Sachin Tendulkar

With Tendulkar closing in on Lara's record for most Test runs I thought of writing a article on the great man, someone who has been an icon in India for 18 years now.

My first memories of Tendulkar dates back to early 90's when as a kid I saw him make Aussie quicks like McDermott, Hughes etc look like club bowlers on what was a lightning fast Perh wicket, it was a match in which Tendulkar came into bat with India in trouble which in the days to come was a familiar story of Indian team in 90's and when it comes to that particular innings it was a treat to watch as he would repeatedly pull, and cut the Aussie quicks, guide it past the slips and he even hit McDermott over mid off which in itself was something to see. In 93 when England played India, Kambli was the one who scored the bulk of runs but Tendulkar too was consistent as it looked more and more like he is going to fulfill the promise he showed early in his career. The next time I caught a glimpse of him was in the 96 WC when he was at his peak and I still remember the way he hammered McGrath against Aussies as he would just come down the wicket and hammer him straight down the ground, or he would make room and hit him wherever he wants and one has to say he looked unstoppable that night until M.Waugh got him out stumped by bowling wide down the leg side. During India's tour of England in 96 his knock at Edgebaston was a connoisseur's delight for the correctness of his technique and the flair that was exhibited by Tendulkar especially those cover drives were superb to watch, yes India yet again collapsed around him which was sad to see as he just needed someone to support him nevertheless it does not take anything away from what was marvellous knock by the little man. Later that year in South africa he again showed his class at Capetown where he smacked Donald and co. all over the park, yet again leaving the wristy Azharuddin no one supported Sachin but he was unperturbed by it as he would hit Donald on the up or he would flick Pollock from outside the off stump he even hooked Donald who was bowling really quick at that time.

Next up were his battles with Warne in 98 and one can remember his breathtaking assault on Warne at Madras in the second innings where there was bit of turn and bounce and Warne was pitching it on the rough but somehow Tendulkar taking leg stump as a guard would make room and hit Warne over the top by coming to the pitch of the ball, now that can be done only by a genius.

In 99 with Tendulkar plagued by persistent injuries he started to become more of a accumulator or a run a gatherer rather than a stroke maker still he had his moments like in Australia during that year he was able to score a hundred at Melbourne though one has to add that McGrath did trouble him by bowling back of a length and giving him virtually no room but Tendulkar still was good enough to counter him, even in 01 though Lax. took the limelight for that breathtaking innings at Kolkota yet Tendulkar also did his bit by scoring a hundred in Madras and in England in 02 he showed his class with that 194 at Headingly. In 04 when there was speculation of Tendulkar being well past his best he still got a double hundred at Sydney and that was a series in which he had troubles with playing those cover drives as he was not coming to the pitch of the ball as a result he was getting caught in the slips so at Sydney he decided he won't play any cover drives and it was amazing to watch him compile a near flawless innings without a single cover drive as poor Aussie quicks tried again, and again to lure him to play those cover drives by bowling well outside the off stump and that innings clearly showed Tendulkar's determination to succeed. In 08 he yet again tormented Aussies by getting 493 runs.

Yes Tendulkar's performance recently in Lanka was nothing to write home about because of which there is pressure on little master to do well against Aussies but he is a true great of the game as to be consistent for 17 to 18 years is just incredible.

Thanks to greyblazer for this insight into the Little Master.