories, friends telling their tales.

Yet, most of his admirers remain unknown. They climb trees to look into a stadium, push the one ahead of them tograb a cheap seat, stand on the street shifting from one foot to another, duck down security barriers, run along theteam bus to catch sight of him. When they see him, they become the single biggest sound in cricket.

Today, it is they who are smiling silently. If they are merely distant fringes of his life, flecks seen from behind hissunglasses, he is at the centre of theirs. Because every time Tendulkar sets off to the crease, he takes with him theonly thing they own - their pride. And today, that is bursting. Twenty years on, the batsman of their dreams is stillthere - and he remains real.

In his twentieth year, Tendulkar has of course been turned into a monument, a deity. As India stretched itselfthrough the 1990s and into the new millennium he went from Cherub-Face to Funky-Haircut, prodigy to big brand.He owns the Ferrari and a Mike Knopfler guitar hangs on a wall in his house. He is thought of as so valuable now theywill cut trees to produce some 35kg piece of furniture about him and call it a book.

But Tendulkar is where he is because when it comes to what he does, he has hung onto the most ordinary ofdescriptions. He is truly precious because he has remained the working man. Sure, his work happens to be visible andpublic. Sure, it attracts and seduces India, sending a country's blood pumping. Yet to him, it has remained his craft,his trade, his soul and he has given it his complete absorbtion. It is the quality that has made him the batsman he is.Not his eye, his t iming, not even his gleaming, polished talent. Skills and gift could take him a distance, but only hismind in cricket and his heart towards it, could have lasted twenty years.

When he bats, everyone watches. He reaches a demographic which the movie star and the politician would envy butwill not ever possess. Male and female, young, middle-aged and old, business mogul and the man who polishes hisshoes, students, teachers and drop outs, Indians in every corner of the country and the nooks and crannies of theworld. When he had his tennis elbow injury, a room in his house piled up with medicines, oils, plasters, bandages,supports, sent by his fans from everywhere.

In the time Tendulkar wrote the story of his career, he has given us ours. Pradeep Ramarathnam, a multinationalexecutive in Bangalore today, thinks that Tendulkar brought sons and mothers closer. And in a way, God as well. Inthe 1990s, Ramarathnam's mother who never followed cricket, watched Tendulkar with him, amazed by the youngbatsman's age and mastery. Whenever Tendulkar arrived at the crease, Ramarathnam was told to rush off and prayfor him. It was his mother's way of teaching him the prayers, but the son believed it was his way of ensuringTendulkar didn't get out early. Well, he hasn't.

Every fan has a personal Tendulkar story about the man's presence that has nothing to do with chance meetings.

The twenty-year anniversary has led to a wild outbreak of festivities in the media with Tendulkar probably sitt ingthrough more interviews in the space of a few weeks than he has done in two decades. It is his twentieth year, butactually his 21st season.

Think about it, it is in those seasons he has made his name, reputation and those towering records and he's alreadycrossed twenty. The meticulous man would probably have noted 2008-09 as No. 20 passing by. That slipped out ofthe rest of our thinking and even statisticians didn't send out alerts. It didn't matter. Tendulkar turned up from SouthAfrica and sent out his: 175 in Hyderabad that sent TV ratings and India's pulse racing.

So never mind talking Tendulkar. As season 21 continues after the celebrations of Year 20, all that must be felt iscontentment. All that must be experienced is enjoyment, all that must be appreciated is presence. It is what SachinTendulkar has given us all.



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11-15-2009, 12:19 AM #121



Ganguly wants Tendulkar to fire at the 2011 World Cup2009-11-14 19:22:00

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly wants Sachin Tendulkar to fire at the 2011 World Cup.

On the eve of Tendulkar's 20th year in international cricket here Saturday, Ganguly said: 'I hope he keeps on firing. If he firesin the 2011 World Cup and leaves an impact in the team then India could have a big time.'

Describing Tendulkar as the best role model for sportsmen, all-rounder Irfan Pathan also wants to see the master blaster as amember of the World Cup winning team in 2011.

India, alongside Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are hosting the 2011 World Cup.

Ganguly congratulated Tendulkar for completing 20 years in top flight cricket.

'It's a fantastic achievement playing 20 years for the country. Perhaps he is the best batsman I have seen,' he said.

He recalled his maiden interaction with Tendulkar in the under-15 national camp at Indore in 1987-88.

'I had heard a lot about him because even then he was making news. He was considered a special talent and has lived uptoexpectation for two decades,' he said.

Describing himself as fortunate for playing over 300 matches with Tendulkar, Ganguly said he has fond memories of theMumbaikar on and off the field.

'I treasure these experiences. We have many sweet memories,' he said.

Ganguly termed Tendulkar's 175 at Hyderabad against Australia as his best One-day International innings.

'It was perhaps his best ODI innngs. At least the best I have seen,' he said.

11-15-2009, 12:30 AM #122


He has been mentored by Sachin Tendulkar since his debut in South Africa when he scored his first hundred while batting withthe maestro and has since formed one of the most devastating opening pairs in world cricket. Here’s Virender Sehwag’s very


Cricket Bowling MachineCheapest Ball Machine By Ha-Ko Enterprise,Mumbai.www.bowlingmachine.in



chotta credit


special tribute to his hero.

When you two bat the synergy is excellent. What do you guys discuss while batting?

We enjoy each other’s games, have fun in the middle and push each other on. When I play a good shot Sachin speaks to meand often tells me that he knows I can hit more of such shots and I do the same. We just stay focussed and enjoy our t imeout there in the middle.

Sachin is a legend, isn’t he? For 20 long.. (Sehwag interrupts)

He is not simply a legend. He is God. He is the god of cricket and it has been an absolute privilege to be able toshare the dressing room with him and play with him.

Talk a bit about the famous centurion partnership in the 2003 World Cup in SA?

Pakistan had scored 273 and the Indian dressing room was completely quiet. Sachin was only listening to music and wasn’teven talking to anyone. When the umpires walked out to the middle I went up to him to tell him that we need to go out andwe did so. The moment we stepped out to the middle he said he would take first strike. This was because Wasim Akram wasbowling and I hadn’t faced him before. In the very second over he tore into Shoaib Akhtar and hit the fantastic six over point.He followed it up with three boundaries and we raced off to a blistering start. The Pakistanis were abusing us in Hindi and Iurged him to continue hitt ing them. That was our retort for their behaviour. Also, let me say that the hit over slip or point is astroke I learnt from Sachin and have used it ever since.

Sachin has now said that he will play the 2011 World Cup. Your thoughts.

Why only 2011 he is fit enough to even play the 2015 World Cup. See his innings in Hyderabad. He fielded for 50 overs andthen came out to bat and played for 47 overs. Not many Indian players have been able to do that over the years. He stillpractices more than any youngster and he is fit enough to play for many years. After practice Gary throws balls at him for over40 minutes and he continues to knock them around. His dedication is infectious. Off the field he is a fun-loving guy. He lovesplaying video games and enjoys going to the movies with us. I am fortunate to be able to spend time with him and it isfantastic that he will play the 2011 World Cup.

He is Sachin’s best buddy. He has been presented with eight bats by the master over the last two years and thinks Sachin waswell capable of picking 350 wickets had he been a bowler. Sachin completing his 20 years in international cricket is a veryspecial occasion for this sardar from Jalandhar. Harbhajan Singh shares his views about Sachin.

Bhajji, Sachin completing 20 years is a special moment for you as well. Isn’t it?

Absolutely it is. And to remain at the very top for all these years makes it all the more special. He is an extraordinary man and atruly great friend who I can turn to at any point in time in my life.

Tell me about your first meeting with Sachin?

I met him for the first time in Jalandhar. India was playing Sri Lanka and I was asked to come and bowl at thenets to the Indian batsman. By the time I reached the ground the practice session was over. Sachin came outand spoke to me for two minutes. It meant the world to me.

Tell me about sharing the dressing room and anything in particular that you have learnt from him?

I have learnt a lot from him both on and off the field. Off the field I’d only eat Indian food when we travelled out of India.Sachin was the one who told me not to restrict myself to makai ki roti and chicken (laughs). He has introduced me to a widerange of cuisines and I have now learnt to adapt to all conditions and palettes. On the field I learnt the outswinger from him,which I use if I have to bowl early in the innings. I have picked many wickets with this ball. He is blessed. I haven’t seen manywho can spin the ball as much as he can. Had he wanted to be a bowler he could easily have picked 350 wickets. Not manyremember that it was Sachin with the ball who won us the famous Kolkata Test in 2001 against Australia. The two of usbowled in tandem and he picked up three crucial wickets on the last day of the match.

Did he give you anything after that special performance of yours?

He gave me a pair of spikes. Had it been today I’d have asked for his Ferrari! But those spikes are invaluable for me. Over thelast two years he has given me 8-9 bats of his own. I have been batting with them ever since and my batting has improvedconsiderably over the last couple of years.

Sydney remains a Test match I must ask you about. Did it help you during monkeygate that Sachin was out there with you?

Of course it did. Had Sachin not been there the situation could have gone completely out of control. He was a calminginfluence and did much for me all through the controversy. He is a special man and I wish him all the best with everything hedoes even after he retires from the game in a few years.

11-15-2009, 12:43 AM #123



Domaink20 years!!


Man, this thread is gold really. I am going to make a PDF of this thread and preserve it forever.

11-15-2009, 12:45 AM #124



Whenever talk veers towards the early excitement around Sachin Tendulkar’s talent, I remember the words of Kapil Dev. I hadbroken the news tothe Indian team in the dressing room about Sachin making a hundred on Ranji Trophy debut . The first to respond was Kapil,who immediately told his teammates ,‘‘ Please don’t go overboard over this performance. We have also had our prodigies inHaryana. There was Rajdeep Kalsi. But he flattered to deceive.''

Kapil’s Mumbai teammates, like Dilip Vengsarkar and Sanjay Manjrekar, sniggered. They had been following Sachin’sperformances since he was 12. They had played with and against him. They knew the buzz. They knew what happened withKalsi would never happen with Sachin. Mumbai cricket has its system of checks and balances and people with the right priorit iesusually let a talented young one sail through to the top seamlessly.

Also, word spreads around Mumbai’s cricket maidans very fast. When Sachin scored his first fifty for Shardashram against DonBosco he was barely 11, but umpire DS Gondhalekar immediately told Sachin’s coach Ramakant Achrekar that his ward wouldone day play for India.

In Achrekar’s own words, Sachin was a ‘‘ natural” . He says: ‘‘ By the time he was 12 or 13 I knew he would reach the top. Ihad to tell him one thing just once, and he would stick to it.”'

Still, there were people not willing to get carried away. Like for the semifinal of a suburban tournament, Sachin was left out ofthe XI by the Hind Sevak skipper . When the skipper got a scolding from Achrekar, Sachin was picked for the two-day finalagainst Prabhu Jolly Young. In the first innings he was out first ball, for a duck off the back of his bat. The bowler was a littleknown legspinner, yours truly!

The members of the team cursed this bowler for denying them the pleasure of watching the prodigy from close quarters. Inthe second innings, Sachin hit three boundaries in a row off Ajit Pai, former India seamer, before being run out by his skipper.He went back crying to the pavilion.

This is the ‘check-and-balance ' system. There were a few Doubting Thomases. The city had seen many young talents. QuickieRamakant Desai played for India before he played for Mumbai and Budhi Kunderan did likewise. Madhav Apte claimed all tenwickets in the Giles Shield and played for India as opening batsman . Ravi Shastri had been catapulted into Test cricket within ayear of his first-class debut.

Nadeem Memon was among the senior players when Sachin played for John Bright in the F Division of the Monsoon tournamentKanga League, which is a test of batsmanship because the deliveries rise off the drying pitches. Says Nadeem, ‘‘ Achrekar Sirasked me to include Sachin, who was about 12. There were some who thought he might get hurt but he got 16 not out.Vinod Kambli, Samir Dighe, Iqbal Khan, Dattaram Pandit were also there in the side.”

Two teammates who saw him from close quarters at that raw age were Amol Muzumdar and Sairaj Bahutule. Amol Muzumdarwas waiting for his turnduring the world record 664-run stand with Vinod Kambli, while Sairaj Bahutule was in the opposition, in the St. Xavier’s HighSchool bowling lineup. Amol recalls,‘‘ We knew he would play Test cricket but not for 20 years. I was not in Achrekar’s stableinit ially but with coach Anna Vaidya.

“But at Shivaji Park this buzz was there. I remember once I was travelling in a bus with my mother . Sachin was in the samebus. I didn’t know him then. I told my mom when we saw Sachin get off, ‘That’s Sachin Tendulkar, he will play for India.’”

Amol adds, ‘‘ He had special talent . At that time the stress was more on correct technique and temperament, less onflamboyance . But Sachin had this terrific ability to hit the ball which we never saw in others. When one knows that one can hitany bowler it is a big plus point.”

Sairaj Bahutule is all praise for Sachin’s consistency, right from the U-15 level. ‘‘ He hit big runs off me in that world-record standbut he played the bowling on merit even at that young age, which is remarkable.”'

Naresh Churi was another Achrekar chela like Amol Muzumdar , who missed the international bus in spite of having performedand taken the route that Pravin Amre did — Ranji trophy for Railways and Duleep for Central Zone. He says,‘‘ I had passed outof school when Sachin joined but when in town I would go to the nets and see him. Sir had a special net for the extra-talented .

Once I saw Sachin hitting in the air and asked him, ‘You told us to keep the ball along the ground but Sachin is doing theopposite .’ Achrekar told me, ‘When he hits, he not only middles the ball but he clears the ground. Plus he doesn’t get outwhen he lifts the ball.’ I appreciated the logic and I knew then that Sachin was special.”

Churi says at the same time there were many who were pointing out that Vinod Kambli was the greater player. ‘‘ Once I took



y y p g g p your Railways coach Vinod Sharma to watch a Shardasharam game. After Sachin got out with some 250 runs still needed tochase down Anjuman’s 500-plus score at Azad maidan , it was Vinod who scored over 250 and earned us victory. Sharma wasimpressed more by Vinod. But I insisted that Sachin would be the one.” Soon after, when we were in Delhi for a Ranji game,Sharma knocked on my door in the morning saying,‘‘ Your Sachin has been picked for Mumbai.”

When the late Raj Singh Dungarpur saw Sachin play at the Brabourne Stadium in the schools final, he remarked about hismaturity. About how when the field was spread out, Sachin would turn his boundary-bound drives to longon and long-off fortwos. How he didn’t hit the ball in the air for nearly two days. No wonder it took little persuasion for Raj Singh, as chairman ofthe national selection committee, to pick Sachin for India ahead of the likes of Gursharan Singh and Praveen Amre. The rest, asthey say, is history.

11-15-2009, 12:53 AM #125



Sachin makes time stand still.

Quote

In a sport that specialises in the manufacture of instant stars and transient celebrit ies, Tendulkar is the real thing.Even now, twenty yearsSachinafter his debut, there's always a sense of occasion every time he comes to the crease, no matter the game, nomatter the place

Many tributes to Sachin Tendulkar. This month will begin with a recollection of one of his epic innings. I wish to citeone of the shortest. It was in Melbourne, my hometown, on Boxing Day 2003. It was a day rich in entertainment,containing a Virender Sehwag century full of eye-popping strokes. Seldom, however, have I sat in a crowd soobviously awaiting one player, and when Tendulkar appeared they radiated happiness and contentment, bursting intoheartfelt applause. Tendulkar at the MCG? Delayed Christmas presents come no better.

Except that it was all wrapping and no gift. Tendulkar feathered his first ball down the leg side, and was caught atthe wicket — a miserable way to fall for any batsman, in addition to being a lousy anti-climax . The crowd had hardlyceased cheering than it was compelled to resume, cheering Tendulkar off, and the feeling afterwards was almostdevastation. You could hear the sibilance of conversations, as connoisseurs ruminated that cricket sure was a funnygame, and fathers tried explaining to sons that even the greats had bad days. About three overs later, threespectators at the end of my row got up and left. It was mid-afternoon , Sehwag was still mid-spectacular , and theyleft. This was not what they had come for, and they would accept no substitute. I had to stay — it was my job —but I could easily have followed them. The hollow feeling persisted all day.

When it comes to communicating Tendulkar's place in cricket history to future generations, I suspect, this is what willbe most significant, and also the hardest to convey. In the twenty years of his career, international cricket haschanged unrecognisably: elaborate and ceremonial Test cricket has been usurped, economically at least, by the slick,shiny celebrity vehicle of Twenty20.

Yet even now, Tendulkar makes time stand still: every time he comes to the wicket, no matter the game, no matterthe place, there is a sense of occasion. It needs no pop music, no cheerleaders, no word from his many sponsors. Heis announced by his accumulated excellence, the effect somehow magnified by his t ininess: little man, big bat, greatmoment. His entry could not seem more dramatic if he was borne to the crease on a bejewelled palanquin by duskymaidens amid a flourish of imperial trumpets.

This, moreover, has been the case almost for longer than one can remember. I first saw Tendulkar bat live in Englandin 1990. He looked so young, so small, like a novelty item on a key chain. Any sense of frailty, however, was quicklydispelled; instead, there was a sureness of touch, not just impressive but altogether ominous. You told yourself toremember him this way; you wanted to be able to say you were there; he was going to be good, so good. By thetime he first toured Australia eighteen months later, he simply oozed command. All that held him back, and it wouldbe a theme of his career, especially abroad, was his sorely outclassed team.

Sometimes, this looked almost eerie. Ten years ago in Melbourne, India and Tendulkar played a Test at the MCG. Todistinguish between the two was only fair. India were terrible, a shambles. Kumble dropped the simplest catchimaginable from the game's second ball and took 2-150 ; Dravid batted more than three and a half hours in the matchfor 23 runs; Laxman and Ganguly failed twice, the latter playing on to Greg Blewett, of all people.

Tendulkar batted as if on a different pitch, to different bowlers in a different match. Shane Warne came on in frontof his home crowd with Australia in the ascendant. Tendulkar promptly hit him into that crowd beyond mid-off . BrettLee, in his debut Test, bowled like the wind. Tendulkar treated him as a pleasant, cooling breeze. The follow-onloomed, apparently unavoidable. Tendulkar guided India past it, toying with Steve Waugh's formations, making thefielders look as immobile and ineffectual as croquet hoops.

Had it not been for his ten teammates, Tendulkar could have batted until the crack of doom. As it is, he had to restcontent with 116 out of an otherwise bedraggled 238. And this wasn't just an innings; it was, at the time, a



synechdoche of Indian cricket. No matter where he went, Tendulkar was the main event, preceded by acuteanticipation, followed by grateful wonder, seasoned with sympathy, that such a flyweight figure had to bear suchburdens.

There is no discussing Tendulkar, even in cricket terms, as batsman alone. He is also, of course, Indian cricket's originalsuper celebrity; as Pope wrote of Cromwell, ‘damn'd to everlasting fame' . In this sense, he has been preternaturallymodern, at the forefront of developments in the culture of stardom in his country, with his telephone-numbertelevision entanglements and sponsorship deals, and his reclusive private life. Without Tendulkar's prior demonstrationof cricket's commercial leverage, Lalit Modi and all his works would have been unthinkable.

What's truly amazing, nonetheless, is that the simulacrum of Tendulkar has never overwhelmed the substance. He hasgone on doing what he does best, and has done better than anybody else in his generation, which is bat and bat andbat. Like Warne, albeit for different reasons, cricket grounds have been a haven for him: in the middle, he alwaysknows what to do, and feels confident he can do it. Life is full of complications and ambiguities; cricket by comparison,even shouldering the expectations of a billion people, is sublimely simple.

Tendulkar's fame, then, is of an unusual kind. He is a symbol of change, but also of continuity. What's astonishingabout his batting is not how much it has changed but how little. He set himself a standard of excellence, ofconsistency, of dominance, and challenged the rest of Indian cricket to meet him up there. Gradually, in the 21stcentury, albeit not without setbacks, stumbles, financial excesses and political wranglings, it has. His presence now isan ennobling one. First it was his excellence that rubbed off; now it is his integrity. Cricket today specialises in themanufacture of instant stars, temporary celebrities, glorious nobodies. Tendulkar acts as a kind of fixed price or goldstandard. To choose a well-loved and well-worn advertising catchline, he is ‘the real thing' .

In his sheer constancy, in fact, Tendulkar unwittingly obscures just how completely cricket has been transformed, tothe extent that it is almost impossible to imagine his fame being replicated. Who in future will play international cricketfor twenty years, losing neither motivation nor mastery? Who in future will master all three forms of the game,capable of spontaneous spectacle and massive entrenchment alike? Who in future will excite us simply by walkingonto the field, just a man and a bat, and disappoint so seldom? Recalling how shocked, even grief stricken, was thatcrowd in Melbourne six years ago as Tendulkar's back was swallowed by the shadows of the pavilion, I find myselfbrooding anxiously on the thought of what it will be like when he disappears for the last time.

154

That's how many one-day wickets Sachin has claimed with his gentle leg-breaks . Nehru Stadium in Kochi has been hishappy hunting ground, with both his fivers coming there — 5 for 32 against Australia in 1998, and 5 for 50 againstPakistan in 2005. The Pakistani giant Inzamam-ul Haq was an unlikely Sachin bunny, falling to him seven times

44

Test wickets have been fewer with 3-10 against South Africa at Mumbai in 2000 being his best.

11-15-2009, 12:54 AM #126

Domaink20 years!!


Quote

During the course of the match I asked him about the possible bowling changes. He explained the situation andpredicted who would be bowling next. The change was made and the same bowler, who he had foreseen, came into bowl next. For the next half an hour he was reading the game like an open book. He was only making an accurateprediction of the bowling changes; he was spot on with his views on field placement. He could even sense whatshots the batsmen would play. It was unbelievable. I was stunned by his observations, his knowledge of the game,and the way he read the minds of the opposition.

11-15-2009, 01:03 AM #127


Quote by Domaink




I was watching them watch the match


Last edited by Moderator : 11-15-2009 at 10:22 AM.

11-15-2009, 01:06 AM #128

Domaink20 years!!


Quote by holysmoke

I was watching them watch the matchhttp://i36.tinypic.com/e0l4j6.jpg

You mean you were sitting right there?

11-15-2009, 02:09 AM #129





11-15-2009, 02:29 AM #130

laalooAll About Sach

Join Date: Nov 2007Location: NJPosts: 5,975$ICF: 1

^^^^

11-15-2009, 02:46 AM #131

varunThe Legend


Something I wrote about my earliest memory of Sachin.

I remember being curious about Sachin Tendulkar. I knew he was a really young kid, a few years older than me, selected forthe Indian team. Mum thought he was cute with his curly hair. We didn't think much of him except that he was the baby ofthe Indian cricket team.

Then Karachi happened. The ODI was reduced to a 20-over exhibition game. Pakistanis had a formidable total up. Qadir wasoutfoxing our batsmen throughout the innings. Out steps litt le Sachin, and boom goes Qadir. 6, 0, 4, 6 6 6. The Karachi crowdwas stunned and amazed at the dichotomy of seeing such brutish strokes come out of someone who looks so innocent. Howcan you hate the kid ? And it didn't stop there.. Akram came in, and Sachin hit him around too ! We couldn't believe our eyessitting in front of the TV. This was the post-Miandad-Chetan-Sharma time when the Pakistanis were considered oh soformidable, and we had become used to seeing the Indian team giving in meekly to them. And then out of nowhere comesthis baby faced curly haired boy who shows no fear, hits 53 runs from 18 balls and gets us so close from an almost impossibleposition.

Quote from Sachin about the match "When I came in to bat we needed 69 runs in five overs or so. I had a go at MushtaqAhmed who had taken two wickets and hit him for a couple of sixes. Qadir then came up to me said, "Bachchon ko kyon marrahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao" ("Why are you only hitting the kid? Hit me too.") Qadir was a great bowler and I was onlyplaying my first series. I didn't say anything, but it fired me up. I took up the challenge and gave it a go. Ultimately we fell shortonly by four runs."

A Hero was born, and the fact that he took us so close but tragically failed to win made him appear more vulnerable andhuman to the people watching him. He wasn't the unattainable adonis that people looked up to and idolized. He was thesincere little son whom mums wanted to comfort after seeing him disconsolate on losing, he was the older brother whosmashed the living daylights out of our "enemies" and showed no fear, he was the cute baby faced boy who was making a



name for himself and becoming a heartthrob among all the young girls, he was the gritty hardworking son whom dads hopedwould make them proud, and one by one he was slowly becoming the hope of a billion people, the main protagonist of amovie that had its ups and downs, joy and anguish, jubilance and heartbreak, . Sachin had arrived, and was on the way tobecoming a legend. But along with him, Cricket was reborn in India as a wholesome form of entertainment, as a replacementfor the fading bollywood industry of the early 90s which people from all walks of life flocked to for a litt le bit of Sachin.

Last edited by varun : 11-15-2009 at 02:53 AM.

11-15-2009, 10:27 AM #132

UthappamMarauder from Najafgarh

Join Date: Mar 2008Location: MelbournePosts: 161$ICF: 9,672,393

When did he start wearing the Indian flag on his helmet? Early 00s?

Only ever seen him bat once in the flesh, and that was at MCG two years ago. Day Two. Dravid was dismissed for 5 off 66 ballslast ball before lunch. I knew Sachin was next in, so as I was having lunch, I pondered what would happen next. Almostimmediately he came in the run-rate picked up from its moribund ~1 run per over. He was threatening to bring India back intothe game almost by himself. As soon as he left, bowled by Stuart Clark for 62 (out of 89 while he was there), the inningscollapsed. So 90s, I thought to myself.

I knew I'd witnessed something special, even if it was a cameo. Time just seems to stand still when he is batting. That hasn'tbeen the case the times I've seen Lara and Ponting bat (and I've seen a fair bit of them, mostly in ODIs).

11-15-2009, 11:38 AM #133

Chandan.


A tribute by Atul Ranade

MENTAL STRENGTH IS HIS BIGGEST ASSET

Tendulkar may have reached the pinnacle of his career, but that hasn't stopped him from living life to its fullest. Here's apeek...


The 98 he scored against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup at Centurion. I can't forget how he belted Wasim Akram, WaqarYounis and Shoaib Akhtar all round the SuperSport Park.

The way Sachin executed his innings was remarkable. Chasing 270-odd runs, it was a terrific effort against a formidable Pakistanpace attack.


It has to be Sachin's mental strength.He puts in a lot of effort to improve his physical fitness. We trained for hours before the Australia series at the Bandra KurlaComplex. He knows his body well -- how to treat it and when to rest it.It is difficult to break his concentration.

Weakness

Sachin's tendency to glide the ball to third man seems chronic. He has got out so many times edging a catch behind thestumps trying to get cheeky.

Sachin & me

After he scored his 35th Test hundred, Sachin called me from the dressing room. He was slightly emotional, as he finallysurpassed Sunny sir's record.

He was tense not because he was on the verge of breaking the record, but it was the media hype that got to him. A hugetension was off his shoulders and I could feel it too.

(Sachin's best friend Ranade spoke to Bivabasu Kumar)

Navjot Singh Sidhu pays tribute

HE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AS A SKIPPER




To start with, I would say the `Desert storm' innings Sachin played in Sharjah in 1998 was one of the best. The masterbatsman showed how he could dominate the bowling and play shots at will.

Sachin also played a superb innings in the Chennai Test against Pakistan and scored a hundred despite struggling with backspasm. Although India lost that Test, the world saw what a player Sachin was despite not being at his best.

On his first Pak tour, he was hit on the nose. But the then 16-year-old did not lose courage and scored a brilliant half-centuryto draw the Sialkot Test.


He has got a wolf in his belly, which is always hungry for runs! Sachin just knows how to convert obstacles into steppingstones, defeats into triumphs and weaknesses into strengths.

Weakness

He is almost flawless when it comes to technique, but I feel he could have done better as skipper. When it came to captaincy,things did not go his way.

Sachin & me

I feel blessed and thank God that I played alongside such a great player.Opening the innings with him and watching him from the non-striker's end was always an inspiration for me.

(As told to Aseem Bassi)

SACH FRAMES

BON VIVANT

Tendulkar may have reached the pinnacle of his career, but that hasn't stopped him from living life to its fullest.Here's a peek...




11-15-2009, 12:43 PM #134


Anshuman Gaekwad - I was lucky to be the manager of Team India when Sachin Tendulkar was in his prime. The assignmentgave me the opportunity to watch some of his scintillating knocks live and understand his approach to the game.

Almost a decade on, I fondly remember his three knocks — two against Australia and one against Pakistan — in the 1997-98and 98-99 seasons not only because of the quality of his batting but also for his mindset.

Shane wanesThe first match of the India-Australia Test series in Chennai in March 1998 was pitted as the battle between Sachin and ShaneWarne. And knowing Sachin, I was sure he wouldn’t want to come second best. Before the match, on Sachin’s request, weinvited leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to nets.




We created a rough outside the leg stump and asked Siva to pitch his deliveries on it. Things, however, didn’t go according toour plan in the first innings. We were bowled out for 257.

Some useful partnerships lower down the order helped Australia gain a 71-run lead in the first innings. But I knew, we could stillturn the tables on Aussies. I walked up to Sachin, who was in the physio’s room at the Chinnaswamy stadium, before oursecond innings.

“Look Sach, I think we still have a chance to win the match. But for that, we need a quick 70 from someone. Who will do it?”I asked him.

“Don’t worry, I will,” Sach replied.

But the way he batted next day was amazing. He hit Warne all around the park. As anticipated, Warne came round the wicketand tried to pitch his deliveries on the rough on a wearing track.

But Sachin was equal to the task, he swept, pulled, drove and cut Warne with disdain. His 155-run knock helped India win thematch by 179 runs and set up the series for us.

Desert stormWe were down in the dumps in the Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah in April 1998.

Only a monumental effort in our final group match against Aussies could see us enter the final of the tri-series. Australia battedfirst and scored 284. We needed to score 254 to qualify for the final. Sachin sounded the warning bells for the Aussies bywhacking two Michael Kasprowicz deliveries into the stands.

A desert storm saw the match being interrupted for a while. Our target was reduced to 276 and in order to qualify for thefinal, we had to score 237. And after the desert storm, Tornado Tendulkar took the Aussies head-on. He hit every bowler.

He was finally dismissed for 143 off 131balls. His knock was studded with five sixes and nine fours. His scintillating ton ensuredIndia’s qualification. After the match, when I reached the hotel in Dubai, I happened to come across Kasprowicz in the lift.

He called me out loud, “Hey coach! How to stop this man (Sachin)?”

I told him, “ Kasper, listen. Only Sachin can stop Sachin and no-one else.”

I was late to retire to bed that night. It was well past midnight and I was about to fall asleep when I got a callfrom Sachin seeking permission for a quick chat.

He told me, “I think there is a slight problem in my technique, Anshubhai.”

This coming from a man who had just decimated the Aussie attack puzzled me.

“When I am trying to loft the fast bowlers, I am not getting the right elevation? How can I rectify this?” heasked me.

Well, in all my years I have been associated with cricket I have never come across a more committed man. To me,Sachin is a perfectionist. He is 99.9 per cent perfect.

Sach went on to score a hundred in the final too, which saw India lift the Coca Cola Cup.

Post-ton painSachin was fighting back spasms during the first Test of the series between India and Pakistan in Chennai in January 1999. Weneeded his presence and he took the field.

The match ebbed and flowed both ways and India needed 271 to win in the fourth innings. Sachin, troubled by a sore back,almost led India to an unlikely win. But he fell 17 runs short of victory scoring a superb 136.

The tail-enders caved in and India lost the match by 12 runs. Sachin was shattered.

At the post-match presentation, Sachin was declared man of the match. But Sach was no where to be seen.

I went to the dressing room and found him sitt ing in a corner with his face covered with a towel. I tried to draw his attention.But couldn’t.

I never saw a more shattered Tendulkar.

11-15-2009, 04:35 PM #135


MAN-CHILD SUPERSTARby Rahul Bhattacharya



20 years of magic!!!


Sachin Tendulkar comes to the ground in headphones. He might make a racket in the privacy of the bus, who knows, butwhen he steps out he is behind headphones. Waiting to bat he is behind his helmet. The arena is swinging already to thechant, "Sachin, Sachin", the first long and pleading, the second urgent and demanding, but Tendulkar is oblivious, behind hishelmet.

At the fall of the second wicket, that familiar traitorous roar goes round the stadium, at which point Tendulkar walks his slowwalk out, golden in the sun, bat tucked under the elbow. The gloves he will only begin to wear when he approaches theinfield, to busy himself against distraction from the opposition. Before Tendulkar has even taken guard, you know that his questis equilibrium.

As he bats his effort is compared in real time with earlier ones. Tendulkar provides his own context. The conditions, thebowling attack, his tempo, his very vibe, is assessed against an innings played before. Today he reminds me of the time when… Why isn't he …. What's wrong with him!

If the strokes are flowing, spectators feel something beyond pleasure. They feel something like gratitude. The silence thatgreets his dismissal is about the loudest sound in sport. With Tendulkar the discussion is not how he got out, but why.Susceptible to left-arm spin? To the inswinger? To the big occasion? The issue is not about whether it was good or not, butwhere does it rank? A Tendulkar innings is never over when it is over. It is simply a basis for negotiation. He might be behindheadphones or helmet, but outside people are talking, shouting, fighting, conceding, bargaining, waiting. He is a national habit.

But Tendulkar goes on. This is his achievement, to live the life of Tendulkar. To occupy the space where fame andaccomplishment intersect, akin to the concentrated spot under a magnifying glass trained in the sun, and remain unburnt.

"Sachin is God" is the popular analogy. Yet god may smile as disease, fire, flood and Sreesanth visit the earth, and expect no fallin stock. For Tendulkar the margin for error is rather less. The late Naren Tamhane was merely setting out the expectation fora career when he remarked as selector, "Gentlemen, Tendulkar never fails." The question was whether to pick the boy to faceImran, Wasim, Waqar and Qadir in Pakistan. Tendulkar was then 16.

Sixteen and so ready that precocity is too mild a word. He made refinements, of course, but the marvel of Tendulkar is that hewas a finished thing almost as soon as began playing.

The maidans of Bombay are dotted with tots six or seven years old turning out for their coaching classes. But till the age of 11,Tendulkar had not played with a cricket ball. It had been tennis- or rubber-ball games at Sahitya Sahwas, the writers' co-operative housing society where he grew up, the youngest of four cricket-mad siblings by a distance. The circumstances werehelpful. In his colony friends he had playmates, and from his siblings, Ajit in particular, one above Sachin but older by 11 years,he had mentorship.

It was Ajit who took him to Ramakant Achrekar, and the venerable coach inquired if the boy was accustomed to playing with a"season ball" as it is known in India. The answer did not matter. Once he had a look at him, Achrekar slotted him at No. 4, aposition he would occupy almost unbroken through his first-class career. In his first two matches under Achrekar Sir, he madezero and zero.

Memory obscures telling details in the dizzying rise thereafter. Everybody remembers the 326 not out in the 664-run gig withKambli. Few remember the 346 not out in the following game, the trophy final. Everyone knows the centuries on debut in theRanji Trophy and Irani Trophy at 15 and 16. Few know that he got them in the face of a collapse in the first instance andvirtually out of partners in the second. Everyone knows his nose was bloodied by Waqar Younis in that first Test series, uponwhich he waved away assistance. Few remember that he struck the next ball for four.

This was Tendulkar five years after he'd first handled a cricket ball.

Genius, they say, is infinite patience. But it is first of all an intuit ive grasp of something beyond the scope of will - or, for thatmatter, skill. In sportspersons it is a freakishness of the motor senses, even a kind of ESP.

Tendulkar's genius can be glimpsed without him actually holding a bat. Not Garry Sobers' equal with the ball, he is neverthelesspossessed of a similar versatility. He swings it both ways, a talent that eludes several specialists. He not only rips big legbreaksbut also lands his googlies right, a task beyond some wrist spinners. Naturally he also bowls offspin, usually to left-handers andsometimes during a spell of wrist spin. In the field he mans the slips as capably as he does deep third man, and does both in asingle one-dayer. Playing table tennis he is ambidextrous. By all accounts he is a brilliant, if hair-raising, driver. He is a championSnake player on the cellphone, according to Harbhajan Singh, whom he also taught a spin variation.

His batting is of a sophistication that defies generalisation. He can be destroyer or preserver. Observers have tried to graphthese phases into a career progression. But it is ult imately a futile quest for Tendulkar's calibrations are too minute and toomany to obey compartmentalisation. Given conditions, given his fitness, his state of mind, he might put away a certain shotaltogether, and one thinks it is a part of his game that has died, till he pulls it out again when the time is right, sometimes yearsafterwards. Let alone a career, in the space of a single session he can, according to the state of the rough or the wind or therhythm of a particular bowler, go from predatorial to dead bat or vice versa.

Nothing frustrates Indians as much as quiet periods from Tendulkar, and indeed often they are self-defeating. But outsidershave no access to his thoughts. However eccentric, they are based on a heightened cricket logic rather than mood. Moods areirrelevant to Tendulkar. Brian Lara or Mohammad Azharuddin might be stirred into artistic rage. Tendulkar is a servant of thegame. He does not play out of indignation nor for indulgence. His aim is not domination but runs. It is the nature of his genius.

The genius still doesn't explain the cricket world's enchantment with Tendulkar. Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis are arguablynot lesser cricketers than he, but have nothing like his following or presence. Among contemporaries only Shane Warne coulddraw an entire stadium's energy towards himself, but then Warne worked elaborately towards this end. Tendulkar on the pitchis as uncalculated as Warne was deliberate. Warne worked the moments before each delivery like an emcee at a t itle fight.Tendulkar goes through a series of ungainly nods and crotch adjustments. Batting, his movements are neither flamboyant norlanguid; they are contained, efficient. Utility is his concern. Having hit the crispest shot between the fielders he can still befound scurrying down the wicket, just in case.

Likewise, outside the pitch nothing he does calls up attention. In this he is not unusual for the times. It has been, proved byexceptions of course, the era of the undemonstrative champion. Ali, Connors, McEnroe, Maradona have given way to Sampras,



Woods, Zidane, Federer, who must contend with the madness of modern media and sanit isation of corporate obligation.

Maybe Tendulkar the superstar, like Tendulkar the cricketer, was formed at inception. Then, as now, he is darling. He wearsthe big McEnroe-inspired curls of his youth in a short crop, but still possesses the cherub's smile and twinkle. Perhaps uniquely,he is granted not the sportstar's indulgence of perma-adolescence but that of perma-childhood. A man-child on the field:maybe it is the dichotomy that is winning. The wonder is that in the years between he has done nothing to sully hisinnocence, nothing to deaden the impish joy, nothing to disrupt the infinite patience or damage the immaculate equilibriumthrough the riot of his life and career.

11-15-2009, 09:22 PM #136

littlemaster1982

Join Date: Jul 2007Posts: 4$ICF: 3,812,864

'Tendulkar controls the game'

What are the things that set the great man apart from mere mortals? The ability to read the game acutely, pick the ball early,dedication, discipline and more

The first time Virender Sehwag met Sachin Tendulkar was in March 2001, at a practice session ahead of the first ODI of thehome series against Australia. For Sehwag, Tendulkar was the man who had inspired him to skip exams in school and allowedhim to dream of cricket as a career. Sehwag was shy then, and didn't speak to his hero. He got 58 off 51 balls and picked upthree wickets. Tendulkar later walked up to him and said, "You've got talent. Continue playing the same way and I'm sure youwill make your name." That ability to motivate youngsters is one of the traits, Sehwag says, that makes Tendulkar special. Herehe tells Cricinfo about 10 things that make Tendulkar stand out.

Discipline

He never comes late to any practice session, never comes late to the team bus, never comes late to any meeting - he isalways five minutes ahead of t ime. If you are disciplined, it shows you are organised. And then he is ready for anything on thecricket field.

Mental strength

I've learned a lot of things from him as far as mental strength goes - on how to tacke a situation, how to tackle a ball orbowler. If you are not tough mentally, you can't score the number of runs and centuries he has in the last two decades. He isa very good self-motivator.

He always said to me: whatever the situation or whichever the bowler you face, always believe in yourself. There was thisoccasion in South Africa, early in my career, when I was not scoring runs fluently, so he suggested I try a few mentaltechniques that had worked for him. One of the things he said was: Always tell yourself you are better than others. You havesome talent and that is why you are playing for India, so believe in yourself.

Picking the ball early

He can pick the ball earlier than other batsmen and that is a mark of a great batsman. He is virtually ready for the ball before itis bowled. Only great players can have two shots for one ball, like Tendulkar does, and a big reason is that he picks the ball veryearly.

Soft hands

I've never seen him play strokes with hard hands. He always tries to play with soft hands, always tries to meet the ball with thecentre of the bat. That is t iming. I have never been able to play consistently with soft hands.

Planning

One reason he can convert his fifties into hundreds is planning: which bowler he should go after, which bowler he shouldrespect, in which situation he should play aggressively, in which situation he should defend. It is because he has spent hoursthinking about all of it, planning what to do. He knows what a bowler will do in different situations and he is ready for it.

In my debut Test he scored 155 and he knew exactly what to do every ball. We had already lost four wickets (68 for 4) whenI walked in, and he warned me about the short ball. He told me that the South African fast bowlers would bowl short-of-length balls regularly, but he knew how to counter that. If they bowled short of a length, he cut them over slips; when theybowled outside off stump, he cut them; and when they tried to bowl short into his body, he pulled with ease. Luckily hisadvice had its effect on me, and I made my maiden hundred!

Adaptability

This is one area where he is really fast. And that is because he is such a good reader of the game. After playing just one ortwo overs he can tell you how the pitch will behave, what kind of bounce it has, which length is a good one for the batsman,what shots to play and what not to.

A good example was in the Centurion ODI of the 2006-07 series. India were batting first. Shaun Pollock bowled the first overand fired in a few short-of-length balls, against which I tried to play the back-foot punch. Tendulkar cautioned me immediatelyand said that shot was not a good option. A couple of overs later I went for it again and was caught behind, against Pollock.

Making bowlers bowl to his strengths

He will leave a lot of balls and give the bowler a false sense of security, but the moment it is pitched up to the stumps or closerto them, Tendulkar will easily score runs.

If the bowler is bowling outside off stump Tendulkar can disturb his line by going across outside off stump and playing to



midwicket. He puts doubts in the bowler's mind, so that he begins to wonder if he has bowled the wrong line and tries tobowl a litt le outside off stump - which Tendulkar can comfortably play through covers.

In Sydney in 2004, in the first innings he didn't play a single cover drive, and remained undefeated on 241. He decided to playthe straight drive and flicks, so he made the bowlers pitch to his strengths. It is not easy. In the Test before that, inMelbourne, he had got out trying to flick. After that when we had a chat he said he was getting out playing the cover driveand the next game he would avoid the cover drive. I thought he was joking because nobody cannot not play the cover drive -doesn't matter if you are connecting or not. I realised he was serious in Sydney when he was on about 180-odd and he hadmissed plenty of opportunities to play a cover drive. I was stunned.

Ability to bat in different gears

This is one aspect of batting I have always discussed with Tendulkar: how he controls his game; the way he can change gearsafter scoring a half-century. Suddenly he scores 10-12 runs an over, or maybe a quick 30 runs in five overs, and then againslows down and paces his innings.

He has maintained that it all depends on the team's position. If you are in a good position you tend to play faster. He alsopointed out that the batsman must always think about what can happen if he gets out and the consequences for the team.The best example is the knock of 175. I was confident he would pull it off for India and he almost did.

Building on an innings

I learned from Tendulkar how to get big hundreds. He told me early on that once you get a hundred you are satisfied foryourself. But it is also the best t ime to convert that into a bigger score for the team because then the team will be in a goodposition.

If you look at my centuries they have always been big. A good instance of this was in Multan in 2004, when he told me I hadgiven away a good position in Melbourne (195) the previous year and the team lost, and I needed to keep that in mind againstPakistan. In Multan, in the first hundred of the triple century I had hit a few sixes. He walked up to me after I reached thecentury and said he would slap me if I hit any further sixes. I said why. He said that if I tried hitting a six and got out the teamwould lose the control over the game, and I needed to bat through the day. So I didn't hit a single six till I reached 295. Bythen India were 500-plus and I told him I was going to hit a six!

Dedication

This is the most important aspect of his success. In his life cricket comes first. When he is on tour he is thinking about nothingbut cricket, and when he is not on tour he dedicates quality time to his family. That shows his dedication to the game and tohis family. He has found the right balance.

From Cricinfo

11-16-2009, 12:32 AM #137



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart started composing at the age of five. Pablo Neruda wrote his Book of Twilights when he was 19.Sachin Tendulkar was all of six when he took up a bat in earnest. By the time he was 15, he was the most talked-aboutschoolboy cricketer ever. More than two decades on, he remains Indian cricket’s man for all seasons, the repository of anation’s hope. Those that played with him in the days of auld lang syne have long since migrated to the coaching field and thecommentary box. Tendulkar, his eyes perhaps set on a World Cup swansong on home turf, continues to mark his guard andsettle into that unmistakable stance.

What is there left to say about this man? At the age of 18, he was standing on tiptoe to drive and cut Australia’s finest on hisway to a century in Perth. At 21, he decided that he’d like to open in one-day cricket. He’s still going strong 45 hundredslater. A few days short of 25, he played an innings, with a desert storm as backdrop, that will never be forgotten by thosefortunate enough to see it. At 30, faced with the longest lean trot of his career, he memorably decided to eschew the cover-drive in Sydney, ruining Steve Waugh’s farewell with a 241 that was an enactment of monastic denial on a cricket field.

The records and the catalogue of achievement will be cherished for years. What’s even more admirable though is the mannerin which he’s dealt with unimaginable fame and untold riches. When he was still a teenager who had yet to make his RanjiTrophy debut, Ramakant Achrekar, his coach, said: “People don’t realise that he is just 15. They keep calling him for somefelicitation or the other. The other day he was asked to inaugurate a children’s library. This is ridiculous. These things are boundto go to his head. He will start thinking he has achieved everything.”

The wonder of Tendulkar is that he never did. A couple of years ago, at a bookshop in the newly opened Bangalore Airport, Ihappened to see an entry in the visitors’ book. Beneath the familiar signature, there was one line: ‘Sachin Tendulkar, Indiancricket team.’ To others, he may be primus inter pares, the ubiquitous face of his sport, but after all this t ime and all thosehalcyon years, he still views himself as part of a bigger picture.

That picture has changed beyond our wildest imagination from the time that a curly-haired 16-year-old walked out on to thefield at the National Stadium in Karachi. Back then, cricket was still a sport. Passionately followed, but hardly the commercialbehemoth that it has since become. Over the next few years, Tendulkar did for cricket what Michael Jordan had done for theNBA and what Joe Namath and Super Bowl III did for the NFL. When he walked to the crease, a nation stopped to watch.Even now, at restaurants and airports, Blackberrys come out and ball-by-ball updates are discreetly accessed once people learn

that “the boss is batting”.

Those that don’t really know India well speak of cinema as the country’s greatest unifying force. That’s nonsense. AmitabhBachchan’s oeuvre resonates litt le with the man in Tamil Nadu’s interior, just as Rajnikanth is little more than an object ofcuriosity to someone in Punjab. But Chennai or Chandigarh, Guwahati or Cochin, Tendulkar walks out to undiluted acclaim. Withthe exception of Gandhi, perhaps no other Indian has managed to rally so many behind the flag.



When he reached his century with the last stroke of the match in Chennai a year ago, it wasn’t just a stadium that cheeredand danced and wept. Coming three weeks after the terror attacks in Mumbai, there was something pre-ordained about it all.A few days earlier, he had released a commercial with the line: “I play for India, now more than ever”. There may not havebeen a cape or a mask, but there were no murmurs of dissent when Kevin Pietersen called him Superman.

His struggles with captaincy make him human, and the heartbreaks of Chennai (1999) and the Wanderers (2003, when aWorld Cup final was lost even before he came out to bat) will perhaps haunt him for the rest of his days. But when all is saidand done, the 36-year-old continues to do what the schoolboy did. And as we ponder what makes him tick, maybe we justneed to listen to a nursery rhyme that’s sung to one of Mozart’s tunes. Twinkle Twinkle Litt le Star.

11-16-2009, 12:40 AM #138



I'm still on page 3 with the articles :/

11-16-2009, 12:50 AM #139

Domaink20 years!!


I don't think so much was written about one person ever in a span of a few days. This is amazing.

11-16-2009, 12:53 AM #140

OnlineSooooooper Selector


Quote by Domaink


once u do that, please link me a copy



11-16-2009, 12:57 AM #141

transparentPrince of Calcutta


Quote by Domaink


Can I also get a copy?

God's Top 20 MOMENTS in 20 years, described by God him self!

11-16-2009, 12:58 AM #142



God's Top 20 MOMENTS in 20 years, described by God him self!

1. The first time I put on my India capIt was a great moment for me. If I am not mistaken, Chandu Borde, our team manager, handed me my cap. But there was nopresentation ceremony like they have today.

2. My first Test hundredIt came at Old Trafford in 1990. Manoj Prabhakar helped me with some determined batting at the other end. I was not at allsurprised by what he did that day because I had played with him earlier and I knew that he was a terrific competitor. Weprevented England from winning.

3. The counter-attacking 114 at PerthThis ton is a favourite of mine. Australia had four quick bowlers (Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Mike Whitney and Paul Reiffel)but I thought McDermott was the most challenging to face in Perth. Throughout the series he was their main bowler.

4. Bowling the last over against SA in the 1993 Hero CupSouth Africa needed six runs to win in the last over. There was no plan for me to bowl that over but I said I was veryconfident of bowling it successfully. I conceded just three and we won.

5. 82 (off 49 balls) against NZ as opener in 1994I was the vice-captain then and our regular opener Navjot Singh Sidhu woke up with a stiff neck. I requested Azhar(Mohammad Azharuddin) and Ajit Wadekar (coach) to "just give me one opportunity and I am very confident of playing somebig shots. And if I fail, I'll never ever come to you again".

6. Winning the Titan Cup in 1996South Africa were playing terrific cricket right through the tournament. We adopted a different strategy. As captain I chose tohave five fielders on the on side. I told Robin Singh not to bowl seam but cutters into the body and make them scoreeverything on the on side. Maybe that came as a surprise for them.. This was one low-scoring game that I can never forget.

7. 1997 Sahara Cup win over PakistanWe were without our top three bowlers for this tournament, which I led India in. We were without Javagal Srinath, VenkateshPrasad and Anil Kumble, but we had Abey Kuruvilla, Harvinder Singh, Debasish Mohanty and Nilesh Kulkarni as newcomers. Itwas a fantastic effort and we beat Pakistan 4-1. Incredible!

8. Scoring 155 against Australia in the 1998 Chennai TestI thought getting used to that angle from Shane Warne was important. Before the Test I not only practiced with LaxmanSivaramakrishnan but Nilesh Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule in Mumbai too. They gave me a lot of practice. I clearly remembersaying to my friends after I scored a double hundred for Mumbai against Australia that Warne has not bowled a single ball roundthe wicket and I know that he will do it in the Test series.

9. 1998's sandstorm hundred in Sharjah against AustraliaThe first of the two back-to-back hundreds in Sharjah, 1998. Tendulkar highlighted the similarities between his Sharjah effortsand the two special knocks in the 2008 tri-series finals in Australia in terms of how small a gap there was between the twomatches of each of these series, which made it so difficult on the body.

Shane Warne greets Sachin Tendulkar after India's victory in the final, Australia v India, Sharjah, April 24, 1998Shane Warne greets Tendulkar after India's victory in the Sharjah final © AFP

10. Meeting Don Bradman in AdelaideWithout doubt, the most riveting moment in my off-field career. The trip to Adelaide in 1998 with Shane Warne was trulyspecial and to meet him on his 90th birthday made it even more memorable. It was great to spend 45 minutes to an hourtalking cricket with him.

11. Beating England at Leeds, 2002Sanjay Bangar played beautifully for his 68 and he put on a good partnership with Rahul Dravid, who played superbly. Iremember going to bat after tea and Andrew Flintoff was bowling a lot of short-pitched stuff round the wicket. I moved prettywell the next day and I remember leaving deliveries off Matthew Hoggard, who bowled a few overs outside the off stump. Ipaced my innings well (193) and went past Sir Don's tally of 29 Test hundreds.

12. Match-winning 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup



There was that six off Shoaib (Akhtar) but there were other shots which I felt good about in that match. I was playing with afinger injury and the finger wouldn't straighten. I avoided fielding practice through the tournament because I was experiencinga lot of pain while catching. I gave fielding practice though.

13. First series win in Pakistan, 2003-04Undoubtedly one of the top series wins in my career. Remember, Pakistan had a good side and we went there and wonconvincingly.

14. 35th Test hundred, v Sri Lanka in Delhi, 2005There was this pressure which was building up to go past Sunil Gavaskar in the Test century tally. The room service andhousekeeping people in my hotel only spoke about me getting century No 35. I was glad and relieved when it happenedbecause I could then start enjoying the game again.

15. Beating England in Nottingham in 2007We have always managed to come back well after a defeat or saving a match. This is a classic example. We escaped defeat inthe opening Test at Lord's but came back to win in Trent Bridge.

16. Beating Australia in Perth in 2008We were determined to win this Test after what happened in Sydney. We shouldn't have lost in Sydney considering we werein a good posit ion on the first day, but then the world has seen what happened (referring to the umpiring).

17. The CB Series triumph in Australia in 2008Not only India, but all other sides found Australia too hard to beat. My hundred in the first final at Sydney was satisfying butthe second match in Brisbane was tough. We went to bed at 3 am in Sydney after a day-night game. I just could not sleepand woke up at 8 am to catch a morning flight. I was trying every possible thing to be fresh for the next day's match. Thenext day we won the toss and batted. It was quite humid so the conditions were tough. We knew that the first half hour wascrucial. I thought even if I don't get runs quickly, it 's fine because if we don't lose early wickets, the big strokeplayers canalways capitalise on the start and that's what happened.

Sachin Tendulkar picks up a souvenir, India v England, 1st Test, Chennai, 5th day, December 15, 2008Tendulkar picks up a souvenir after steering India to victory in Chennai, 2008 © AFP

18. Going past Brian Lara's Test run tally in Mohali, 2008Becoming the highest run-getter in world cricket doesn't happen overnight. Lara is a special player and a guy who is a goodfriend. We respect each other immensely. To go past his tally meant that I have contributed something to cricket.

19. Second-innings Test hundred against England in Chennai, 2008Awesome feeling to get that hundred, which I dedicated to the people of Mumbai. It was a very emotional time. It wasimportant to stay there till the end and I remember telling my batting partner, Yuvraj Singh, that it 's still not over so don'trelax. I recalled that close game against Pakistan in 1999 when we lost by 12 runs.

20. 175 against Australia in Hyderabad, 2009I know my body well and I know how much I can push so I was not surprised to score a 175 at the age of 36. Even if I had tocomplete those 20 runs by running them, I was absolutely fine. I was a few runs short of completing 17,000 ODI runs beforethe match, but that wasn't playing on my mind. However, every now and again it appeared on the scoreboard. That's notimportant to me. The important thing was to go out and win.

courtesy CRICINFO

11-16-2009, 01:23 AM #143


Kapil paaji... lol





11-16-2009, 01:35 AM #144

Domaink20 years!!


Quote by Online

once u do that, please link me a copy

Quote by transparent

Can I also get a copy?

Sure. I think all the articles will come in within the next two days. I will make a PDF after that and will definitely send youcopies.



11-16-2009, 07:01 AM #145



THIS IS THE REASON WHY A MAN HAS GONE SO FAR! GOD PLAYS FOR THE TEAM NOT FOR HIM SELF!

Do you feeling lonely when you do well and the team still loses?I have never been asked this question before. But, actually, yes you feel bad because I've done well but the team hasn't well.But I play for the team and it is not about individuals. You got to win as a team. So you are not excited and you cannot sharethat wonderful moment with people because you've lost the game. It is a difficult thing. But on the brighter side when youhave one billion people to share your joy there is no better than that. But when that doesn't happen you look forward to thenext game, and try and make sure that you perform better as a team and do something special which can make all of us smile.

11-16-2009, 10:51 AM #146



Balls faced in ODI in 20 years = 20 thousand (20022)

11-16-2009, 04:59 PM #147



GOD LIESQuote

I am not god: TendulkarNew Delhi, Mon, Nov 16 2009 Legions of fans may adore him as god of cricket but Sachin Tendulkar insists that he is only a mortal who loves playingfor his country.

"I'm glad so many people follow my career. But I am not a god. I just love cricket, playing for India," said Tendulkar,who completed 20 years in international cricket today.

India opener Virender Sehwag had said Tendulkar was not just a legend of the game but was actually the god ofcricket.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden also once famously said, "I have seen god, he bats at number four forIndia."

Tendulkar said he was just a cricketer, who happened to enjoy the support of a sea of humanity.

"I'm an individual but there is a huge force behind me, a big team. My teammates, family, kids, friends and fans. WhenI go out to bat, I play on their behalf," he said.

"I had not thought of playing for so long for the country but thanks to the support from all quarters I could play for20 years for my country," he told NDTV.

In an illustrious career of 20 years of international cricket, Tendulkar said that only twice has he thought that hiscareer was over.

"The first one was on my first Test against Pakistan. I scored just 15 and I thought whether I would get the chanceto play the next match but I got. When I scored 58 or 59 in the second Test I was relieved," he said, recollectingthat match in Karachi on November 15, 1989.

"The second one was when I had my tennis elbow injury. It was a tough time till I had my surgery. I could not sleepat night. I could not hit a cricket ball and I thought my career was over," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar would rate his match-winning 103 not out against England last year in the Chennai Test ahead of his 114against a fiery Australian pace attack in Perth in his first tour Down Under in 1991, as it had come after the Mumbaiterror attack.



"I would say the Perth innings was one of my top innings. But the innings I played last year in Chennai would beahead of all because of the horrible incident that happened in Mumbai just before that match.

"So many people lost their near and dear ones and nothing could have compensated for that. But by that win wewere able to divert for a fraction of a second their attention from their sorrow and that was our credit," he said.

Asked whether he would like his son follow his footsteps and play cricket, Tendulkar said he would not force Arjuntake up the game.

"He is just 10 years old and he should be left alone. But I won't force him (to play cricket). If he is to play cricket ithas to find way in his heart first and then go up to his head. This is not only for Arjun but for all the youngsters,"Tendulkar said.

"At the moment he (Arjun) likes to hit a lot of sixes. Twenty20 ka jamana hai (Twenty20 is the current flavour)," hequipped.

His two captaincy stints have been a grey area of sorts in his otherwise illustrious career, but Tendulkar insists heenjoyed the experience "as a package".

"I did not feel that captaincy was too much of a burden. Obviously, it was an honour to captain my country. It was adifferent experience. We won a Test against Australia, won the Titan Cup, beat Pakistan in Toronto but failed to winagainst West Indies chasing 120 at Barbados.

"As a package I enjoyed it. It was about learning and I learnt from it," he said.

Tendulkar rued he could not be part of the history-making Indian team under Rahul Dravid that won a Test series inWest Indies in 2006.

"That was a fantastic moment for Indian cricket. I would have loved to have been part of that team. I called up RahulDravid after the victory and congratulated the team," he said.

Asked what legacy he thinks he would have left for the future generation, Tendullkar said, "I want to beremembered as somebody who is unselfish, a team man, who always thinks for the team first."© PTI

11-16-2009, 07:25 PM #148

DravidAal Izz Well

Join Date: Feb 2007Location: BarodaaaPosts: 5,077$ICF: 406,961,854

hayden's quote "i have seen god bat, he bats at #4 for india"

11-16-2009, 07:39 PM #149

sunit224Join Date: Aug 2009Posts: 6$ICF: 3,637,944

The God of all things - by Saurabh Somani

In 1989, during the selection of the Indian team for the tour to Pakistan, the selectors - led by the late Raj Singh Dungarpur -were faced with a tricky question. They had in their minds an outrageously talented young boy, who they were sure wouldrepresent India with distinction. The question they wrestled with was whether the boy should be thrust into the lion's den sosoon. And the den couldn't have been more hostile than a tour of Pakistan, facing the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis andImran Khan in their backyard, with crowds everywhere baying for the blood of the Indians.

Would selecting the boy for the tour be the right decision? Would it leave him with mental scars that would retard hisdevelopment? Would they be risking a potentially world-beating future for a tenuous present?



The selectors then were each nominated from different zones in the country. As they debated the question - so the storygoes - two of the selectors thought the boy was ready, and two of them wanted to wait.

The ones who wanted to wait had the valid question: "What if the tour proves to be too much? What if he fails?"

On hearing this, another selector turned to the fifth man in the room, who had not expressed his opinion yet. This was theWest Zone selector who had seen the boy blitz all comers across all playing divisions. The words he is supposed to have saidsealed the deal in favour of selection, though none of the five men could have known just what they were about to unleashinto the cricket world.

The selector from the West Zone simply said: "Gentlemen, Sachin Tendulkar does not fail."

And he hasn't - for twenty years and counting.

Batman puts on a cape, Spiderman wears a costume, Superman sheds his normal clothes to reveal his true self - SachinTendulkar needs only to pick up a bat in hand to be a superhero.

This is not an attempt to dissect the man statistically. It is not an attempt to provide expert views on his cricket. It is not anattempt to add to the paeans being sung about him as the cricketing world celebrates twenty years of excellence.

This is simply an intensely personal view by a fan of a man who remained a hero from boyhood to adolescence and beyond.

What do twenty years mean to a fan? It means a vignette of images that Tendulkar has left us with.

From running around in a playground during the 1992 World Cup and yelling, "India beat Pakistan. Tendulkar is the man of thematch!" to remembering the headline that announced that Tendulkar had scored his second ODI century after taking aninordinate amount of time to score his first - a headline that said, "Rutherford Ruthless, Parore Roars, but Tendulkar, Prabhakarsteal the limelight."

From getting excited in 1994 when he made his then-highest Test score of 179 to feeling cheated when he was not awardedthe Man-of-the-series in the 1996 World Cup for being the highest and classiest scorer in the tournament. From rememberingthe painful struggle he went through as captain in 1997 - when he had to battle not only opponents but officials as well - tofeeling exhilarated throughout much of 1998, as the destroyer in Tendulkar returned to quell not just Australians butsandstorms too on an unforgettable night in Sharjah. From having our hearts broken along with his when he miscued a Saqlaindoosra in the Chennai Test of 1999 to having our faith in the game restored during the match-fixing scandal, when it wasrevealed that bookies would take bets on Indian matches only after he got out.

From remembering the 2003 World Cup as an image forever frozen of Tendulkar cutting Shoaib Akhtar over third-man formaximum to shaking our heads in disbelief in 2004 at the amazing self-control and discipline of a man who did not play a singlecover drive in an innings of 241 not out.

From exulting with him at burying the ghost of 'finishing' matches for India in the CB series in 2008 to the sharing his solemnjoy and humility at bringing a Test victory to the nation immediately after his city had been ravaged by scum towards the endof the year.

As the years rolled by, we got used to a different Tendulkar, and his 2003 heroics seemed the last time he would throw backthe years and bat as he had in his youth. His average and strike rates didn't suffer, but he had made a subtle shift from run-plunderer to intelligent accumulator. And then, as he so often has in the past, he showed us that the plunderer still remainedin a knock that was as inspiring as it was heart-breaking.

Through proxy-wars and floods, through terrorist attacks and droughts, through living under corrupt politicians and battling forsurvival at work or school - through it all, it was one man that brought us hope. One man who needed only to wield a bat tounite the most diverse country in the world. A hero who did not need a script, arc-lights and endless retakes to have theaudience gasping in awe, but played out his dramas in real-time.

And yet, even he has fallen short of universal acclaim. His knock of 175, and others like it in his career when he led India to thedoorstep of victory but fell short of actually marching in only to see his team-mates fail around him, has been the catalyst for re-igniting the debate about whether he has won enough matches for India. The analyst in me wants to examine the questionusing all kinds of criteria and statistics, but for today he has been banished by the fan. And a good thing too, because it is witha fan's eyes that I can see what I wouldn't otherwise. It is his failures as much as his success that brings him closer to us.Without them, he would have been the perfect man - so perfect that we would have been forced to admire him from afar.But when he perishes at the doorstep of victory, we bleed with him. And we are reminded that even though he performssuperhero-like deeds, he is still human.

The sages who seek silence to meditate go to the loneliest reaches of the planet to achieve it. But if they were looking forthat unreal moment when there is a silence so pervading that you could hear a feather drop, they need to attend a match inIndia when Sachin Tendulkar plays. Most of the time, when he bats the noise will be deafening. But when gets out, as hemust because he is mortal, they will hear the most deafening silence that it is possible to hear. And they will hear it in a stadiumjam-packed with frenzied fans who have all come to pay homage to their God.

Even in defeat, Sachin Tendulkar weaves miracles.

11-16-2009, 09:51 PM #150


A comment from cricinfo..

Quote

Posted by insightfulcricketer on (November 15 2009, 22:47 PM GMT)




On Sachin I can only tell this anecdote. "An avid cricket fan went into coma twenty years ago. When he awoke fromhis coma in Hyderabad he woke up to people carrying Ipods which were powerful than the biggest computers in histime. India was out of Foreign Exchange rut but is buying Gold to bailout the IMF. World is rocked by by the viciouskind of terrosim not seen before.An African American is a US President. World had changed totally for him. But beingan avid cricket fan asked the excited nurse about the game tonight. She said India is in a t ight corner fighting for win,entire top order is gone but as always there is still chance if this guy is around. Excitedly the guy asked who thebatsman is . She said Sachin Tendulkar and I am told the whole staff ran back to revive him again. Everything changedbut something never changed . That is Sachin for you. The patient was last heard yelling the whole 20 years isnothing but an elaborate joke on him." Ok I have the patent on this

Good one


My two centsThe newer and better fan

Join Date: Mar 2008Location: Am here nowPosts: 893$ICF: 8,300,401My Blog

Youngsters have trouble in understanding the reason why Sachin is so admired by Indians. The stats don’t tell them the story,they find weaknesses, glitches, mistakes in them. The stats make him look good but is that all there is to Sachin?

I have been following him ever since I was hooked by his performance in the an exhibit ion 20/20 between Pak and India. WithSachin it was not only about his batting. I won’t be wrong if I say that he is THE most famous and well known cricketer in theworld ever. Kids look up to him even in third world countries. Only Sachin could have done an AD for milk in Saudi Arabia wherethere is no cricket.

He has been the face of cricket for a long time, he was the one who brought money to cricket and big sponsorship deals. Hemade Indians watch cricket and this was the beginning of BCCI being rich. He was a major factor in propagating ODI cricket inIndia. Big media houses and companies started their interest in cricket because of him. He was the First big and the greatestcricket icon. Bradman was revered but Sachin was a real cricket celebrity. In a poll conducted in 98, only 40% of people in India(particularly rural) knew Vajpayee(the then Prime Minister) but 99% knew about Sachin. He was above Mahatma Gandhi in thepopularity charts. Even ones without access to TV/newspapers knew about Sachin and when their children bunked studies toplay, would say “Sachin samjha hai kya khud ko?”He was a revolution in cricket. In the late 80s cricket was a snobbish game in India watched by intellectuals in a group in one’sdrawing room. By the late 90s, and 2000s common labourers on the street left their jobs in which they were payed by thehour to stand and stare at TV screens in a showroom window or stay glued to the radio (remember AakashVaani?) till the timehe was at the crease.

Never before had one man brought such hopes to a whole nation. India was rife in corruption. Rajiv Gandhi was killed.Sycophancy was everywhere. Bribe was the way of life. People had given up hope of India achieving much as a nation. Sachinwas that bright ray which made people forget for a while their day to day trouble. Unlike today when we have the luxury,Sachin was never cursed even when he failed. Who curses their idol? It was always the other players, umpires, the world.Every four/six from his bat was a victory in itself. We enjoyed him making great bowlers look ordinary, though at the other endthe procession had started and we probably lost by an innings. The result was never discussed, that was something un-necessary. People watched cricket for Sachin and not the other way around. TVs where switched off as soon as he was out. IfIndia batted second, the TV would be given a ‘rest’(a very Indian phrase) till the big event. We would have time to finish offour pending work before Sachin came to open.

Every praise which a contempory player/ex-player sang about Sachin made the blood rush to our face as if the compliment wasmeant for us and the whole country. Through it all his humble demeanor elevated him to legendary status which no brashnessor arrogance would have achieved.

Stats do not tell the whole picture always. Society has become result oriented now. For us, the journey was worth theexperience. A lost match was just like a great Bollywood movie with a sad end where the hero died saving everyone. Despitehis defeat, he still remained for us, a hero. Sachin Tendulkar is much more than mere stats. For a long time he carried themantle of a billion hopes successfully, he provided them a few moments of relief from their wretched life, all this while remainingthe same humble chap from Mumbai.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An old article I had written here


punjabi_khotaomfg!

Join Date: Jun 2008

Quote by Dravid

hayden's quote "i have seen god bat, he bats at #4 for india"

He was talking abt ODIs.



Posts: 5,458$ICF: 8,153,943


vvvslaxmanIdli Dosai Pongal Vadai


http://cricket-online.tv/india-vs-sr...hlights-day-1/

Shastri interviews Sachin (1st part of the video)




thanks for the interview...I had watched it yesterday but still worth watching it again...

Today, 12:59 AM #155

gooseChief

Join Date: Jul 2007Posts: 1,040$ICF: 2,171,702

Quote by My two cents

Youngsters have trouble in understanding the reason why Sachin is so admired by Indians. The stats don’t tellthem the story, they find weaknesses, glitches, mistakes in them. The stats make him look good but is that all thereis to Sachin?

I have been following him ever since I was hooked by his performance in the an exhibition 20/20 between Pak andIndia. With Sachin it was not only about his batting. I won’t be wrong if I say that he is THE most famous and wellknown cricketer in the world ever. Kids look up to him even in third world countries. Only Sachin could have done anAD for milk in Saudi Arabia where there is no cricket.

He has been the face of cricket for a long time, he was the one who brought money to cricket and big sponsorshipdeals. He made Indians watch cricket and this was the beginning of BCCI being rich. He was a major factor inpropagating ODI cricket in India. Big media houses and companies started their interest in cricket because of him. Hewas the First big and the greatest cricket icon. Bradman was revered but Sachin was a real cricket celebrity. In a pollconducted in 98, only 40% of people in India (particularly rural) knew Vajpayee(the then Prime Minister) but 99%knew about Sachin. He was above Mahatma Gandhi in the popularity charts. Even ones without access toTV/newspapers knew about Sachin and when their children bunked studies to play, would say “Sachin samjha hai kyakhud ko?”He was a revolution in cricket. In the late 80s cricket was a snobbish game in India watched by intellectuals in a groupin one’s drawing room. By the late 90s, and 2000s common labourers on the street left their jobs in which they werepayed by the hour to stand and stare at TV screens in a showroom window or stay glued to the radio (rememberAakashVaani?) till the time he was at the crease.

Never before had one man brought such hopes to a whole nation. India was rife in corruption. Rajiv Gandhi was killed.Sycophancy was everywhere. Bribe was the way of life. People had given up hope of India achieving much as anation. Sachin was that bright ray which made people forget for a while their day to day trouble. Unlike today whenwe have the luxury, Sachin was never cursed even when he failed. Who curses their idol? It was always the otherplayers, umpires, the world. Every four/six from his bat was a victory in itself. We enjoyed him making great bowlerslook ordinary, though at the other end the procession had started and we probably lost by an innings. The result wasnever discussed, that was something un-necessary. People watched cricket for Sachin and not the other way around.TVs where switched off as soon as he was out. If India batted second, the TV would be given a ‘rest’(a very Indianphrase) till the big event. We would have time to finish off our pending work before Sachin came to open.

Every praise which a contempory player/ex-player sang about Sachin made the blood rush to our face as if thecompliment was meant for us and the whole country. Through it all his humble demeanor elevated him to legendarystatus which no brashness or arrogance would have achieved.



Show your signature

Stats do not tell the whole picture always. Society has become result oriented now. For us, the journey was worththe experience. A lost match was just like a great Bollywood movie with a sad end where the hero died savingeveryone. Despite his defeat, he still remained for us, a hero. Sachin Tendulkar is much more than mere stats. For along time he carried the mantle of a billion hopes successfully, he provided them a few moments of relief from theirwretched life, all this while remaining the same humble chap from Mumbai.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An old article I had written here

Well said. No amount of pouring over stats will uncover the the hero that was Tendulkar.

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