What sets Sachin Tendulkar apart from any other cricketers?

It has been more than five and a half years since he retired, but the very mention of his name still elicits the loudest cheer in a cricket arena, brands are still flocking behind him to make him endorse their products.

What is there in Sachin Tendulkar that makes him stay relevant? What is there in Tendulkar that sets him apart from the rest?

Many of us will start with the most tangible thing-the numbers. 24 Years, 200 Tests, 34357 International runs, 100 hundreds, 463 ODI’s, and the list can go on and on.

Some others will rave about the splendour in his stroke play: that effortless jaw dropping straight drive, that pristine flick that bisected mid wicket and square leg, that gorgeous cover drive that made us gape at him in awe...

But then, delve deeper and persist further…..

What is there in Tendulkar that sets him apart from the rest?

He played for 24 years, traversed two generations and captivated a nation. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Tendulkar has been the most scrutinised Indian of Independent India.

Yet, in the midst of all this scrutiny, in the midst of all this cacophony, Tendulkar managed to maintain his poise, managed to maintain his balance.

And that is precisely why, the Tendulkar persona spreads its wings way beyond the cricketing arena.

Children wanting to top entrance exams quoted him as their inspiration, businessmen who wanted to diversify their business quoted his dedication. Lawyers, engineers, scientists, doctors, bureaucrats, actors and the likes look up to him.

Mothers wanted their son their become Sachin, fathers bunked office work to watch him play, children tried to copy his stance. Tendulkar was much more than just a cricketer.

He achieved so much in his career, but still kept his feet firmly on the ground. You will never see any celebration of his going overboard, you will never see him hurling abuses at an opponent, you will never see him throwing his cricketing gear even casually, and you will never ever see him doing something that will bring the game to disrepute. This too, is what sets Tendulkar apart from any other cricketer.

There will surely come a day when Tendulkar’s numbers are surpassed, but no Indian sportsman can claim to have touched the emotional chord of so many people and stay relevant for such a long period of time as Tendulkar has.

The iconic Nirmal Shekar beautifully wrote, “If India itself was an idea, a concept, then it was Sachin who helped nurture the idea to its apotheosis in Sport.”

Finally, this, too, is what sets Tendulkar apart.