Fabulous Personalities- 11
Dr.Sundar ram MBBS., MD
Sachiiiiin, Sachin !!!! You’ve heard the chant. You may have not heard the sport, but you’ve heard the chant. The chant – one that a billion people once lived by. It is a name that continues to inspire many , not only in India, but all over the world , to take up the sport. He was an emotion ; a symbol of hope in a nation that revered him as nothing short of a God. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsman to have ever played the sport.
Early Years
Sachin Tendulkar was born on April 24 1973 in Dadar,Bombay to Ramesh Tendulkar, a well known Marathi novelist and poet and Rajni . He was named after his dad’s favourite music director Sachin Dev Burman. Tendulkar spent his formative years in Bandra. As a young kid , he was considered a bully often picking up petty fights. He also showed an interest in tennis idolising John McEnroe. To help curb his mischievous tendencies, his brother introduced him to cricket in 1984. He grew up under the watchful eyes of Ramakant Acherekar , a famous cricket coach in Bombay ,to whom Tendulkar owed all his success for the discipline the coach inculcated in him .
Early domestic career
At school, he developed a reputation as a child prodigy. He scored a truckload of runs in domestic cricket and was fast tracked into India’s premier domestic cricket tournament. On November 14,1987 he was selected to represent Bombay in the Ranji trophy. In the next season he made his debut for Bombay and also scored a century becoming the youngest Indian to score a Ranji century on debut. He finished that season as Bombay’s leading run scorer .
International debut and career
Looking at his exploits in domestic cricket , the Indian selection committee selected him for the Pakistan tour in 1989. Though he didn’t fare well in the initial outings, his technique was appreciated and was considered as a future star. Tendulkar’s performance through the years 1994-1999 coincided with his physical peak.1998 was Tendulkar’s best year as a batsman a year when he played some of the most celebrated knocks of his career. He was the only batsman to perform in numerous batting collapses during that period. He racked up truckload of runs against every opponent and performed well overseas too. Sir Don Bradman, the ultimate batsman, once exclaimed that Tendulkar played the same way as he used to which was perhaps the ultimate compliment a batsman could hope to receive. Though injuries were common during the later half of his career, he kept working hard on his batting skills and mesmerised many people with his longevity. His most memorable moment of his cricket life was the 2011 World Cup triumph which eluded him for almost 20 years. He retired from all forms of cricket on November 16 2013 after playing his 200 th test match in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.
Honours and Legacy
He is the leading run scorer in Tests, with 15921 runs as well as in ODI’s with 18426 runs.
He was the first batsman to score a double century in ODI against South Africa.
He is the only batsman to have scored 100 international tons which is quite an unique achievement.
He was lauded with the Arjuna award by the GoI in 1994 for his outstanding achievement in sports.
He was the Wisden cricketer of the year in 1997.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna , India’s highest honour for sports was awarded to him 1997-1998.
India’s highest civilian awards Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna was awarded to him in 2008 and 2014 respectively .
In 2013, Indian postal service released a stamp of Tendulkar and he became the second Indian after Mother Teresa to have such stamp released in their lifetime.
In 2019 he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
The rising pulse, the bursting eardrums, and the blinding tears as one involuntarily starts to chant along with the crowd is this generation’s collective cocaine. The whole nation is high , when that show stopping icon wields the willow and enchants a billion – Sachiiiiiin Sachin!
