Sachin Tendulkar, the team man
Sachin Tendulkar's astonishing achievements dispelled notions that Indians were second best. Here was a tiger who dominated a global sport, reached a level which others did not think existed, set benchmarks for colleagues and competitors to match.
- Updated: 03 November 2013 16:05 IST
Sachin Tendulkar's exceptional achievements separate him from others less distinguished but it is often overlooked that he was a solid team player who always batted for India. For him, it was team first. Always. Throughout his career, he played to fulfill the expectations of Indians, to give them joy and happiness.
While some thought this to be an excessive burden, Sachin accepted the responsibility with grace, humility and dignity. To him, the support of cricket fans was a blessing, not a burden, the dua a source of strength and motivation. Sachin turned the pressure of holding up India's hopes around to his advantage. A lesser person, not blessed with his mental strength and resolute will, would have been crushed by the weight he had to carry.
For Sachin, a proud Indian, the tricolour placed above the Indian team logo on the helmet was not a symbolic statement but something he believed in. Sachin was, in the true sense, ambassador not just of cricket but of India - a young representative of a nation that is skilled, talented and on the front foot in attitude.
Sachin's astonishing achievements dispelled notions that Indians were second best. Here was a tiger who dominated a global sport, reached a level which others did not think existed, set benchmarks for colleagues and competitors to match.
Sachin Tendulkar's exceptional achievements separate him from others less distinguished but it is often overlooked that he was a solid team player who always batted for India. For him, it was team first. Always. Throughout his career, he played to fulfill the expectations of Indians, to give them joy and happiness.
While some thought this to be an excessive burden, Sachin accepted the responsibility with grace, humility and dignity. To him, the support of cricket fans was a blessing, not a burden, the dua a source of strength and motivation. Sachin turned the pressure of holding up India's hopes around to his advantage. A lesser person, not blessed with his mental strength and resolute will, would have been crushed by the weight he had to carry.
For Sachin, a proud Indian, the tricolour placed above the Indian team logo on the helmet was not a symbolic statement but something he believed in. Sachin was, in the true sense, ambassador not just of cricket but of India - a young representative of a nation that is skilled, talented and on the front foot in attitude.
Sachin's astonishing achievements dispelled notions that Indians were second best. Here was a tiger who dominated a global sport, reached a level which others did not think existed, set benchmarks for colleagues and competitors to match.
Remarkably, Sachin's relentless pursuit of excellence was achieved with cool efficiency, without fuss or noise. He went about his business, setting records, defeating bowlers, piling up runs as if these were the most normal things to do. Success and celebrity sat well on him. Sachin was always comfortable in his own skin - one never got a sense he was trying to get ahead of others.
That's because Sachin was never in a race, he just ran alone, followed his own path, chased his dreams. About his batting records, he often said he did not play for milestones or set goals for himself. I play to meet my own expectations, he remarked. Which can sound extremely boastful, a huge brag, but Sachin was only being matter of fact, stating the obvious.
Sachin, the senior pro, was always generous with advise to teammates. Not the type to give gyaan but happy to put in a quiet word, pass on a friendly tip. In team meetings, his opinion was sought by captains and coaches, his observations valued for sharp insight.
Commented a coach: Sachin's mind is like a fully loaded cricket computer. Every bit of cricket information is there, neatly processed and saved in memory to be retrieved when needed, just a click away.
Note: The author's views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of NDTV.
Note: The author's views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of NDTV.