What does Sachin Tendulkar mean?

GOD as they call him, he is the gem of his sport; he has been the backbone of Cricket in India. We can't even begin to imagine how many kids have dreamt about him while going to sleep every night and have woken up to become a cricketer...

He is the reason why people watch cricket; he is the reason why people play cricket; he is the reason why those 10 players strived so hard to win that World Cup after 28 years. 

To support those words, here are some quick numbers about Sachin: ODI first:

Highest runs in ODI: 18000+. The next best is Ponting with 13000+ runs. Do you think any1 will ever reach that foot? 

It is the sheer dedication of this 1 man that he has managed to sore this height. 

Highest runs in the series: Sachin Tendulkar 673 runs in ICC World Cup 2003. Yeah! We didn't win it but Master Blaster performed his very best. This also shows that Cricket is a team game. Even if 1 player is the best, entire team is responsible for its win. Retirement of the Cricket Wonder is not the solution for poor performance of the team.

Most runs in a calendar year: Sachin Tendulkar's name is in the list 6 times. Of course, he is leading this table too: 1894 runs in 1998 and another 5 different years too... In fact, he has most hundreds in a calendar year too: 9 hundreds in 1998.

How did he manage to do this? We are talking about a human being who has sacrificed his entire life for this game. He is the best in this business and that has come through his immense hard work and talent.

Most runs in an innings: Just until Sehwag's 219, Sachin paaji was leading this too with 200* runs for a very long time. He has 3 such incidences which no other player has. PS: Both Indian senior batsmen are leading the table.

No other player has even played 458 ODI matches and yet got the strike rate of 86.22. In fact, he has played most consecutive matches for a team: 185 and has won highest number of MOM awards: 62; and also, most MOS awards too: 15.

Maximum number of FIFTIES: 95! And yet, no1 is even close to Sachin paaji... No need to even mention that this man has most hundreds in his career and 1 or 2 more won't affect the record either. If that is not all, Sachin Tendulkar also has maximum 100s against Team Australia. So any1 feels Sachin paaji can't face those bowlers and Australian pitches, get a reality check done guys... He has 9 100s against Australia!

And he is the same guy who got out the maximum number of times in the “nervous nineties”. Well, let me ask: How many of get depressed when we score a mark less or miss our ranks because of that 1 mark? 

With Sachin paaji it has happened 18 times and he is still going strong. He has not cried, he has not given up and he shall never do it. Learn from him while you can... Because someday when you'll want to, he won't be seen so close...

Maximum number of FOURS: 1991. The 2nd highest is Jayasuriya with 1500. In fact, he also has hit highest number of FOURS in an innings: 25 (in the same match when he scored 200*) It is time for critics to shut-up!

Sachin Tendulkar is the fastest to reach 10000 runs; and fastest to reach 13000 runs. And after that,only player to reach 14k, 15k, 16k, 17k, and 18k runs..! No1 is even in the vicinity of that number!

Let's talk Tests:

He has played 188 Test matches for India and scored 15000+ runs with 51 100s and 65 50s: All the number of course, being the highest in the history of Test Cricket. He is the fastest player to reach 12000 runs in Test and since then, the only player to reach 15000. But that's not all; he also has maximum number of 90s in his Test career: 10 (shared with S Waugh and R Dravid).

This is the man we are talking about. Every cricinfo record page has his name mentioned. Most of the times, he is leading the table while otherwise, he is just around the top 5. Every Indian is proud to have a man who is worshipped across the world for his skills, talent and dedication. 

We are talking about a person who is so dedicated to his career that he has spent his 22 precious years of life in 1 job. Can you find and name any other player who has shown same amount of commitment?

So today, when I see and read articles blaming him, questioning his efficiency, I feel ashamed that people have forgotten of what he has done to the game. I can name people for whom Cricket = Sachin, who proudly say that they'll stop watching Cricket once Sachin retires. This is the impact this 1 man has on all of us. 

There are kids who idolize Sachin and pray to him before going to practice. I am sure 90% of us have Sachin photo somewhere in our rooms. Not only in Cricket, has he also inspired us to be good human beings in real life. He has told us that while talent will take u to acme of success, it is humility and compassion that will help u stay there..

We have never heard of Sachin paaji involved in any controversy. He has always let his game and performance do the talking for him. A soft-spoken human being, a calm natured person and an equally cool-headed next-door guy; Every1 wants to meet him once, see him without a screen in between. 

I have been a fan too. I have been a supporter too. I have been a privileged girl too. I have met him on his home-ground in the practice net and also played alongside him. He spoke just a line to me and that line changed my world. I have learnt a biggest lesson of my life from him and I am going to take that lesson with me forever. The lesson of keeping feet deeply rooted in ground while flying in the winds of success. Success comes to every1 but a very few can retain it. And how do people retain it, is what Sachin Tendulkar is....

Even if Sachin paaji retires tomorrow, his deeds, his words and his life will stand as a moral support and inspiration to 1000s like me. Tomorrow still there will be kids who will want to be the next paaji and keep playing just like him. Dear fellow cricket lovers, before questioning his talents and his retirements, pause for a while and think. U maybe right but trust me, that man knows the game a lot more than all of us combined. He knows it perfectly well what has to be done next. After all, he has carried Indian Cricket on his shoulders for 22 years and is still the strongest of all...

Let us not stand and point fingers; let us unite and support him and the entire Indian Team.As there will be many who’ll join you in the celebrations of victory; but there are very few who’ll hold your hand strong when you fall… Decide which category you want to be…???

-       A proud Indian

-       A Dravidian

-       An ardent Sachin worshipper

-       An zealous Cricket lover

Wish-List! Its Sachin! Once again!

I dont remember when I fell in love with this guy. It was a sheer herd mentality. Every1 loves him, I have to love him too. If I dont, I will be a loner. What will I do when he is on TV? Every1 will be glued to him, I'll be alone. Thats when I started watching him on TV. 

He was cute looking then. He is good looking till date. That time I had no clue whats so special about him. Now, I know, he is the only special thing about the religion. He is the talk of the town? No no, he is the talk of the globe. Anything that he does is watched, worshipped and blindly agreed. 

For many, the religion starts and ends with this 1 man on the field. The TV is on till the time camera can follow him. Rest is just a daily soap. Nice, but no spice!

I was reading a article by Former England captain Allan Lamb that mentions how the Lords' match is of utmost importance. He writes: "People in England have been writing about Sachin Tendulkar breaking his Lord's jinx (of scoring a hundred) well. he won't get a better time to do it, will he? Even if he doesn't get there, he shouldn't get disheartened. A lot of top players over the years haven't got a hundred at Lord's. I don't know why that is!

Well, its time for an Indian to write something. Why is it so much important for an Indian? Lacs of Indians never want him to retire. Someday he will. But the thought sends a shiver down my spine. What do u mean that he'll retire? He cant retire. He will never leave. At the bottom of my heart, I know 1 thing. The day he bids farewell, thousands of spectators will wave with him. The religion will no longer be celebrated as the way it is done now.

Ever since England tour was announced, every Indian has a dream of seeing 100th 100 by the GOD at the Mecca of cricket. Its not just the dream anymore. We have prayers recited, wishes made and what not. Sir Lamb, no one can ever understand the feeling that every Indian shares in heart when the Master Blaster hits a ton. The celebrations are to be experienced. No1 can describe it. 

Sir Lamb also wrote: "It doesn't get any bigger, or better, does it? It'll be a very special occasion. Playing at Lord's in general gets the best out of cricketers - this time it'll be even more special."

We cannot deny. It will take its place in the history.

Sachin is the reason why I started watching cricket. He is the reason why I started playing it. He is the reason why I was totally addicted to the game. Today, it’s his moment. It’s going to be his event. It will be his turn to create and rewrite history. A proud Indian - Me - wants to speak for entire nation about how important the day is for us.

The day when we will see TV as an occasion; when “fingers-crossed” will be a group activity; when no-jinx-allowed will trend. When there will be hands folded, lots of innocent bribes offered. When, again, there will tears of joy! The dream will come in real for so many supporters. I might be exaggerating the incidence. But, why not? I have waited for it so long. I want to be a part of it and stay there forever.

Ofcourse, I don’t know how the future will look like. I don’t know what will be the outcome. But this is my wish-list. I can vividly see the moments of glory. These are the blissful moments. They may or may not come true. But the colour of each face is saffron, white and green.

As they say in my country, U will never know how it feels. There is just 1 Sachin and the rest are all, well, mortals. Let me seal the moment right now.