"Cricket is our religion
Sachin is our God"
For me these lines have always been true. For me Sachin Tendulkar is a name as high as a name of God in cricket and I can safely say that this is same with many more Tendulkar fans like me. For all such fans who can see him bat even now in those recorded clips with same dedication as we used to watch him play live, for fans who can read about him without blinking the eyes, for fans who still have his image(holding his bat and helmet in air after scoring his numerous tons) in their mind, for fans who feel nostalgic listening to those magical words - Sachiiiin Sachin Sachiiiin Sachin, here is my effort to take you to the memory lane of a splendid cricket career. His illustrious career has spanned for 24 long years and it would be difficult to finish in one blog. So this will be a series of blogs. Lets begin it with Part-1, from his childhood to his first international series in Pakistan.
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| From a child learning to hold the bat - to becoming a legend - to paying tribute to the pitch for one last time, this picture sums it all |
Not many would know this but in his early days legend also thought over to choose Tennis over cricket as his love for Tennis was growing watching the matches of his favorite tennis player, John McEnroe. But Ajit Tendulkar had watched him play cricket and was impressed by his way of batting which led him to think seriously for younger brother's cricket career. He was inducted to summer camp of Achrekar sir.
His induction to the camp only came after successfully passing the trials which itself has a story in it. At the tender age of 11, he was asked to bat in nets in front of Ramakant Achrekar sir. He was very nervous at first as he had never batted in nets before and Achrekar sir's presence only added pressure on him. This pressure had too much weigh on him and he failed to impress with his batting. It all seemed to end as Achrekar sir told Ajit Tendulkar to may be bring him after few years when he is more prepared. But it was an elder brother's belief in batting skills of his younger sibling that he didn't give up and convinced Achrekar Sir to give him one more chance, also requesting him to watch from far distance that would ease some pressure from the nervous Sachin.
This produced results and this time their was a more confident and smooth display of batting from the master. This led in him joining the camp and a foundation stone was laid for a legend in making.
After watching him bat in the camp, Achrekar sir were more convinced by masters batting skills and suggested his family to change his school to Shardashram Vidyamandir where sir himself was the full time cricket coach. They agreed and this led for more cricket exposure to Sachin Tendulkar. It was in his new school that he started playing cricket seriously and was getting noticed in Mumbai cricket circle.
Sachin tendulkar was scoring runs at will in school cricket in big tournaments in Mumbai's domestic cricket. It was in semi final of the Harris Shield in 1988 that Sachin Tendulkar played an unbeaten inning of 326 runs and was the part of 664 run partnership the-then record for any wicket in any class of cricket with Vinod Kambli who scored 349 unbeaten in that match.
Finally the big call for him came in Ranji season of 1988-89 when he got selected in playing eleven of Mumbai. And the journey to legacy had found the track
In his debut he scored a century and became the youngest Indian to score a century in first class debut. He had an amazing season and finished as highest run scorer for Mumbai.
This led him getting a call to play for Rest of India in Irani trophy against Delhi. The first match there too saw him scoring a ton.
These performances in Ranji trophy and Irani trophy were noticed and resulted in getting him a call for Indian cricket team which was to tour Pakistan.
Indian team went to Pakistan and Sachin got selected in playing 11 for the first test. He went to bat at number six for India and had to face bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis. He got little anxious in his firsts test innings and got out for 15 runs. In that little stay at the crease facing the extreme fast bowlers of Pakistan he had got the taste of test cricket. It was evident for him that why Test match is the ultimate test for a cricket player.
Second test was no different in terms of facing the quickies of Pakistan. But he showed character in the first innings and stayed their on the crease for 172 balls. He eventually got out scoring first half century of his test match career and made 59 runs.
He had average scores in next two test matches and had marked his presence. Here it gets very significant to mention an incident from the fourth test. While he was facing Waqar Younis in the second innings a bouncer from him struck the master on the helmet and then reflected onto his nose. There was blood all over. Team doctor was there for inspection and treatment. Innings seemed to have ended for him at that moment and he was asked by team doctor if he wants to go off but the response from the man himself was "Main Khelega"(I'll play) and then he hit some good shots before evetually getting out on last day for a well made 57. World cricket had knew by that incident that this little boy aged sixteen is here to make his mark. His courage had shown that he is here to stay.
Series was followed by one day series which was mostly effected by rain or some other incidents.
Though this series also saw a masterclass from the man. It was first match of the series in Peshawar. Official match had been called off due to bad weather however both the teams agreed to play a friendly match of 20 overs each. In reply to Pakistan's 157 India fell short of the target by 3 runs. This match was not remembered for India's defeat but for masters brilliant innings of 53 runs off just 18 balls and more so for hitting the all time great leg spinner Abdul Qadir for 4 sixes in the penultimate over of the innings scoring 28 runs from the over with one four as well. This was more sweet because Abdul Qadir had challenged the little master to hit him for sixes. It was that Sachin Tendulkar had hit Mushtaq Ahmed for two big sixes and a boundary in the first over he faced. Mushtaq Ahmed was relatively new to world cricket and this made Abdul Qadir to challenge the master saying "Bache ko Kya maarta hai, mujhe maar ke dikha"(no fun in hitting sixes on the bowling of a kid, dare hitting few on my bowling). He accepted the challenge gracefully and that 28 run over was the result. And a batsman who himself was just sixteen and was playing his first one day international (though it was a friendly match) had successfully dominated a world renowned leg sinner. Abdul Qadir had appreciated the Master Blaster in person after that over.
His induction to the camp only came after successfully passing the trials which itself has a story in it. At the tender age of 11, he was asked to bat in nets in front of Ramakant Achrekar sir. He was very nervous at first as he had never batted in nets before and Achrekar sir's presence only added pressure on him. This pressure had too much weigh on him and he failed to impress with his batting. It all seemed to end as Achrekar sir told Ajit Tendulkar to may be bring him after few years when he is more prepared. But it was an elder brother's belief in batting skills of his younger sibling that he didn't give up and convinced Achrekar Sir to give him one more chance, also requesting him to watch from far distance that would ease some pressure from the nervous Sachin.
This produced results and this time their was a more confident and smooth display of batting from the master. This led in him joining the camp and a foundation stone was laid for a legend in making.
After watching him bat in the camp, Achrekar sir were more convinced by masters batting skills and suggested his family to change his school to Shardashram Vidyamandir where sir himself was the full time cricket coach. They agreed and this led for more cricket exposure to Sachin Tendulkar. It was in his new school that he started playing cricket seriously and was getting noticed in Mumbai cricket circle.
Sachin tendulkar was scoring runs at will in school cricket in big tournaments in Mumbai's domestic cricket. It was in semi final of the Harris Shield in 1988 that Sachin Tendulkar played an unbeaten inning of 326 runs and was the part of 664 run partnership the-then record for any wicket in any class of cricket with Vinod Kambli who scored 349 unbeaten in that match.
Finally the big call for him came in Ranji season of 1988-89 when he got selected in playing eleven of Mumbai. And the journey to legacy had found the track
 |
| Sachin Tendulkar scored century in his debut match in both Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy |
In his debut he scored a century and became the youngest Indian to score a century in first class debut. He had an amazing season and finished as highest run scorer for Mumbai.
This led him getting a call to play for Rest of India in Irani trophy against Delhi. The first match there too saw him scoring a ton.
These performances in Ranji trophy and Irani trophy were noticed and resulted in getting him a call for Indian cricket team which was to tour Pakistan.
 |
| Sachin Tendulkar debut in test cricket came in 1989 against Pakistan |
Indian team went to Pakistan and Sachin got selected in playing 11 for the first test. He went to bat at number six for India and had to face bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis. He got little anxious in his firsts test innings and got out for 15 runs. In that little stay at the crease facing the extreme fast bowlers of Pakistan he had got the taste of test cricket. It was evident for him that why Test match is the ultimate test for a cricket player.
Second test was no different in terms of facing the quickies of Pakistan. But he showed character in the first innings and stayed their on the crease for 172 balls. He eventually got out scoring first half century of his test match career and made 59 runs.
He had average scores in next two test matches and had marked his presence. Here it gets very significant to mention an incident from the fourth test. While he was facing Waqar Younis in the second innings a bouncer from him struck the master on the helmet and then reflected onto his nose. There was blood all over. Team doctor was there for inspection and treatment. Innings seemed to have ended for him at that moment and he was asked by team doctor if he wants to go off but the response from the man himself was "Main Khelega"(I'll play) and then he hit some good shots before evetually getting out on last day for a well made 57. World cricket had knew by that incident that this little boy aged sixteen is here to make his mark. His courage had shown that he is here to stay.
Series was followed by one day series which was mostly effected by rain or some other incidents.
Though this series also saw a masterclass from the man. It was first match of the series in Peshawar. Official match had been called off due to bad weather however both the teams agreed to play a friendly match of 20 overs each. In reply to Pakistan's 157 India fell short of the target by 3 runs. This match was not remembered for India's defeat but for masters brilliant innings of 53 runs off just 18 balls and more so for hitting the all time great leg spinner Abdul Qadir for 4 sixes in the penultimate over of the innings scoring 28 runs from the over with one four as well. This was more sweet because Abdul Qadir had challenged the little master to hit him for sixes. It was that Sachin Tendulkar had hit Mushtaq Ahmed for two big sixes and a boundary in the first over he faced. Mushtaq Ahmed was relatively new to world cricket and this made Abdul Qadir to challenge the master saying "Bache ko Kya maarta hai, mujhe maar ke dikha"(no fun in hitting sixes on the bowling of a kid, dare hitting few on my bowling). He accepted the challenge gracefully and that 28 run over was the result. And a batsman who himself was just sixteen and was playing his first one day international (though it was a friendly match) had successfully dominated a world renowned leg sinner. Abdul Qadir had appreciated the Master Blaster in person after that over.
Sachin Tendulkar returned home from his first tour assured that he is made for world cricket and there is lot more to come.
References:
1. Sachin Tendulkar - Playing it my way (His autobiography)
About the article: I am a sports enthusiast who loves watching sports more so cricket and I love writing about sports. This article on Sachin Tendulkar was long on hold. I always wanted to write on him but it was getting delayed for one reason or the other. Now I guess it was the right time as things start getting in order when the thing is destined to be done. And here I am with part one of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - Journey to the eternal legacy. I hope you will like it. Part two will soon be published. Do give your valuable feedback and suggestions in the comment section below. Please also subscribe to my blog for regular updates to your email id and get the notification for Part two of this article and all other articles to come in future.
-Navdeep Sharma
About the author: Author Navdeep Sharma is a sports enthusiast and runs the blog to bring up the news and updates related to sports around the world and to do match briefs. People who like cricket, Football, Hockey, Tennis, Badminton, Snooker etc and would like to be updated about the latest news and updates can visit https://sevensportswithme.blogspot.in/
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