From getting smashed on the nose to smashing the headlights out of the bowlers, this 5 ft 5 inch tall batsman has a tale, very few can even dream of. They say Sachin Tendulkar is the epitome of batsmanship, and why not, over 50,000 runs and 100 centuries. Is this even heard of, I doubt! Remember, fans across Indian switched off their TV sets once Sachin Tendulkar departed. He inspired at least a couple of generations in India to the sport. Sachin also commanded respect of bowlers across the world because he was never the one to cheat. He was a walker. A cricketer unlike Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar was the exact opposite, he was sombre and sober, played the game like a gentleman. His innings decided the mood of the nation, if he played well, people were happy and if not they were hurt. India is a cricket-crazy country and he certainly is GOD.
His legend is known by everyone across the world but there are some moments and pictures no one has ever seen and we bet. But before that let me take you on a detour of his 24-years long career. The legend of Sachin started when he along with his mate Vinod Kambli scored a 684-run partnership in an inter-school match and that is what made Sachin a household name.
Things you can never forget about Sachin Tendulkar, please let us know which is your most memorable :
- Taking on the Kiwis when he first got to open in 1994, and changed the dynamics of the sport.
- Sachin Tendulkar bowling the last over in the Hero cup finals and winning it.
- The maestro getting stuck into Shane Warne in India and in Sharjah 1998 and that gave nightmares.
- Sachin Tendulkar coming back to scoring a century after his father passed away, that requires nerves of steel.
- A still, fairly young Sachin Tendulkar ripping apart the fiery Pakistani bowling trio of Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib.
- In 2008, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh guiding India home on a crumbling wicket, in the fourth innings against England.
- An out-of-form Sachin Tendulkar answered his critics with a double in Australia at Sydney.
- Winning the 2011 WC at Wankhade must have been the most special of all of them. He was carried around the ground, his colleagues had given him a befitting exit.
The list can go on and on, that is how long his illustrious career has been.
A 14-year old Sachin!
That is how the legend started, from the streets!
Along with seniors!
At 36 years and 306 days he broke a 40-year-old barrier by scoring the first double-century in one-day cricket. There are many anecdotes where we learn that it was practice and hardwork along with discipline that saw him through 24 years at the pinnacle of the sport, unheard off.
The doting son!
Sachin, Azhar, Ajit Wadekar in one frame!
The lovable friend!
Spot the maestro!
Second from right!
Very few will spot him here!
Newbie in the team!
Humble beginnings!
The rising star!
He has set the benchmark really high and it is really going to take a lot for someone to eclipse that as fitness and discipline is what allowed him to continue for two-and a half decades.
In company of friends!
All said and done, Tendulkar’s considerable achievements seem greater still when looked at in the light of the burden of expectations he had to bear from his adoring but somewhat unreasonable followers.
19 years ago #SachinTendulkar played that knock against Australia in Sharjah that’s regarded as the greatest in ODI history #Desertstorm pic.twitter.com/pRPTefNK97
— Tarun Joshi (@TarunJoshi44) April 22, 2017
#ShahRukhKhan‘s Tweet Brought Out #SachinTendulkar‘s Philosophical Side. #SRK https://t.co/BE1j33qfAb pic.twitter.com/Ihk5y5ned3
— SRK Universe (@SRKUniverse) April 20, 2017
Soon his biopic will hit the theaters and surely the whole nation and his global fans are dearly waiting for it.
(All the pictures are courtesy Chaitanya Chinchlikar)
