Celebrating Sachin Tendulkar's 20 glorious years [Update: 28th year]

[SachDan]

'Proud' Maharashtrian Sachin says Mumbai belongs to all Indians Even as politicians in Maharashtra like Raj Thackeray are increasingly using the "Marathi Manoos" card, iconic Mumbaikar Sachin Tendulkar on Friday walked a middle path and said the financial capital belonged to India. "Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and proud to be a Maharashtrian, but I am also an Indian," said Tendulkar to a specific query at a media meet here on the eve of completing 20 years in international cricket. Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in the first Test at Karachi in 1989 and is all set to play his 160th Test against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, the venue of the first Test of a three-match series, on November 16. :adore: LINK

[Guest Hiten.]

Yep. :finger: MNS ghatti janta :finger:

[DomainK]

'Proud' Maharashtrian Sachin says Mumbai belongs to all Indians Even as politicians in Maharashtra like Raj Thackeray are increasingly using the "Marathi Manoos" card, iconic Mumbaikar Sachin Tendulkar on Friday walked a middle path and said the financial capital belonged to India. "Mumbai belongs to India. I am a Maharashtrian and proud to be a Maharashtrian, but I am also an Indian," said Tendulkar to a specific query at a media meet here on the eve of completing 20 years in international cricket. Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan in the first Test at Karachi in 1989 and is all set to play his 160th Test against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, the venue of the first Test of a three-match series, on November 16. :adore: LINK

This is one guy Raj Thackray will not take panga with.

[satishg]

amazing collection of articles. Truly great work guys! :two_thumbs_up:

[SachDan]

Sachin fit to be an ambassador Ali Bacher I met Sachin for the first time when South Africa played their first ever One- Day International on Indian soil at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the 1991 tour. He scored 62 to win the game for India. I remember walking into the Indian change room to say well done to him. I have followed his progress since and have met him many, many times. Sachin is one of the greatest players the world has seen. But the most important thing for me is Sachin Tendulkar the person. His feet are on the ground, he's humble, he's respectful, and he never boasts about his achievements. He came to South Africa for medical treatment a few years ago. It was a Sunday and I took him out for lunch along with Lee Irvine, a great friend of mine who played Test cricket for South Africa along with me. After we dropped Sachin off, I remember Lee saying to me he could not believe the chap was so humble. He is an icon; he's a superstar. I have huge admiration for Sachin. If it was left to me, I would tell him ' Sachin, when you finish, I would like you to be the game's ambassador'. He is the ideal ambassador for world cricket and I would recommend him as strongly as I can. Not so much as to promote the game, but to promote the ethos, the culture and the good things about the game - what you do and what you don't do; what you say and what you don't say. He is a fantastic individual. A couple of years ago, I went to see Ratnakar Shetty ( BCCI's chief administrative administrator) and after he dialled Sachin's number I spoke to him. I told him, ' The last time I came here ( Mumbai) I went to your shop ( restaurant) to buy memorabilia for my eight grandchildren'. That night when I went to my hotel, I found there was stuff from him for my grandchildren, unannounced. He's an extraordinary person. I have no doubt that the media worldwide has tried to find skeletons in his cupboard. And I am sure they fished and fished, and found nothing. LINK

[SachDan]

Sach-a icon Mumbai: At 36 and 17,000 runs, Sachin Tendulkar continues to inspire children. In a DNA poll of 100 kids between the ages of 10 and 14, an impressive 40 percent voted for the cricket legend, making him a clear winner in our Kids Ka Icon Kaun poll. Most children said that he inspired them to be successful. Shah Rukh Khan, who narrowly lost out to Sachin Tendulkar, still remains a hot favourite. "He is an awesome actor and I love his hair-style," said 12-year-old Divya Kumar. Some children mentioned that the reason they idolised SRK was that he made 'lots of money'. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor (8 percent votes each) were favourites amongst girls. "She is very beautiful," said 10-year-old Dipti Shah when asked why she chose Kareena as her icon. Hrithik Roshan, who was a kiddie favourite since Koi Mil Gaya and Krissh, seems to have come down the popularity ladder, as has Aamir Khan after Taare Zameen Par. While tennis star Sania Mirza got 3 percent votes,the only businessman on the list was Anil Ambani (2 percent) and the only politician was Rahul Gandhi with 3 percent votes. LINK

[sunit224]

The Atlas who would not shrug - by Saurabh Somani Might be a bit over the top but i loved it... In Greek mythology, Atlas was the Titan who was cursed to hold the heavens on his shoulders, supporting the weight of the skies for all eternity. Ayn Rand thought this terribly unjust, and suggested that he didn't deserve the punishment, and he should shrug off the burden and end his suffering. In times to come, it is possible that the world Atlas would be replaced by a historical, non-mythological, living and breathing embodiment of the story. For twenty years, Sachin Tendulkar has given his blood, sweat and tears to Indian cricket and by extension to the whole of India. For much of those years, he has borne the burden alone, and not once has he given a hint of wanting to shrug it off. As he soldiered on alone in the fifth ODI against Australia, it seemed as if nothing had changed. The Indian team was supposed to be on the cusp of becoming the best ODI side - at least according to the rankings - but when it came right down to the crunch, it was the familiar old tale of one man standing up while the rest crumbled around him. It was impossible not to think of another improbable chase a decade ago, when India played Pakistan in a Test match at Chennai in 1999. Then, as now, India were facing a foe that made the intensity and quality of matches rise beyond the ordinary. Then, as now, India's efforts in the field and with the ball left something to be desired. Then, as now, one man alone stood between the opposition and an epic Indian victory. And tragically, then as now, India stood on the cusp of greatness before it was cruelly snatched away. Actually, Tendulkar stood on the cusp of greatness - the rest of the Indian team hadn't contributed too much to be deserving winners. When he came out to bat today, it didn't look as if he was going to compose a classic. He seemed weighed down by the impending 17,000 run landmark. Once he crossed it however, the Tendulkar of old started to re-appear. Vintage flicks, delectable cuts, power-packed pulls, and jaw-dropping straight drives all made their appearance as the innings progressed. Sure this was a weakened Australian side, but a bowling attack of Hilfenhaus, Watson, Hauritz, Bollinger and McKay was still decent enough. And when you have a total of 350 as a cushion, a decent bowling attack is more than enough to do the job on most occasions. All around him wickets continued to tumble, but the diminutive Tendulkar stood tall. As Indian fans despaired, he never gave up. And by continuing to dazzle, he rekindled hope in a billion hearts. With every stroke, every lofted shot, every tight single - the country lurched, stepped and danced to one man's tune. And as he got us closer and closer, we dared to dream about the impossible. And then it happened. The miracle ended. A debutant bowler had a wicket whose significance is unlikely to be matched in his international career. As Tendulkar's mis-timed paddle-scoop rose high in the air, a billion voiceless thoughts would have raced through the fans - through our - heads. "Let it carry over the short-fine leg. Please, God almighty let it carry over him." "Let him drop it. Let the pressure get to him." "No. He can't be out! It can't end like that! Noooooo!" The pin-drop silence in the stadium was a silent homage by ordinary men to the man who had given them so much more than they could. The silent applause gave way to the more traditional one as the Atlas of Indian cricket made a slow and interminable walk back to the pavilion. Was he too thinking of Chennai '99? Did he dare hope that his team-mates would do the job? Was he racked by the thought that he had left another chase unfinished? I don't know, and I don't presume to know. What I do know is that in his time at the crease there were 318 runs scored off the bat off 287 balls. He made 175 off 141, scoring more than 55% of the runs in less than 50% of the balls. What I know is that from a starting asking rate of 7 an over, to seeing it balloon to 8 an over, he departed leaving the batsmen to come after him with the task of getting just 6 an over for 3 overs. What I know is that everyone who watched even a part of his innings should feel privileged and honoured, because they have seen sublime genius at work. What I know is that he set out to achieve a win for India single-handedly. He had seen the generous bowling and fielding display which saw India gift Australia runs by the bucketful, he had seen catches that ought to be taken dropped, and in a rare gesture of symbolic defiance, he had thrown the ball to the ground in disgust, in frustration - after pouching a fine catch off the last ball of the Australian innings. Every stroke of his while batting seemed to say that no matter what the challenge, I will do it. What I know is that no matter how much pain the fans felt, no matter how hard Team India was hit by the loss, none of that could match the pain that Sachin Tendulkar felt. That he can feel more pain than the youngest team member and the oldest fan, is a fact that deserves a story by itself. But for me, that is enough to forget my pain and stand in unreserved applause for the man who makes me feel more Indian than any other.

[rahuliverpool]

what a thread....my eyes are swollen. Brilliant, simply awesome.

[SachDan]

'FIRSTS' for Sachin FIRST COACH Ramakant Achrekar is one of the most gifted cricketing coaches in India, and he has given the country one of its biggest sporting gifts. Like the shishya, the guru too remains humble about the role he has played in shaping this glittering cricketing career. “When I first saw him, it was clear that he had this immense hunger for doing well at whatever he was doing,†Achrekar says. The coach is not surprised by Tendulkar’s accomplishments. “He is a once-in-a-generation player, but the most important thing is that he has kept his feet firmly on the ground.†For any other man in Tendulkar’s position, that would probably have been impossible. FIRST SCHOOL Everybody in Dadar knows where Shardashram Vidya Mandir is. It’s not his first school, it’s the place where his cricketing journey began. It’s a mere coincidence that I end up asking its directions from a little boy in a school uniform. “That’s Sachin’s school,†he says enthusiastically, before adding “and mine.†The sense of pride is as evident in others associated with the school. The guard at the gate says he’s even had “tourists†coming to see the school which Tendulkar attended as a child. The teachers have changed since those days, but even the new ones drill into schoolchildren the idea that they have a legacy to live up to. FIRST FRIEND It’s a well-known fact that Vinod Kambli and Tendulkar were thick as thieves in their boyhood. But Atul Ranade, a former first-class cricketer, has known Tendulkar from his kindergarten days. “There has been no change in him in the last 30 years,†Ranade says. “He’s still the same guy who cared about his family and cricket with a single-minded focus.†Ranade recalls that the young Tendulkar was a prankster. Once he applied a balm on Ranade’s eyes and then pretended to be asleep. To compound the practical joke, Tendulkar handed Ranade a toothpaste to wash away the balm! Ranade adds, “He has never been intimidated by anyone, and even as a kid he was quite a bully.†Long-suffering bowlers around the world will vouch for that. FIRST CAPTAIN Krish Srikkanth is proud of many things in his career. The 1983 World Cup win, the fact that he played a considerable amount of cricket for India. But one thing he remembers with particular pride is that he was the leader of the pack at the time when Tendulkar made his debut. “We were all aware about this young curly-haired boy’s exploits in domestic cricket,†he recalls. But no one, it seems, knew how good the prodigy actually was. Though shy and reserved, Srikkanth says, there was not an iota of fear in Tendulkar’s eyes. “In those days, a 16-year-old visiting our biggest foes was completely unheard of. He is a special, special cricketer and a wonderful man. His dedication to the game of cricket and country is exemplary.†We won’t see another Tendulkar for years to come, he says. FIRST CENTURY 1P_sdYPh71I One urban legend has become part of the Tendulkar folklore. An old man sitting in the stands at Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester applauded Tendulkar’s first century. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best batsman to have graced the cricketing field,†the old man is said to have said. “And unlike you, I have seen Bradman bat.†Tendulkar was 17 when he scored his first century. Manoj Prabhakar was on the non-striker’s end, and says he had the best seat in the town. “Such maturity on young shoulders was breathtaking to see. He wasn’t fazed by anything,†he says. Prabhakar was also his opening partner when Tendulkar scored his first century in limited-overs cricket. He recalls that there was no case of nerves as the youngster approached his hundred. “I just told him to carry on and he would reach the magical figure.†Little did he know then that many such magical numbers would be attained in the future. FIRST AD CAMPAIGN An ad for Band-Aid was the first one Tendulkar ever did. It was the Pepsi campaign, however, which put him on the A-list of celebrity endorsers. Ad-man Prahalad Kakkar says Tendulkar is a highly committed performer. He has no airs, is always on time and pays attention to details, says Kakkar, who has done a few ads with the cricketer. There was one occasion, though, where Tendulkar refused to shoot until the script was changed. In the ad in question, Tendulkar is shown hitting the ball with a stump in time with the jingle, which goes “Ae Sachin aaya re bhaiyyaâ€. This was the modified version of the ad. The original ad showed bowlers bowling to him and Tendulkar hitting the bowlers all over the park with a fly swatter. Tendulkar refused to shoot the ad, saying, “The commercial would indicate that I am bigger than the game.†Kakkar says Tendulkar’s humility “has left me spellboundâ€. You are not alone, Mr Kakkar. FIRST DUCK You can judge a person’s greatness when he is down, when some people make hay while the star’s sun temporarily ceases to shine. No one had heard of first-class cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh until January 11, 2009, when he entered the history books by becoming the first bowler ever to dismiss Tendulkar for a duck in domestic cricket. “I will always cherish that moment,†he says. Though he was also part of the Royal Challengers IPL team, Singh’s claim to fame remains that duck. “He has only gotten out for duck just once, so it is a very special feeling for me,†says this bowler. FIRST INTERVIEW mNAzXh-58Eo “I just want to play cricket.†Those words, uttered in a squeaky voice, still echo in the heads of Indian cricket fans. Tom Alter interviewed Tendulkar for that programme. He remembers a boy who was supremely confident about his abilities. “He was shy, but confident and not at all nervous.†It was clear to Alter that he treated all the fuss as part of being a cricketer. “Remember that this was all when he was 15 and he wasn’t the phenomenon he has grown into,†says Alter. There were rumours that the cricketer was going to be picked for the West Indies tour of 1988-89. Yet Tendulkar was unfazed. “He said he was ready to face the fearsome West Indian quicks, and I was thinking ‘Boy, do you realise you are still 15?’†There’s something about adolescence which gives you that feeling that you can conquer the world. Tendulkar, however, actually did. FIRST BUSINESS VENTURE When Tendulkar’s — the restaurant — opened in Colaba about seven years ago, the trend of celebrities having their own branded eateries was not as well-established as it is now. Tendulkar’s is not operational at the moment, but it used to be a shrine for Tendulkar devotees. The idea for the restaurant was Tendulkar’s own, but he set it up in partnership with Sanjay Narang. I remember having had a meal there once and having gotten a number of tidbits of information about the famous owner. The recipes included his favourites, and the cricketer offered a lot of inputs in the décor of the space as well. Though Tendulkar later opened another café, called Sachin’s, that too was shut after a cool response from the public. It’s still not clear whether Tendulkar’s has closed permanently. Stand-alone restaurants in India have, in general, not had an easy time. FIRST INJURY ? The term “tennis elbow†entered the vocabulary of Indian cricket fans in 2004, when Tendulkar was diagnosed with the injury. Many fans rushed to query their doctors about how it happens and, more importantly, how long it takes to recover. Orthopaedic specialist Dr Anant Joshi treated Tendulkar. He recalls how his patients suddenly wanted to learn more about tennis elbow! Joshi, who was then BCCI’s medical consultant, says that patience is the one thing which Tendulkar has in abundance. “He was anxious but knew that these things take time.†Tendulkar, says Joshi, is one of the most hard-working cricketers he knows, “Never shying away from extra training sessions, and he knows how his body responds to minor niggles.†FIRST BOWLING SPELL The 1993 Hero Cup will always be remembered for Sachin Tendulkar the bowler. In the semi-finals against South Africa, India was in a spot of bother. Then-captain Mohammed Azharuddin recalls that it was a gamble to throw the ball to Tendulkar for the last over. Needing six to win, putting in a part-time bowler could have backfired. “Not even once did he say ‘Don’t give me the ball’,†says Azhar. “[He] was confident that he would lead us to victory.†Both Azhar and Tendulkar would have been crucified if the gamble had not paid off. “As a captain,†says the captain, “you always had confidence that Sachin would deliver, be it with the ball or bat.†LINK

[Guest Hiten.]

Christ, what terrific stuff Danny boy

[SachDan]

Tendulkar thanks Gavaskar for letter written in 1987 Tendulkar recalls how a hand-written letter from Sunil Gavaskar helped him get over the disappointment of not winning MCA's best junior cricketer award The letter... Dear Sachin, I wanted to write earlier but something or the other came in the way. Then I thought it better to write at the beginning of the new season rather than at the end of the last season. Congratulations on your performance last season. What was most impressive was the way you batted alone when the others around you were not contributing much. Keep it up. Also please do not neglect your studies. My experience is that education helps you through bad patches in whichever career you choose. So go ahead and God bless. Regards, Sunil Gavaskar. PS: Don't be disappointed at not getting the Best Junior Cricketer award from BCA. If you look at the past award winners, you will find one name missing and that person has not done badly in Test cricket!! It was in August 1987, little over two years before he made his international debut that Sachin Tendulkar received one of his most prized souvenirs. It was a letter written by Sunil Gavaskar to a 14-year-old budding cricketer who was disappointed not to have been adjudged the best junior cricketer, by the Mumbai Cricket Association. Tendulkar, who will complete 20 years in international cricket in 48 hours from now, still can't thank his idol enough for personally writing in to him. "I remember when I didn't get the best junior cricketer award, he sent me a hand-written letter," Tendulkar said during a function to felicitate Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath on the completion of their 60 years. "A hand-written letter by someone who I worshipped, that too at that age helped me get over the disappointment of not winning the award. It's important to get right advice at the proper age." In the letter (left), Gavaskar cited his own example of missing out on the best junior cricketer award in the 1960s. Tendulkar was hugely inspired by the feats of his fellow Mumbaikar. And Gavaskar time and again has indicated that he is a huge Tendulkar admirer. "When I scored the 34th Test ton, I think Sir (Gavaskar) was in Nepal. In the evening, he called to wish me. When someone who has been your hero, whom you've idolised, makes an effort to wish on your achievement, nothing else can be bigger and better. "When I scored the 35th (ton), Sir told me: "Carry on from here on. Don't stop". I am trying to do just that." LINK

[SachDan]

Christ' date=' what terrific stuff Danny boy [/quote'] :hatsoff:

[DomainK]

That's pure gold Dan. Thanks a lot.

[littlemaster1982]

Terrific thread and amazing stuff, guys!!! Spl thanks to Blue_brigade for videos of 175 :hatsoff:

[SachDan]

Late Ramesh Tendulkar and Rajni Tendulkar and brothers - Nitin (right behind) and Ajit Tendulkar (left)

[Guest Hiten.]

I don't even move when Sachin is batting: Goddess Tendulkar TOI: How easy or difficult is it to be Mrs Sachin Tendulkar? How do you cope with the pressures? ANJALI: For me, it's very easy because I've known Sachin for 19 years now. I understand him so well. So whether I am his girlfriend or his wife, it's the same thing, just an extension of that bond. I don't find it very difficult and I'm used to it. Maybe, it's also because I've not known any other person in my life except Sachin. Of course, there are many challenges and difficulties to being his wife but the whole family, including my children, has learnt to deal with it. TOI: Any regrets at all on the home front? ANJALI: The only regret, even though we've learnt to cope with it, is that he's not at home most of the time. I think even Sachin has realised this, now that the kids are growing up fast. Sara is 12 and Arjun is 10. We sometimes wonder where all the years have gone. Since he used to be away most of the time when they were growing up, now he tries to come home as much as possible. If a match gets over early, he'll come home, stay overnight and then leave again in the morning. Though he's trying his best to spend more time with the family, sometimes he's not at home for birthdays, special occasions or even for the kids' annual day at school. It matters a lot to the kids. TOI: Is it true you can't bear to watch Sachin live, and only see the recordings? ANJALI: I don't know where this came from. The fact is I watch every game, that too right from the start. Yes, I never go to the stadium but I watch it on TV. Actually, I have one particular spot in the house from where I can watch TV and also keep an eye on my Ganpati (Ganesha). I don't eat. I don't answer phones. I don't drink. I don't even move. I don't reply to any sms until he's out. TOI: What is it about his batting that you admire the most? ANJALI: I'm not a cricket connoisseur. I can't talk about particular shots. What I like about him is that no matter how tense he is, or how much pressure there is on him, when he goes out to bat you don't see any of it. I've often asked him how it's possible not to get distracted while playing in front of thousands of screaming people. I do have friends whose husbands are also in highly stressful jobs, but they are not being scrutinised by the whole world every minute. So the way Sachin deals with the burden of expectations and doesn't seem to get affected is what I admire the most. TOI: Do you enjoy watching him bat? Is there any knock of his that you rate as the best, or is etched in your memory? ANJALI: My problem is, unlike Sachin, who remembers each of his innings, each ball and how he got out, I don't. Because when I am watching him bat, I'm so stressed and so focused that I just want him to do well, I cannot enjoy or remember much. For example, his 175 at Hyderabad has come in for huge praise, but I cannot say I enjoyed it. I was stressed out. But yes, I do remember that his Sharjah centuries were special. Then again, it is faint memory. I had had my first baby then and my attention was divided. TOI: Do you lose sleep when he does well and the team does not, or vice-versa? ANJALI: It's much worse when he does well and the team doesn't. I know how much it affects him because, for him, the country always comes first. To me it doesn't matter whether he scores one run or 10 runs or even a 100. I'll still be happy because I know he's really trying hard. But I know how much it affects him when he does well and the team loses, like it happened in Hyderabad. It's very upsetting. It was a terrible feeling for me when I got up the next morning. In fact, it was devastating. Had he not done so well and had the team still won, it would've made us all feel much, much better. TOI: Does Sachin ever talk about the game with you? Or does he just shut himself out of all things cricket when he is with his family? ANJALI: I think what he liked about me was that I knew nothing about cricket when I first met him. But then, me being me, I read everything about the game. I came to know all the fielding positions but he doesn't like me discussing cricket at home. But at times when he is low or upset, I do talk to him about cricket. Again, it's not the game but things related to it that we discuss. TOI: Have you ever grown tired of waiting for Sachin to return from a tour? ANJALI: It's always been like that. These days, whenever he goes on a long tour, we usually try and plan a short holiday with the kids. Maybe during the school vacation or something. There's no other option for us. TOI: Don't you regret the fact that Sachin's fame prevents him from being a normal father? ANJALI: It's been like this from the beginning, so you accept it. It's part of life even for our children. They know their father cannot do certain things. So we take the trouble once every year and go somewhere where he can be a normal father. Like in London, he takes Arjun to the park to play. Even there people recognise him, but they don't mob him and give him his space. TOI: Please go back in time to when you met Sachin for the first time... ANJALI: (Laughs) We've not really told many people this. I first met him at the Mumbai airport when he returned from his first tour of England in 1990, after scoring his maiden Test ton. In fact, when I first saw him at the airport, I didn't even know who he was. It was purely by accident! I was there to pick up my mother and Sachin was arriving with the Indian team. That's where we saw each other for the first time... we had a courtship of five years and got married in 1995. We had got engaged a year before that in 1994 and that was in New Zealand. TOI: Do you believe in destiny? ANJALI: Yes, it is destiny and I believe in that. TOI: Sachin has been known to go out in disguise sometimes. Did he ever use a disguise to meet you? ANJALI: Yes he did, just once. We had gone to see the movie Roja. I was studying medicine then and a couple of my friends planned it. Sachin did try telling me that that it would be difficult, but I insisted that he come along. To make sure nobody recognised him, we even got him a beard. He wore specs as well and we went in late. We watched the first half of the film, but during the interval Sachin dropped his specs and people immediately recognised him! It was a bit of a disaster and we were forced to leave halfway. TOI: You could have been a very successful doctor... ANJALI: I loved medicine and a lot of people often ask me if I'm wasting my education. I don't think so. Though I loved every moment of my studying days and my days at the government hospital, it then came to a stage when I realised that I could not be married to Sachin and also have a full-time career. It wasn't possible because he depends on me for almost everything. It was my decision. I thought I should be at home with him and make everything perfect for him. In his childhood, brother Ajit did everything for Sachin, sacrificing his own interests. I thought I should do the same. Besides, mine would not have been a 9 to 5 job. I'm a paediatrician, so if there's a patient calling me or someone admitted at odd hours, I have to make myself available. With Sachin not around and me with two kids at home, it wouldn't have been possible. I took a decision and I have never, ever regretted it. TOI: How good is your Hindi? ANJALI: (Smiles). Not as good as my English. But my Marathi is better as I converse with my mother-in-law in that language. Actually, my mother is English so we spoke the language at home, but I studied Hindi without tuitions till the tenth standard. At St. Xavier's in the XIth and XIIth class, I studied Russian. My children speak Hindi much better than both of us. TOI: Have you ever dreamt of your son Arjun playing alongside Sachin? ANJALI: Actually, I have thought about it but, realistically speaking, I don't think it's possible. If it ever happens it will be fantastic. TOI: Are you aware there are emails being circulated with pictures of your new, under-construction shell house in Bandra? There are pictures of the interiors too... ANJALI: Yes. They're all fake! TOI: When will the house be ready for you to move in? ANJALI: It will take one more year. TOI: Can you tell us a bit about the new house? Will it look like a huge mansion or just a normal bungalow? ANJALI: It will be a normal house. If you look at Mumbai and its space constraints, we are lucky to be having a nice home which will have everything Sachin wants. If he wants to go and play cricket with Arjun there is a garden, not a big one but there is one. There is a parking area for our cars down in the basement, room for Sachin's mother and the kids. Sachin is very clear and sure about what he wants. A lot of things in the house are what he's always wanted. But we are in it together. Also, I'm the more scientific type, the more practical one. I'm only bothered about where the switches are going to be placed, where the TV connections are going to be, what the kitchen and bathroom layout is going to be. He's into the fancy and decorative side. TOI: No swimming pool? ANJALI: There is one lap pool on the terrace and a shallow one just for Sachin's fitness. A gymnasium will also be there. TOI: Have you ever driven the Ferrari? ANJALI: When Sachin got his Ferrari home I asked him to show me how to change its gears because they are near the steering and move with the fingers. To my surprise, he said, 'You don't need to drive my Ferrari.' In fact, I needed to know because at times we need to move it when he's not around. It actually happened once and we couldn't move it. I've been longing to drive his Ferrari. TOI: Any idea which is Sachin's favourite Lata Mangeshkar or Kishore Kumar number? ANJALI: There are so many, I can't name one. He always likes listening to them. Initially, I had no knowledge about Hindi movies and songs, it's only after marriage that I began watching movies and now I really enjoy Hindi songs. TOI: Do you have a big circle of friends and do you socialise much? ANJALI: No, we have a close set of friends. They are either Sachin's long-time friends or my friends from the medical field. We don't get much time to socialise but we do go out for family dinners whenever possible. TOI: What comes first in Sachin's life? Cricket, wife or family? ANJALI: I think it was cricket first but now things have changed, which I feel is a natural progression. So now, it is both cricket and family. TOI: Have you and Sachin ever thought about what life is going to be like after cricket, or how long he intends to play? ANJALI: People often tell us that we ought to start thinking about what he's going to do after cricket. But I feel that when you are playing, you need to focus 100%. You cannot even think of what you'll do after cricket. So I always tell Sachin not to think about it. I tell him, 'It doesn't matter, surely you'll find something to do, you have lots of interests.' Also, maybe we can just take some time off and travel the world and then look ahead. I always insist that he should not worry about the future. At the same time, he will be at a total loss because his whole life has been cricket.

Goddess Anjali devi :haha:

[rahuliverpool]

Sachin Tendulkar: Making of a genius The young boy with his curly locks and chubby cheeks - for whom the world wasn't enough. Obliged by the early detection of his prodigious talent and hurled into the world of fame and glory. Never once did those young but firm shoulders give in - the nation rejoiced in hope and smiles to the messiah of the game. The willow that resounded even louder than the collective rants of all his cynics. CNN-IBN retraces those first footsteps - this is how the journey started for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. To give us an insight into his early years, a man who covered Tendulkar's first series in Pakistan, journalist Pradeep Magazine, and his first captain at a senior club level, Hemant Kenkre from Mumbai, joined CNN-IBN. Kenkre has known Tendulkar even before he started playing for India. He was his first captain at senior club level. It is understood that the Cricket Club of India had to alter its rules to accommodate an Under-18 cricketer to play for them. "It's a very strange thing," Kenkre says. "CCI was playing a game against Shivaji Park Youngsters at the famous Shivaji Park Gymkhana which is the cradle of Indian cricket. Ramakant Achrekar, who was his coach, asked me to come and watch him and also try to get the senior persons from the club there so that we could get him into the club. "There was nobody better than the President of the club who happened to be a former Indian Test cricketer, Madhav Apte, who was playing that game when Sachin played against CCI," he adds. "And on a rank bad turner, Sachin scored a brilliant 70-odd runs and Apte had no doubt that he had to change the rules. We did decide to take him as a playing member of the side, but none of us realised that he was not 18. And if you're not 18 even today, you can't enter the club. "Eventually, it was Milind Rege, Apte and the late Raj Singh Dungarpur, who convinced the club committee to change the rules and they did," he says. "Sachin Tendulkar then became the first person in the history of cricket in India who could enter the Club House at an age younger than 18." Veteran journalist Pradeep Magazine has followed Sachin Tendulkar ever since his first tour of Pakistan in 1989. Magazine recalls Tendulkar to be a frail 16-year-old, wondering if India had thrown him in front of sharks, referring to the Pakistan fast bowlers in their prime. "He got out in the first innings for nothing or very few runs," Magazine says. "Everyone thought we might have made a mistake. But then when he came back, hitting Abdul Qadir, one of the great leg-spinners, for all those sixes, standing up to Waqar Younis, Imran and Wasim Akram, one could realise that he wasn't just a boy. He had the strength and the technique to withstand any attack. To have seen him perform at that age, we knew there were great things ahead of him." Asked what was the perception of the media after looking at Tendulkar, Magazine says: "I don't think India had seen an attacking player like Sachin before. Yes. there were. There was Sandeep Patil and others who would tear into rival attacks. But even at that young age, Sachin gave you the impression that he not only had the temperament and technique to stay there, he had it in him to dominate an attack. "Once we saw that, we felt that maybe India had found a Viv Richards, someone who would be enjoying not just trying to save matches for India, but someone who would get back at rival bowlers. That impression gave a lot of thrill to everyone, and over the years he has successfully proved that whatever people thought of him was true," he adds. At a press conference reflecting on his journey in international cricket, Tendulkar recalled a particular incident of losing his Moran pads which Kenkre had gifted to him during an Under-15 camp in Indore. "I had a pair of Moran pads, which were given to me by a friend, who had inherited them from Sunil Gavaskar, they were very important to me. And in the middle of the camp of 12-14 days, that boy wasn't to be found in the camp," Tendulkar says. "I would love to be the person who stole them," says Kenkre. "The pads which were used by Sunil Manohar Gavaskar and then used by Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar are a piece of history. I was just a repository of the history in between those two legends. "It was (coach) Ramakant Achrekar who asked me to give him my pads," he adds. "He had rightly said that my cricketing career was over. I didn't even bat an eyelid and gave them to him. But when he came to pick the pads, I told him, 'Listen, I'm giving you a piece of history,' not realising whom I was talking to at the point of time. "'I'm giving you the pads which belong to Gavaskar,' which he wore while scoring 221 at the Oval where India almost 400 runs against England. He was astounded while looking at those pads," he concludes. LINK

[nikred]

TOI: Sachin has been known to go out in disguise sometimes. Did he ever use a disguise to meet you? ANJALI: Yes he did, just once. We had gone to see the movie Roja. I was studying medicine then and a couple of my friends planned it. Sachin did try telling me that that it would be difficult, but I insisted that he come along. To make sure nobody recognised him, we even got him a beard. He wore specs as well and we went in late. We watched the first half of the film, but during the interval Sachin dropped his specs and people immediately recognised him! It was a bit of a disaster and we were forced to leave halfway.

WTF???:hysterical:

[Chandan]

15 Nov 1989 to now : His life, our journey MARATHON MAN From cherubic teen to the cricketing world's biggest brand, from golden boy to iconic legend; from the maidans of Mumbai to the moors of Yorkshire, Sachin's journey has also been ours. Kind of! YOU KNOW Sachin and Brian Lara reached 10,000 runs in an identical number of Test innings -- 195 Grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy his idol, John McEnroe. Batted the entire 1996 World Cup without a sponsor for his bat. Ended the event as the highest run-getter THE MASTER NUMBER 2009 Becomes the Ist to get 17,000 runs in ODIs. Got to this against Oz at Hyderabad on Nov. 3, when he scored a breezy 175. 2007 Was dismissed seven times on scores between 90 and 100. Believe it or not, he was out on 99 thrice that year. A tribute by Anil Kumble What keeps him going? He just hates losing! ANIL KUMBLE Sachin and I came into Indian crickt at around the same time, a seaon apart perhaps. There was just one difference -- he had to prove everyone right and I had to prove everyone wrong! It had always been predicted that he would be destined for greatness, that he would go on to be the highest runscorer for India, beat every batting record there was to beat, create history. He did all that and more. Speaking from the vantage point of having done almost 20 years of international cricket myself, it just isn't easy. Managing your time, your body and the expectations of millions, it takes a toll. But Sachin's dealt with it all with grace and determination. For instance, take his battles with injury. Shoulder, elbow, groin back... you name it, he's had it. Let me give you a little insight into injuries. The coming back process is painful and time-consuming and you need to have an unshakeable desire to succeed. You go through one rehab, two, three but where do you call the line? Some injuries take two months, some four, some stay on as constant niggles and others become more serious as you keep playing. You manage it all, often live with the pain and just focus on your game. Sachin's done that right through. Sachin has this uncanny ability to take in, analyse and assess things very quickly, much faster than others. That therefore, gives him more time to play a shot. That's why he's No 1. And he's enjoying himself. The last three-four years especially, he's been really enjoying his cricket and it shows in the way he interacts with the team. In terms of his preparation, he's always seriously involved. If there are a couple of innings where he's not scored, or if he feels he's not hitting the ball well, he invariably spends extra time working on whatever's wrong. The other thing is that despite who he is, he's always ready to listen to any advice. He's often gone up to a rookie and asked if he could look at his batting -- he has no hang-ups whatsoever. So what keeps you going through 20 years of playing a sport? Simply that when you go onto that field, you want to excel. I felt that way and I know Sachin does too. You put him in gully cricket, any cricket, even a TT match -- he doesn't like losing. You also have to shut out the burden of expectations and opinions about yourself. It is a no win situation. At low times, under-fire, you ask yourself this: Am I giving a 100 per cent? If you are, forget about the rest. It gets to you but you need to look ahead. The more you react to things people say, the more you feel like saying `I've had enough'. Sachin clearly hasn't, even through all he's faced as the man who's the answer to a billion prayers. I also think what keeps him going is an unwavering pride in performance and an ability to put the team's cause before his own. When I decided to call it a day after almost 20 years in the game, it was a decision born purely out of the fact that my body couldn't take it. Sachin was one of the first guys I told. I went to him and said, "My time has come". He said `No, you can't quit, you can play a bit more'. I had to convince him that I couldn't go on. Finally, to stay on top of your game, to be able to handle everyone -- players, teams, public and sponsors -- wanting a piece of you, you need lots of support. He's had that in a wonderful, supportive family. They've been the key. (KUMBLE, THE FORMER INDIA CAPTAIN , WAS SACHIN 'S PICK FOR INDIA'S GREATEST PLAYER FROM AMONG HIS CONTEMPORARIES) A Tribute by Praveen Amre FORMER STATEMATE My Favourite Sachin inning I have three. His test ton against Australia at Perth in 1991-92, where the cracks on the pitch were so big it was very difficult to bat. The others are in ODIs, the 134 in the Sharjah final against Australia (1998) and the 175 in Hyderabad last Thursday. His greatest strength How he stays modest. His passion for cricket, commitment and his respect for the game are tremendous. Sachin and me This is from 24 years ago. I returned from East Africa with a pair of Adidas shoes and he liked it. I told him he could have it if he scored a century in his next schools game. He promptly did and the shoes were his! A weakness/something missing? Can there be one? You cannot play 20 years with a weakness. My message to Sachin Keep enjoying the game.

[SachDan]

Sachin's first ever interview published in Mid Day in 1986 Read the last sentence :giggle: