ALL Sachin lovers....

" Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives " BBC on Sachin


Jab main chota ladka tha.. .


1998, Mumbai, February 23-25

Tendulkar, 14 and Kambli, 16, compile a 664-run unbroken partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier's at Azad Maidan. It remains the highest partnership recorded in any form of cricket. Kambli made 349 not out , Tendulkar made 326 not out.


Achrekar sir's assistant ran all around trying to attract our attention so that he could tell us to declare. Sachin kept telling me not to look at him " Vinod Kambli"

First Blood


1989, Sialkot, 14 December

On that last day of the last Test of his first Test series in Pakistan Sachin gets hit on the nose by a Waqar delivery. Sachin falls down, gets up and wipes away the gushing blood. Eventually he scores 57.

" It didn't feel nice, with blood flowing from my nose, but I couldn't leave. I told myself, I want to thrash this bowler " TENDULKAR


1990, Old Trafford, 14th August

At 17 yrs and 112 days Sachin becomes the second-youngest centurion in Test history. His 119 not out against England helps India draw the game. It still remains among his most valuable Test innings.


"How could anyone so young be so good at the highest level "
David Frith, cricket writer


Sachin ka favourite...
1992, Perth, 2-3 February
India is struggling at 135 for 6 at the WACA, the bounciest cricket pitch in the world. Tendulkar scripts a counter-attacking gem of 114. It is his favourite innings.


" It's a great pity that an innings which deserved a viewership of a hundred thousand is being watched by such a small crowd "
Richie Benaud




1993, Kolkata, 24 November
With South Africa needing just six runs to win the last over of their Hero Cup semi-final against India, Tendulkar bowls a sensational last over giving away just 3 runs and fashioning an Indian win.


" I had on apprehension, that in trying to restrict the batsmen I would end up bowling a wide or a no-ball especially before I come in to bowl the last ball, I was ultra cautious "
Sachin Tendulkar

Mera number aa gaya



1994, Auckland, 27th March
Opens in an ODI for the first time against New Zealand. Goes on to make 82 off 49 balls.

" Tendulkar was editing the highlights too fast "
Jeremy Coney



1995, Mumbai, October

Signs a 5-year contract worth Rs 31.5 crore with World Tel which makes him the richest cricketer of the world



" I'm betting on the power of Sachin and the power of the Indian economy "
Late Mark Mascrenhas, World Tel Chief



1996

Named Indian skipper at the age of 23.


" My gut feeling is that responsibility will see greater consistency from him and less throwing away of the wicket to casual shots "
Sunil Gavaskar



1998

Tendulkar is sacked from captaincy after a 15-month tenure during which India won just 3 out of 17 Tests


" We removed Sachin because he could not take the pressure of batting and captaincy "
Ramakant Desai



1998, Sharjah April 22-24

Scores two back-to-back tons against Australia to help India reach the final and win it.


" I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for a six "
Shane Warne



1999, 30-31 January

With an injured back, Tendulkar makes 136 chasing 271 against Pakistan. When Sachin gets out, India need 17 more runs. Eventually, India fall short by 12.


" It was one of the finest innings played under pressure. He is the best batsman in the world "
Wasim Akram



2001, Port Elizabeth, 19 November

Tendulkar is cautioned and fined by match referee Mike Denness for ball tampering in the 2nd Test against South Africa. The resulting outcry in India and the impasse between BCCI and ICC forces the latter to review the decision.



" You have to think five times before you make such a decision "
Chetan Chauhan



2002

Tendulkar's batting genius pulled India out out of trouble in the third and final Test against the West Indies in Kolkata. The little master's unbeaten 114, his 31st Test ton, helped India avoid an innings defeat. Tendulkar delighted nearly 60,000 spectators with his rich stroke-play as the Windies pace-attack looked clueless.


" Sachin denied us a win "
Carl Hooper



2004 -World Cup

After a public backlash following a disastrous performance against Australia, Tendulkar played the interlocutor, pleading to the fans to maintain calm in a rare public statement.


" We will fight till the last ball is bowled, please support us "
Tendulkar



2004- World Cup
It was a merciless Sachin that took on Shoaib Akhtar head on. The result: The faster Shoaib bowled, the quicker his deliveries screamed to the fence.
Run odyssey
An effortless clip to midwicket off Dutch bowler Edgar Schiferli, and Sachin Tendulkar eases past Javed Miandad as the highest run-getter in the World Cup.


" Tujh ko pata hai tune kiska catch choda hai! "
Akram to Razzak, after the latter dropped Tendulkar



2004- India's tour of Pakistan
Five days of hard play. Runs scored 194; wickets taken 2. Critics called it unsporting when the Master Blaster spoke to the press about the missing six runs. Sachin's performance at Multan is testimony to the fact that all ends well if he plays well.


" 'I waited a long time for this win'"
Tendulkar





Bamboozled
Sachin Tendulkar celebrates after dismissing Moin Khan off the last ball on the third day of the first Test match against Pakistan at Multan.



" What we (Zimbabwe) need is 10 Tendulkars"
Paul Strang

ALL Sachin lovers....

Allrounder

Besides being the flagbearer of the Indian dream, Sachin is a loving husband, father, and one of the biggest brands in the country.


Consensus is that Sir Donald Bradman was the best batsman ever to play Cricket. Sir Don did not play one-day Cricket but if he did, he could easily be Sachin Tendulkar.