Profile
Sachin Tendulkar can unquestionably be called the 'face of modern cricket'. He follows Don Bradman and Viv Richards as his generation's most successful batsman. The only close competitors Tendulkar faced were Brian Lara and, in more recent times, Ricky Ponting. Statistically, while Bradman scaled unreachable heights, Tendulkar, by his sheer consistency in longevity, marked his area with expansive width that shall, like the Australian great, probably never be conquered.
By the turn of the century, watching Tendulkar as India's lone warrior staging single-handed fights, - while carrying the hopes of a billion hearts, - was cricket's grandest spectacle. Too often his achievements would be let down by lack of support from teammates. Yet, his ability to continue to live to fight another day, shoulder blame unfairly and always delve into positives, transcends Tendulkar beyond a cricketing icon to a role model and a prized treasure for the oft-tarnished image of the sport. By the end of it all, through each seemingly-effortless, technically-perfect shot, that made batting an art form rather than a laborious effort, Tendulkar went on to be the game's leading run-getter, half-centurion and centurion in the two most pre-dominant forms of the game.
It is paradoxical that at the start of all these achievements was performance of nothingness - a debut ODI duck and an unflattering debut Test 15 against Pakistan as a 16-year-old. It underlines the old adage of attitude over talent, reminding everyone that even legends have to struggle to find their feet. He did make it big, of course, one small step at a time. First replacing Sanjay Manjrekar as India's most formidable batsman of the time and then becoming the only contender to Sunil Gavaskar's stature in Indian batting history. Finally, even the great Don Bradman drew parallels between himself and Tendulkar. In between, captaincy called on a few occasions, but it was one thing he wasn't cut out for. The "Little master" was also one of the very few who came out with his head held high as always, following the match-fixing scandal.
Following the turn of the century came India's ascendency after disappointing pasts during Tendulkar's foray in the peak of his career. He was now provided with the long-awaited support crew. But he still remained the mainstay while guiding his nation towards the summit of Test rankings. If Bradman started high and ended low, Tendulkar started low to rise unfathomably even miles before his end.
Tendulkar's long-awaited dream was finally fulfilled when he, as part of Team India, emerged victorious in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Throughout the tournament, he was a consistent performer with the bat. In an enormous acknowledgment to his batting genius, his teammates paid the Master Blaster rich tributes for his service to Indian cricket. Post-victory, Virat Kohli perfectly summed up the sentiment of many when he famously said that it was time that they carried Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders after he had carried the burden of the nation's expectations for 21 years. This World Cup win was the most special moment of Tendulkar’s life.
Fast Facts
- Sachin Tendulkar was the ICC Player of the Year 2010, Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997 and also Wisden Leading Cricketer, 2011.
- Tendulkar became the first sportsperson without an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force.
- He wanted to become a fast bowler but could not impress Dennis Lillee who suggested him to focus on his batting.
- In 1988, in an inter-school game, Tendulkar's 664-run stand with Vinod Kambli reduced an opposition bowler to tears and the rest were so frustrated that they refused to continue the game.
- He is the leading run-getter and centurion in Tests and ODIs.
- Tendulkar became the first batsman to score a double century in ODI cricket.
- He also became the first to score 90 International centuries.
- He was the first batsman in Tests to record 12,000 runs and later the first to reach 13,000 as well.
- “The Little Master” was the first batsman in ODIs to reach the 10,000 run milestone.
- He holds the record as the youngest Indian to make a debut in international cricket.
- Crossing and unprecedented milestone of 17,000 ODI runs in 2009, Tendulkar stretched his lead as the highest run-scorer in ODIs.
