Superstar PM Sachin to continue cricket

Premasara EPASINGHE

India honoured their greatest Cricket Icon by nominating him recently to Indian Parliament or Loksabha as a Member of Parliament. He is the most complete batsman, the most worshipped cricketer in the world. He is known as the "Kohinoor" - the greatest of all Diamonds. He is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, this gentlemanly cricketer, holds just about every batting record in the game. He is the batsman who scored most of the runs, hundreds in Tests and ODIs, in the International Cricket circuit. He has been an ornament to the game all these years.

I doubt very much, whether the above statistics will be erased by any cricketer in his life-span. This clearly shows that Sachin Tendulkar has been the most complete batsman, prolific run maker, known in the history of cricket.

For any batsman, in any age group, to score a hundred is itself an achievement. It is an acid Test for batsmanship. Imagine, if a batsman can score hundred hundreds in Tests, and One Day Internationals, he must be a batsman out of this world. That's why, Sachin Tendulkar is considered as a "Super Human Being." The WALA, pitch is considered as one of the lightning fast pitches in the world. As a 19-year-old youth, Tendulkar scored one of his best centuries against the mighty Australians.

I first saw him in 1998 in Sharjha, playing against Imran's Pakistan Team. If my memory serves right Sachin scored 17 with three boundaries in this match.

Sachin Tendulkar's story is like an interesting fairytale. The date was 26th November 1983, the third day of the fourth Test between India - West Indies. India scored a massive 463 in the first innings. West Indies were 47 for 2 wickets. Two little boys - from Sahitya Sahwas, an uncricketing place, sons of the famous Marathi poet and Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Ajit (12) Sachin (10) were among the spectators at Mumbai Wankhede stadium. They say that "child impressions are forever". The ten-year-old Sachin, saw West Indies batting Maestro, Vivian Richards - a great entertainer hammering the day lights out of the Indians.

He was a "killer", a great batsman. These two little ones hailed from a "Colony of Littérateurs" in Bandra in Mumbai, where academic culture, was at its best. They did not have a cricketing background.

In the 1983, West-Indies versus India Test match, Richards scored a "Gem of a century" in just 130 balls.

The innings of Vivian Richards influenced the 'Birth of a great cricketer" - who later scored hundred centuries in Test and ODIs in a span of 23 years. After seeing Vivian Richards' innings, Sachin gave a promise to his brother Ajit "I will someday, play cricket for India" and emulate this great batsman Vivian Richards. Today, Sachin Tendulkar surpassed Vivian Richards and he is the number one batsman of Tests and ODIs. What an achievement?

Sachin was born on April 24, 1973. He grew up at Ushakkal. Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, a great scholar and lover of Hindi music, named his second son after the famous music director and composer Sachin Dev Burman. The great father of this great cricketer Sachin, Professor Tendulkar after teaching at Siddharth College, became the Head of Marathi Department Kirti College in Dandar in Central Mumbai. His son Sachin too studied at the same college and later at Sharadashram Vidyamandir School. Professor Ramesh Tendulkar's wife Rajni worked in a Life Insurance Company. Sachin, the tiny toddler, spent most of his time with his siblings and the servant maid Laxmibai Ghije, may would have been the first bowler Sachin faced.

Sachin Tendulkar made his Test Debut, at a tender age of 16, against Pakistan. He was hit by "Pakistan Express" Waqar Younis. Blood was gushing and flowing. This courageous unassuming cricketer, who always put "country before self" continued to bat. That's what you call "Guts".

At the age of 17, against England, he played a match-saving innings at Old Trafford and scored his debut Test hundred. Before his 25th birthday, Sachin Tendulkar scored 16 Test centuries. By 2000, he became the first batsman to score 50 ODI hundreds. In 2008, Sachin passed Brian Lara, as the leading Test scorer. Then, he passed 13,000 Test runs, 30,000 International runs and 50 Test Hundreds. Amazing indeed. Further, he shattered a 40-year-old barrier by scoring the first double century in One Day Cricket.

Just one month short of his 39th birthday, Sachin Tendulkar became the first player to score 100 International hundreds. Most of his innings were decorated by Sachin trademark strokes - Back foot drive either side of the wicket, that he plays with poise and precision beyond anyone else.'

In 1988, Sachin Tendulkar (14), Vinod Kambli (16), had an unbroken alliance of 664 runs for Sahrdashram against St Xavier's at Azad Maiden. Sachin scored 326 n.o. and Vinod 326 not out. In 2006, two schoolboys from Hyderbad - Manoj Kumar and Mohammed Shaibaz broke this record, scoring an unbeaten 721 partnership.

"Little Master" or "Tendlya", Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman in ODI's to pass the milestone of 10,000 runs. He was the Genius Absolute. Sachin has a wonderful eye and wonderful brain for cricket.

His debut Test was against Pakistan at National Stadium, Karacchi on November 15, 1989. His last Test he played on 24h January 2012 against Australia at Adelaide Oval.

He played his debut ODI at Jinnah Stadium, Gujaranwala on 18th December 1989. His last ODI was against Pakistan at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on 18th March 2012.

Tendulkar has been honoured with Padma Vibushan, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Honorary Group Captain by Indian Air Force and also he was awarded Honorary Doctorates from University of Mysore, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science. In 2010 at the ICC Awards ceremony, Sachin Tendulkar won Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. He is a Gem of a batsman. The crack of his bat against the ball is proper music for men. He had a marvellous gift of into position quicker than any other batsman. He is an amazing cricketer.

He began his cricketing career, under Ramakant Achrekar. He was his coach, guide and Mentor. When Sachin was 14, the Great Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar presented one of his ultra light pads and Sachin consider this a great source of encouragement. The beauty was that Sachin surpassed Gavaskar's World Record in batting.

On 24th May 1995, Sachin married Anjali, Paediatrician, a daughter of Gujarati Industrialist Anond Mehta and British social worker Annabel Mehta.

Dr Anjali Tendulkar and Sachin Tendulkar are blessed with two children, Sara - born on 12th October 1997 and Arjun born 24th September 1999.

Sachin and Anjali are good Samaritens who help the poor needy children. They sponsor about 200 under privileged children, through Apnalaya - NGO in Mumbai.

In 1999, during the World Cup series, played in England, Sachin's father Professor Ramesh Tendulkar died. Sachin flew to Mumbai, India for the funeral. He returned and scored a brilliant 140 in 101 balls against Kenya in British. This is one of the Best Hundred that I have seen in my life. He dedicated this century to his father - Prof Ramesh Tendulkar.

Tendulkar was given the reins of captaincy of India after Mohammed Azharuddin. Later, Tendulkar resigned as Indian captain and he played under Soourav Ganguly. Upto date, he is an integral past of Indian Team. He is the most senior statesman in the Indian Team.

Tendulkar have to wait for sometime to his much awaited 100th International hundred. He achieved this milestone against Bangladesh on 16th March 2012.

He signed to play for Mumbai Indians play for the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty competition. He was signed for a sum of US Dollars 1,121,250. In 2011, IPL, he scored 100 not out off 66 balls. He is playing currently in the on-going IPL Matches representing the Mumbai Indians.

Tendulkar was offered one of the twelve (12), seat in the Upper House of Parliament in India, that are reserved for these who have distinguished themselves in various fields, such as Arts, Sciences or Social Service. I presume, this may be the first instance, an outstanding Sports Personality was nominated.

For Indians, cricket is like a Religion. The cricket fans consider unassuming Sachin Tendulkar, as a semi-God. The cricket fans must be thrilled to hear about this appointment. But, one thing is certain. They still prefer Sachin to continue cricket, even he is a Parliament Member. For Sachin it is the highest honour bestowed by the Congress Government.