He controls the hearts of millions of Indians.His one tweet on Twitter raises 1.10 crore for an NGO.He is the most respected cricketer of his time.His time classic strokes and His humble attitude makes him one of the most epitome Sportsperson of this century.
Tendulkar had become a House hold Phenomena by the start of1996.He was like a ticket to someplace away from all the discontent in the houses of Indian Streets.India was emerging out of underdevelopment and there was a lot of discontent among people about the government,corruption,new business competition,power cuts,job cuts,population crises,inflation, rising vegetable prices and almost about everything. India was finding it tough to create its stand on the world map ever since the Deregulation in 1992.Everyone considered Indian Team in the same situation on the cricket field,and found hope in this one man.Everyone remembers the famous Semifinal against Srilanka(World Cup 1996),where no one except one man stood tall against the Sri lankan attack.Sachin battled it out and fought hard to keep India in the game,which he eventually could not and hopes of crores of Indian's were shattered.But, everyone found themselves associating with his situation as it was a real low for this fanatically crazy cricket country.
By now,Tendulkar was booming and banging bowlers all over the globe.He was suspected of holding the record for the most no of individual records by any Cricketer in the world.But,then came the slumage like any other hindi feature film.All good things come to and end, so had his dream run.The Hero was just beaten up by injuries and bad form.Tennis elbow pushed him out of the sport for over an year.The newspaper's once after his one interview,now termed Sachin as "Endulkar" stating he had lost his charm and was also adviced to retire from this sport by Ian Chappel after his poor form during the 2007 world cup, which was also speculated his last.Even during his rough times,Sachin did not shy away from showing his brilliance by scoring his 35th Hundred against Srilanka in 2005.Also,his comeback 141* against West Indies shut up his critics again for sometime in 2006.
"lots of critics say when he scores 100's,India losses.no one realizes that he is the only one who stands up as a lone hero in the losing battle of runs.Opponents can get the better of India at times,never the better of Tendulkar."
Early Signs
Sachin like everyone has story, a story of struggle,pain and sacrifice for his love for cricket. Sachin Tendulkar not only symbolizes Sport but India as a whole.He was a naughty kid from the streets of Mumbai who has gone on to become a living legend. Sachin's story is of a very typical Indian home.It signifies the strength of a family institution most imbibed in our country.A elder brother who was his biggest critic,took the most interest in the cricket of his younger brother and helped and encouraged him all along,giving up a lot of chances for himself.A father who inspired his son to be humble and kind and forgiving and a family who supported him to consider Cricket over Academics.The values installed in Sachin makes him more of what his numbers tell you about him.
Child Prodigy
Sachin was a child prodigy and every since his start (with the match against Pakistan in 1989),he has never looked back.This ,then 17 year old boy has been breaking the backs of record keepers all over the world.His next stage was England in 1990, where he became the second youngest cricketer to score a Test century as he made 119* at Old Trafford. This young cricketer was then being compared to the best Indian Batsman Mr Gavaskar himself.He has never looked back, ever since.He has gone from strength to strength. Tendulkar's performance through the years 1994–1999 coincided with his physical peak as a sportsperson.
Symbolizing India
Tendulkar had become a House hold Phenomena by the start of1996.He was like a ticket to someplace away from all the discontent in the houses of Indian Streets.India was emerging out of underdevelopment and there was a lot of discontent among people about the government,corruption,new business competition,power cuts,job cuts,population crises,inflation, rising vegetable prices and almost about everything. India was finding it tough to create its stand on the world map ever since the Deregulation in 1992.Everyone considered Indian Team in the same situation on the cricket field,and found hope in this one man.Everyone remembers the famous Semifinal against Srilanka(World Cup 1996),where no one except one man stood tall against the Sri lankan attack.Sachin battled it out and fought hard to keep India in the game,which he eventually could not and hopes of crores of Indian's were shattered.But, everyone found themselves associating with his situation as it was a real low for this fanatically crazy cricket country.
Badshah of Sharjah
We as Indians had lost the faith in our team and our then Captain Mohd. Azharudin.To add to that, when our wounds were healing (from our loss at world cup) came the BIG Battle with (Maybe even bigger than the World Cup) our arch rivals Pakistan.The host was Sharjah and in front of a packed stadium ,Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Siddhu reclaimed India's pride by posting a total of 310 vs a fierce Pakistani Bowling Attack. Tendulkar once again came to heed of his people by scoring a century.
Sharjah has always been special for Tendulkar.India was always considered pushovers by the Australian's at that venue. Untill, Tendulkar happened to Shane Warne.Sachin went on to dominate two of the most important matchs of the tournament by scoring consecutive hundred's and giving the worlds best spinner nightmares by hitting him down the ground for sixes and fours on a very turning wicket.Once again, his bat spoke to the claims of many.
"When he speaks with his BAT,he is very rude".
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God Status
hush! hush! rumors of Indo-Pak tensed relations started making the news and tension was building in the country over constant efforts to avoid going to war.Cricket happened to be at a Crucial juncture at that time.India was hosting the Asain Test Championship and were playing Pakistan at Eden Gardens. Sachin was given runout,as crowd saw it.It was because of a possible collision between Shoiab Akhtar and Sachin Tendulkar.They retaliated and did so hard that the match had to be stopped and only after a Special Appeal made by the man himself,did the match continue.Most of the people left,unhappy with the proceedings of the test match and it finished with only about 200 spectators.Just goes to show,how the undoings to Tendulkar were taken personally.
"He has always held up the expectations and when someone does something wrong to him,it hurts us!! Sachin is God to us all Indians"
INDIA and the WORLD (CUP)
Its more than his runs that makes him great and that was showed by him,when his father died in the middle of the world cup of 1999.Sachin was badly needed by the country and everyone was counting on him. Sachin Tendulkar came back from his dad's funeral to score a century against Kenya and then stayed till the end of the world cup.Just goes to show the extent of showmanship this man contains.
"My father always told me,never let your country down .He will always be with me"
World Cup came again,better prepared were team India under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly.One man who was over prepared was Sachin Tendulkar.Even though,India did not feature well in the finals and Tendulkar was out for very less runs.Sachin Tendulkar marked the dominance of India over the tournament by scoring 673 runs in 11innings and was awarded the man of the tournament.This tournament symbolized the comeback of India on the world map,where India was seeing a rise of booming economy and now India's voice was being heard on the global platform with newer political ties with China,USA,Iran and the SAARC summit success.
The Fall of the Hero
"The problem is, he has already done so much for the sport that any regular cricketer would love to take his bad form for his own good one"
'Guts' 'Glory' n' 'Greatness'
Post 2006, came the series of nervous nineties,if you look at his record of centuries during 2007 you would be disappointed,but if you check his 90+ scores closely you would see how this man silenced not only his critics but all his sledgers once and for all by scoring seven 90+ scores,with 3 of them as 99's.No one has ever even tried to sledge this master ever since. Its been difficult to choose his best since then, his form in the CB series vs Australia or his double hundred vs South Africa or his great knocks during the world cup of 2011,he came out better and better after every knock.Sachin has reformed,transformed still maintaining the hope of 1.2 billion and has delivered at an astounding percentage.
India has also become more sensitive to this server of the country.Sachin Tendulkar has performed a lot for us.He has taken us places where we have never imagined.He has been through controversial times,through struggle,through ups and downs,through awards and records,Still if you ask him what keeps him going even after 20 years in the sport.He replies with a smile" I love the sport,I enjoy playing"
"lots of critics say when he scores 100's,India losses.no one realizes that he is the only one who stands up as a lone hero in the losing battle of runs.Opponents can get the better of India at times,never the better of Tendulkar."
The Champion
Sachin Tendulkar is an image of India,its people.He is more than just a sportsperson.We hate him at times,we want more from him at times,we wish more for him at times....because we love this IDOL of ours.He might have done everything,achieved almost everything but even now when ever We as Indians start to realize that he is just another mortal who is ageing and makes mistakes and will wear out eventually.... He comes up to prove us wrong.
"Whenever we try and believe he is a mere mortal,The GOD proves to his followers the strength of the faith in him"
An Ode to the Little Master!!
