Sachin Tendulkar: 38 Years On And Still Going Strong

Victory in the 1983 World Cup has been the biggest achievement in the history of Indian cricket – yes, even bigger that the 2011 World Cup win or 2007 Twenty20 World Cup win or victory against the all-conquering Aussies in a test match at the Eden Gardens in 2001. The reason being that this triumph led to cricket getting much more attention from the media and the people and it also inspired an entire generation of youngsters to take up cricket seriously as a career option. The fact that India won the Benson and Hedges World Championships in 1985 also helped the cause. Over the years, the mass following of the game has increased exponentially. Since then, cricket has grown to be the one thing that can unite millions in this country, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. An important cricket match involving India can virtually stop time and deal a serious blow to the country’s productivity. Cricket has well and truly developed into some sort of a religion and when there is religion there has to be a God. It is commonly said in this country – “If cricket is a religion, Sachin Tendulkar is God’.

Sachin Tendulkar plays a trademark straight drive

He set his foot on to the international cricket scene as a 16 year old in 1989. Almost 22 years have passed since. Today, he turns 38. But his love and passion for the game is still the same. Over these 22 years, Tendulkar has achieved things that even he had never dreamed of. He is the leading run-getter and century maker in both tests as well as one-dayerss. He is the only person to score a double century in a one-day international. He is regarded by many legends of the game as the greatest to have ever played the game, some consider him second only to Sir Don Bradman, who averaged an astonishing 99.96 in tests. It is highly unlikely that Bradman’s record will ever be broken. Similarly, it is also unlikely that Tendulkar’s records will ever be broken.

The most astonishing feature about Tendulkar has been his longevity. Playing 22 years of international cricket in the modern era is no mean achievement. The fact that Tendulkar has done so and delivered on a consistent basis makes it all the more incredible. In the 22 years that he has played, cricket too has evolved as a game. In the early 1990s, a score of 200+ in a 50 over game was considered a competitive total. As time passed, 250+ was thought to be a good score towards the late 1990s and early 2000s. The bar kept on rising, to 300+ to 325+ and nowadays even 350+ is not a safe total. The way Tendulkar has adjusted his game to these changes is testimony to the man’s genius. In the past couple of years, Twenty20 cricket has emerged as a new format that demands much more intensity and an even greater scoring rate. Tendulkar has decided not to play in international T20s, but he has been part of the Indian Premier League and as expected, he has excelled in this format too.

First Ever Double Century in ODI History

Over his career, Tendulkar has faced a number of great bowlers. And not many have got the better of him. During his career he has faced the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and so on. His knock of 114 on a bouncy Perth wicket in India’s 1991-92 tour to Australia is part of Indian cricket’s folklore. The way he treated Shane Warne, one of the greatest spinners ever, at Sharjah and in the test series in India in 1998 was quite incredible. The fact that he turned out to play for India in the 1999 World Cup days after his father’s demise speaks volumes about his dedication. His innings of 136 against Pakistan in the final day of a test match in Chennai with a sore back against the likes of Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain Mushtaq showed his determination and hunger to win. His innings of 175 against Australia at Hyderabad while chasing 350 is arguably one of the greatest ODI innings ever. Scoring a double century in an ODI was always going to be an incredible feat. Doing so against the then best bowling attack in the world made it even more special.

The Period after the 2003 WC to post 2007 WC was the most difficult phase of Tendulkar's career

Sachin has faced a fair bit of criticism as well during his career. He had a good first 15 odd years in international cricket. But after the 2003 World Cup, a tennis elbow problem came to the fore and that affected his shot-making. He wasn’t able to play flowing drives and pulls or hooks. He had poor years during 2004, 2005 and 2006 by his standards and that prompted many experts to feel that Tendulkar was past his best. His consistency had fallen and his approach became defensive. In March 2006, Tendulkar was booed off the ground by a section of the crowd at his home ground, the Wankhede stadium. A failed 2007 World Cup campaign led to a call for retirement from former Australian skipper, Ian Chappell. But Tendulkar knew there was more cricket in him and as always, he answered the critics with the full face of the bat. The runs started to flow soon after the 2007 World Cup debacle. And they are still coming. Tendulkar hasn’t looked back since, no that he had done so earlier in his career, and he has played a pivotal role in India’s rise as a cricketing powerhouse. He is still batting as well as he ever has and not many would mind if things remain the way it is now.

Sachin Tendulkar with the World Cup trophy

Exactly 20 days ago, a long cherished dream of the Master was finally fulfilled. Tendulkar finally had a World Cup winner’s medal. After six attempts, the dream had come true and I dare say that no one has ever deserved a World Cup winner’s medal more than this man. As an individual, Tendulkar had a wonderful record at the World Cups, but the Indian just couldn’t go the distance to touching the trophy. He was the highest run-getter in both 1996 and in the 2003 editions. In 1996, India lost to eventual champions Sri Lanka in the semi-final while in 2003, the Aussies totally outclassed the Indians. But in 2011, it wasn’t the same again. It was a perfect setting. The tourney was hosted jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and the final was to be played at the Wankhede stadium, Tendulkar’s home ground. India finally had a team that looked to be the best not only on paper, but also gave its best in the field. Tendulkar fell for 18 in the final, but he did his bit on the route to the final with centuries against England and South Africa in the group stages and a couple of half-centuries against Australia and Pakistan in the quarter and the semi-finals respectively. There was speculation that Tendulkar would retire from ODIs after the World Cup, a feeling that got stronger after India’s World Cup triumph as now it seemed that there was nothing much left to achieve for the Master. But the Little Master made it clear that as long as he is enjoying the game, he will be playing it. That was great news for his fans and keeping in mind the way he has amazed us over the years, it won’t be a surprise if he turns out for the next World Cup too in 2015, though chances of that happening are extremely unlikely.

The Little Master hasn't backed away from charity

Tendulkar’s off-field conduct too has had a major impact in his rise as a national icon. He sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year through Apnalaya, a Mumbai-based NGO associated with his mother-in-law, Annabel Mehta. A request from Sachin on twitter raised 10.25 million for the Crusade against Cancer foundation. Tendulkar has managed to stay clear of all controversies in his career. Despite the fame and adulation, his feet have remained firm on the ground. Many so-called experts have cast doubts regarding various aspects of the game, but that hasn’t distracted him from the game. He has chosen not to answer anyone verbally and the bat has always done the talking. Tendulkar might be the most feared batsman in the world, but that doesn’t stop him from practicing hard so as to try and push the level further upwards. And very few would disagree to the fact that he has consistently succeeded in doing so. Today, Sachin turns 38 and being a big fan of the man, I would like to wish him all the very best for the future and I wish that he plays on forever. I, on behalf of millions in this country, would also like to thank him for giving us so much joy and so many reasons to rejoice over the years. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, take a bow!