Thank you Sachin !!!

From the time I started watching cricket, I never saw an Indian team/eleven, where Sachin Tendulkar was not a member. He was called the little man, master blaster and off late God of cricket. Honestly, while I always admitted and admired his talent, ability, gentle nature and HUNGER to play cricket, I felt that Sachin was treated a little different from few other cricketers who were also doing equally good for the country and the sports. Hence, I was never vocal of my admiration or support of Sachin Tendulkar. I loved Rahul Dravid dearly and felt the need to support him coz I know for every one person who will support Dravid, there will be a hundred more who will support Sachin. I remember fighting with my friends in School/college on who is best/better - the cricket card game of boomer/big fun in the class is the highlight. My friend +Shiva R may remember me fighting for Dravid and in the process not supporting Sachin. I remember arguing with him about how many fours Dravid would have hit in a 50 and how may Tendulkar would have hit in his score of 50. Even till date, it is a given that if Tendulkar scores a 50, there will be close to 7-10 boundaries in that and it is not the case with Dravid.

It is a given that Sachin is a genius - how else can one debut at the age of 16 for his nation in International cricket ? His technique, stance is one of the most recognized in the world, including the famous guard adjusting knee jab he always does. His voice is one of the most mimicked voices in cricketing world. I can never forget waving at Tendulkar during India-Australia cricket match  in 1998 at Chepauk, Chennai - he came to field close to boundary line and looked right in my direction. He waved at all of us in the stands but still I was one of them. This is the closest I had ever seen Tendulkar, unlike +Dharma R sir who has tonnes of pictures with him. His popularity knows no bounds  - I remember 9th std holiday on april and on Sachin's bday, Doordarshan came out with "Sachin-25" event. We had an additional class to teach us 10th syllabus in 9th holidays and my teacher postponed the class to let us watch Sachin 25 TV show and come to school. Enough said of the level of adulation and respect you commanded and to have been in stardom for as long he has been, his conduct is impeccable.

Sachin Tendulkar :

1. His front foot drive. 
2. Dancing down the crease - it is such a fluent action when he does that
3. His balance and stance.
4. Desert Storm
   
   
5. Ind vs Pakistan at Chennai.Ind vs Australia at Chennai.
6. Sachin vs Warne - Though there are many battles Sachin won, Warne was most haunted of Sachin.
   
   Warne says: "I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player"
7. Sachin vs McGrath - Australia was at the receiving end of Sachin for the most number of times. He scored most centuries against Australia than against any other country.
   
   
   
8. MRF Bat.
9. 2003 Cricket world cup
10. Sachin's on and off field conduct and many many more !!
    
    
    
    
    Finally,
11. Sachin's final respect and worship of the 22 yards - it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. It is indicative of what cricket meant to him and he lasted as long coz he wasn't playing for anything else but for the love of a game.

To quote one wonderful article I read in The Hindu, His game is his personality:

"Tendulkar’s style, and this is perhaps the true measure of his greatness, demanded we assess nothing but his cricket. Yes, it is routine to affix such descriptors as humble, gentlemanly, focused to his character but I suspect we never really knew him — or needed to know him — like we knew the others (or thought we did). Tendulkar, to use that dreary cliché, let his game speak for himself."

Although I adore Rahul Dravid equally, you carried the hopes of a billion people more times on your shoulders than anybody else. You are dream and you lived a dream. What it tells me and rest of us is that, perhaps, if we also follow our dreams and do it to the best of our ability, we shall hope to attain success and most importantly, contentment and love out of it.

I cried.

One of the living example of genius, perseverance, hard-work ethic and love for the game. True Bharat Ratna indeed !!

Thank You - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar !!!