Sachin Tendulkar: One of a Kind

Sachin Tendulkar
In Picture: Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar
In Picture: Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar

It’s really hard, to sum up, the career of a player of the caliber of Sachin Tendulkar in just a few words. He was a legend of cricket, as he had played 200 test matches and the records itself speak of the greatness of this diminutive batsman.

Illustrious Career of Sachin Tendulkar

His record in Test cricket is remarkable with 15,921 runs at an average of 53.79, with 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries, not to forget his six double tons, his highest score was 248 not-out along with 115 catches. This performance can be compared with superman.

Master of All Formats

He was the master of all formats of of game, represented India in 463 one-day matches where he amassed 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, he was the first man who scored 200 runs in an innings in one-day cricket. 49 centuries, 96 fifties, and 140 catches are against his name in the 50-over game. You can’t expect more from a human being.
Game-changer as a bowler

As a bowler, he was a game-changer. On numerous occasions, as a change bowler, Sachin dismissed many set batsmen. He had taken 46 wickets in Test cricket while in one day he had shown the path of  pavilion to 154 batsmen.

Made Debut Against Pakistan

Tendulkar made his Test debut on November-15, 1989 at Karachi in Pakistan, while he was just 16-year old lad. He faced the Pakistani pace battery of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis admirably in his maiden series. Cricket pundits had written on the wall that this teenager is going to create something special on cricket fields.

Sachin Matures as a Batsman

Sachin had always been a fantastic batsman in both Tests as well as one day cricket. In limited over cricket Sachin was asked to open the innings by Azharuddin, that time captain of the Indian team and from then onwards there never really was a better batsman than him. He was a gifted talent.
Comparison with contemporaries

During the playing days of Sachin there were many fine players who were compared with Sachin: Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, and so on. But in the end Sachin left his contemporaries far behind as he broke almost all the batting records.

Fail to Deliver in a Crisis

Perhaps the one criticism against him was that he did not play too many match-winning innings in tests and in one day too. But we need to realize that this is a team game where individual brilliance cannot always carry the day. There were many occasions, like the 1998 Chennai test against Pakistan, where his hard-fought century was frittered away by the tailenders, which are testimony to how Sachin’s good work has often gone in vain.

Ability to Shatter Any Attack

Sachin never cared about the reputation of a bowler. He always used to play his natural game. The greatest bowlers of his time–Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and others have acknowledged that Sachin was the toughest batsman to bowl. As an aggressive batsman the little master had the habit to shatter any attack on any pitch. Top class bowlers liked to see Sachin on the non-striker end.

Fine Human Being

Sachin Tendulkar remains one of the most well-behaved cricketers. He was never involved in any controversy in his versatile career. He was a gentleman. He had balanced his personal and professional life admirably never letting one interfere with the other. He was also given a chance to sit in the Rajya Sabha. As an Upper House member he did mud slinging against anyone. This man had one aim to finish his work with honesty.

An Inspiration for Many

Sachin has been an inspiration to countless Indian batsmen after him, such as Sehwag, who was once called a clone of Tendulkar because of the similarity in stroke-making. MS Dhoni has admitted that he grew up with Tendulkar’s photo on his room’s wall and Virat Kohli has always stated he was awestruck at being able to share the dressing room with Sachin. While Sachin was playing for India young cricketers would like to copy him. He was an idol of a large number of people.

Sachin Turns Brand Ambassador

Mark Mascarenhas is considered as Sachin Tendulkar’s mentor in advertisements. He  helped him to earn millions.Gradually Sachin became a famous name in the field of advertisements due to his large followers. He became the brand ambassador of various products. This list is too long

Impact on Indian Cricket

Every player has to say adieu to their respective games. When Sachin hanged his bats he left his mark on Indian cricket. How to play cricket for more than two decades without much injury. Fitness was the key to this man.
Immaculate concentration

His concentration and dedication for cricket is still an example for the current and forthcoming players. He always followed the sportsman spirit on the field in his illustrious career. Sachin was a team man who always played for the nation. The magic batsman had left a lot for the coming generation of players.

When India lifted the world cup in 2011 second time then cricket experts were saying that Sachin should retire from cricket. But he continued and played his last Test match against West Indies on his home turf at the Wankhede Stadium in November 2013. He remained in the Indian dressing room for exactly 24 years, which speaks of the greatness of this man. Maps of India salute to this legend cricketer on his 47th birthday.