Twenty years of Tendulkar

Rewind to 1989. India had toured Pakistan for a bilateral series where Sachin Tendulkar made his debut. After a one-day match had to be cancelled, an exhibition match was organized between India and Pakistan. Chasing a huge total in a 20 over game, Sachin had the license to break loose and announce himself at the international stage. He smashed the leg spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed (then a young newcomer into the Pakistan side) for a six. The spinner’s mentor Abdul Qadir came up to Sachin and said “Bachchon ko kya mar rahe ho.. humein maar ke dikhao”. Tendulkar seized the opportunity and clobbered him for four sixes in an over. It was an exhibition match nonetheless, but it is remembered to date. India had been blessed with an amazing talent who would go on to be christened “The God of Cricket”.Let us relive this magical batsman’s journey.

After making his debut at the age of sixteen in 1989, Sachin Tendulkar has now completed twenty glorious years in international cricket. Twenty years of purest batting exhibition and almost as many years of being the lone carrier of India’s hopes( particularly in Tests). Fans across the globe have watched him punish bowlers relentlessly, who can only bowl
tirelessly and wait for the genius to commit a mistake. Some bowlers who have committed the mistake of sledging him or trying to get the better of him have had to bear his wrath. Abdul
Qadir is still remembered for that and a certain Mr.Henry Olonga would agree no less. That he has countless and unmatchable records is no surprise, his immeasurable appetite for runs
and sustaining the passion for the game for so long continues to amaze critics and cricket lovers around the globe. The sheer sight of Sachin stepping out of the pavilion to bat makes people switch on to a different mode of life where they forget their worries, commitments and enjoy the treat this genius has in store for them. Surely, he is a part of every cricket lover’s life.

Ever since I started watching cricket, I have not witnessed a bigger personalityin the game than Sachin. Some of his crucial knocks seem to live with us through out our lives. The Chennai test of 1999 against Pakistan where Sachin looked like he was playing for his life battling back spasms would have made any follower ( be it a Pakistani) applaud this man’s greatness. That he did not take India past the finish line would have broken many hearts across the nation. But when Sachin plays, the whole nation is watching. He not only battles with the eleven men on the field, he carries the hopes of a billion people (and growing ..). His countless bashings of Australian bowling attacks are the most cherished ones by Indian fans. The twin centuries at Sharjah, taking Warne to the cleaners (a self confessed Warne admitting he had nightmares of Sachin smashing him to all the corners of the ground), his enthralling contests with McGrath ( perhaps the only bowler who could give Sachin some nervous moments) led to India- Australia encounters being called as Tendulkar vs Australia. And with so much being made of his contests with Australia, there always seemed to be peculiar ways in which he got out (or was adjudged) against them. And these decisions would create huge uproar among fans. One such incident which quickly crosses the mind is when Sachin was adjudjed leg before when a delivery from McGrath did not bounce as much as Sachin expected and hit him on the shoulder when he ducked under it. I remember emails being circulated with graphics trying to prove that the trajectory of the ball was such that there was no way it would take the wickets with it. Another incident which happened in the cricket crazy city of Kolkata showed what Sachin’s dismissal meant to people. India was playing against Pakistan in the Asian test championship in 1999. India was chasing a stiff target with Sachin at the crease. The ball is hit to the deep and the batsmen run across for an easy couple of runs. All of a sudden, a substitute fielder throws the ball from the deep. As his luck would have it, his throw finds the stumps and Sachin is found short after clashing with the bowler( Shoaib Akthar) at the crease. No sooner was he given out by the third umpire, mayhem occurred at the eden gardens with the crowd losing their cool over the controversial run-out. The great maestro came out to pacify the crowd and subsequently India lost. Strange things happen on the cricket field. Every player in his career gets out unluckily at times. But if its Sachin, it seems to be a whole different story altogether. The emotions of people get the better of their mind. Sure, he has given all of us immense joy and something to look forward to every time he steps on to the cricket field.

The 2003 World Cup saw Tendulkar score consistently through the matches and take India to the final. The match against Pakistan where he scored 98(75) was another masterpiece of his. His assault on Shoaib in the first over set the tone for India. Subsequently, India was in the finals with Australia. It seemed like Tendulkar’s claim on the World Cup was inevitable. I cant possibly imagine the pressure on him on the day ofthe finals. India was in the final of a World Cup after 20 years. Tendulkar in terrific form. India collectively as a unit had shown great character. This had to be the time, Tendulkar kissed the World Cup. On the day of the finals however, the inexperience of playing in such a huge match clearly showed on the Indian young bowlers and while they were being battered mercilessly, every Indian would have had hopes so long as India came onto bat. People expect miracles from Sachin. I think the difference between him and other greats is that you ‘expect’ him to create miracles but you only ‘hope’ for miracles from the other batsmen. That day was no different. Tendulkar dispatches McGrath in the first over in pursuit of 360. I remember watching the match and cheering madly when he hit the first four. A sudden rush of adrenaline occurs when you see him take on the Aussies. One suddenly feels a lot more patriotic. The whole nation was expecting another great innings from him. Sadly for them, it was not to be. His miscued shot popped up in the air and that was it. Suddenly, the world seemed to end. But, how much do you expect from him. He has given the nation immense pleasure time and again.



I remember watching a show aired on Doordarshan when he turned 25. A show called “Tendulkar at 25”. While his great innings were being celebrated, a painful thought crossed my mind. I was trying to imagine what would happen when he called it quits. How would a nation come to terms with the fact that they would no longer watch him play for India. How would anyone watch cricket in India. Though it was remotely far then, it is not as far now. But all good things come to an end and so will this genius’ international career. Probably, that’s why they say that nothing is permanent. Probably that’s the way of life. Finally, in a cheerful tone, I feel we all should acknowledge that we have been fortunate that he was born in the same era as us (or the other way round ) to witness one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game. Here’s expecting a century of centuries and that elusive World Cup.
Leaving you with a quip by the inimitable Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tendulkar.
“1947 ke baad hindustaan mein ek hi cheez achcha hua hai.. Chotu idhar paida hua udhar nahi..”