Sachin Tendulkar

The God of Cricket retires, a nation laments

Probably everything I can say about him has already been said or it would not be enough. As India and the cricketing fraternity prepare to give a fitting farewell to the game’s greatest batsman, I cannot compare him to Sir Don Bradman because I did not see him bat and quite frankly Sachin is my Don Bradman and for that matter my Michael Schumacher, my Federer, my Michael Jordan, my Maradona, my Pele, put whatever name you want to put. For those who grew up in India in the 90's no body can come even close to him. I can go on and on about the records he has broken but that has already been said. This is about my connection with Sachin, I have not seen a cricket match or better recall a match where Sachin did not play for India in my lifetime, yes my lifetime, this is before I knew the rules of the game and before I played gully cricket in 45 degrees. This is when my parents were ok for me not to go to school because there was a cricket match coming up. The person who single handedly was responsible for seeing the game through, opposition captains thought, and rightfully so that once you got Sachin out the match was won.

What a role model he has been? coming up with Vinod Kambli, as good a batsman Kambli was his work ethic did it to him. Only player at time to have as many double centuries at the great Sunil Gavaskar, a dream debut series against West Indies back in the early 90s, but couldn’t keep up with the pressure that comes with playing for India. Sachin on the other hand has remained humble and maintained the same work ethic he had as a teenager going from ground to ground on his coach Achrekar’s scooter. This reminds me to what Harsha Bhogle said about him in a video, talent will only take you so far, but your work ethic is what determines your success. This couldn’t be more true for Sachin Tendulkar.

Like I said I can write for ever about this man, I cannot even put in words what he means to me all I can do is try. All I can say is there will never be another Tendulkar and there has never been a Tendulkar.

Perhaps the greatest sportsman of the modern world…My salute to the Little Master, Tendlya, Master Blaster,God of Cricket. I wish him the best in his future endeavours and I am forever indebted to you in a way I cannot repay and thank you for all the memories, happiness, joy and hope you have given me throughout the years.