Cricketing Legend - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

It’s been 39 years, since the incipience of the ODI format in cricket. Many great knocks have been hammered by teams and so by the individual players. Many teams registered 400+ scores and one did chase the mammoth total of 434. It was South Africa who had chased this successfully against Australia. But this time around it was different; SA couldn’t chase 401 scored by the mighty INDIANS. This knock came with the power pack performance by the little master blaster Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Saeed Anwar of Pakistan had scored 194 runs against INDIA in Chennai in May 1997, by surpassing the individual record of Sir Viv Richards of West Indies 189 N.O. Saeed Anwar’s knock was equaled by the less known Charles Coventry 194 N.O. of Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in August 2009 but in vain as Zimbabwe had lost the match.

Everyone was expecting this record to be broken sometime by the cricketing legend SRT. Sachin Tendulkar’s bat speaks more than him and has always proved his critics wrong by the brilliance of his batting strokes. The batting strokes from the blade of the little master blaster don’t blaze off with force but also with the fine finesse.

Immaculate and impeccable performance by the little master blaster came on February 24, 2010 creating the history in world of cricket not only by being the highest run getter in an ODI but also reaching the first Double ton ever. Vengeance is seen in the batting of this cricketing god these days after being dropped out from the Indian squad in 2007 and being booed off in his home ground before 4 years, where his career was about to defunct. But nothing stops the boy within him to blaze his blade. He never lost the belief, which inspires us to aspire his heights.

Nothing stops me from watching the highlights of those mystical moments that were created by SRT in Gwalior. One of the best moment that I recall here is of the legendary hero hitting a ball pitched outside the off stump by Dale Steyn and SRT moving across the wickets, flicking flawlessly between the square leg and mid wicket straight to the boundary and Steyn shrugging his shoulders back on the way. Robin Jackman had only one thing to say during this impeccable innings, that the best thing to do is not to bowl Sachin. This is the only secret that would save the South Africans.

Post match presentation, when Ravi Shastri asked him about how he felt on being the highest run scorer in an ODI and getting the only double ton ever in the history of ODI cricket, this humble and down to earth said “I don’t know how to react to this, I dedicate this double ton to the people of INDIA, all those people who stood behind me during my ups and downs in last 20 years. It feels good that I was there at the end of 50 overs, and would still like to bat for another 50 overs at some stage and see that my fitness level doesn’t drop” The best one was when he replied to Ravi Shastri on being asked that, when would the bowlers get some respect and he nicely mentioned “As long as in my heart I know that whatever I'm doing good for the team at that moment, I'm going to go ahead with that” (in short as long as he stays in centre, all you bowlers out there, don’t expect any respect from this little master blaster)

I envy all those people in Gwalior who watched and witnessed the mystical moments of the double tons that came from the cricketing god.

Such is the Power,

Such is the Genius,

Such is the Class...

SACH is the GOD of Cricket, atleast to US (INDIANS).... he made us all proud.....Hats off, Bows and Salute to "SIR SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR"

Terrific Tendulkar

Still at the age of 36 with a prolonged career of 20 years into the highest level of International cricket the little master blaster is completely unmoved from his basic instincts. Yesterday's ton against Australia at Hyderabad once again testified the passion and dedication of Sachin Tendulkar. Scoring 175 of 141 balls was an impeccable and phenomenal performance by the little master. The rampant 175 by Sachin recalls the reminiscence of two consecutive tons against Australia in 1997-98 Sharjah series. The way he send the ball out of the park hitting high over the head of Hauritz mesmerized the Sixes he scored against the legend leggie Warnie. The brilliant pull shot over the mid-wicket smashing the ball over the boundary reminded one of the biggest six hit in an ODI to Andrew Caddick of England in the World Cup of 2003. But still this great knock by the little master couldn't bring victory to the Indian team. Though team India was so near yet so far from the win as they continued with their legacy of snatching the defeat from the jaws of victory once again by losing the game with a very close margin of 3 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja who didn't learnt from the mistake of the last match at Mohali proved himself a culprit for the consecutive second time. He threw away his wicket in Mohali and made the mockery of the situation. His poor temperament showed the lack in his mental ability to cope up with the pressure at the do or die stage. This also doesn't justify his place in the Indian team while neglecting the presence of Yusuf Pathan who blossoms in situations like this and is handy in the spin bowling too.

It happens rarely where Man of the Match award is given to a player of the side losing. Despite of India's loss Sachin was awarded the Man of the Match and was not at all appeased. The disappointment was clearly seen in his dejected eyes, body language and speech. When he was asked what keeps him motivated; the genius, down to earth and humble person had few simple words to say "It's passion, I care about playing for India and I have been absoloutely honoured to play for India for 20 years."