Marching successfully into his 21st year of International cricket, the man who holds the record for most runs in Test and ODI is also nearing the 100 100's with only 4 to go. He is none other than the God of Cricket to his fans, the greatest ambassador for cricketer and a proud son of India, SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR.
Why Sachin is Greatest when there is man called Bradman who scored 100 almost every time he went out to bat? Bradman played against only 4 countries, played during the time of war and he played only on 2 kinds of surface Whereas Sachin played against more than 10 different countries, playing in his 21st year of international cricket, played on all kind of surface from bouncy to flat to dry pitches.
Even the Great Bradman once quoted saying "Only Sachin's style resembles me". Bradman averaged almost 100(99.94) in test matches and Sachin averages 57. Also to the fact that Bradman never played ODI whereas Sachin played both ODI and Test proves his versatility.
The amount of matches played and number of runs scored by Sachin, also the kind of batting he showed against different bowling attacks on variety of pitches and condition makes him better than Bradman to rate Sachin as the Greatest Batsmen ever.
The recent poll for "The Greatest Batsmen Ever" conducted by The Australian newspaper reveals Sachin is better than Bradman with 67% votes in Sachin's favour in which 20768 fans cast their vote.
Then there is Malcolm Marshall, the man who destroyed the opponents with his speed and accuracy in bowling. Then comes names such as Wasim Akram (Sultan of Swing), Shane Warne (the greatest leg spinner), Mcgrath (Bowling Machine), Muralitharan, (Spin Wizard), Ricky Pointing (the man who is chasing Sachin but just fading away now), Rahul Dravid (The Wall), Ambrose (little bird, who sends bouncers thundering into opponents face), Brain Charles Lara (the most stylish player who changes the game single handily), Sunil Gavaskar (Little Master, the man who played against giant bowlers in bouncy tracks without wearing helmet and still went on to score over 10000 runs with 34 centuries) and Sehwag (Redefining the art of batting).
Like Sobers, Kallis too done a great job for his country South Africa with his contribution from both bat and ball. Kallis played both Test and ODI formats whereas Sobers played only one ODI. Kallis amazed over 10000 runs and over 500 wickets in both test and ODI formats.
Sachin, Sobers and Kallis carry onething in common, they are "irreplaceable forever". Both Sobers and Kallis contributed to the team better than Sachin with their ability to bowl and bowl well also. Though Sachin too can bowl as his record suggest with his 200 wickets in both formats of the game. But Sachin is never a regular bowler like Sobers or Kallis.
Sachin is never a perfectionist like Rahul Dravid or out and out attacking batsmen like Sehwag or his role model Richards. If we consider the skill that those three bought to the cricket field, they all can be matched up one way or other. Then what makes Sachin better than other two or better than all? What is that?
Sachin is the most worshiped cricketer that anyone can ever know. The time he went on to score a mammoth record 600 runs partnership with his mate Kambli in school days and the century in his debut Ranji match at 14yrs made every cricket head in the nation to look after him. Sunil Gavaskar, who is legend in Indian cricket after seeing Sachin bat once said to his wife, "I have seen something outstanding today".
Sachin went on to make his debut at the age of 16yrs against Pakistan, the arch rivals of India in 1989. The moment he scored brisk 50 after being hit by a bouncer from Waqar Younis which damaged his nose, he became a hero in a nation which has over 100 million people. From that day onwards, he carried the whole nation in his shoulder. The weight of expectation is unbelievable for anyone to have but still he went on from strength to strength with his achievements.
No other cricketer ever had such pressure when he walks out into the field. Yet he came out and excelled in every way in cricket. Not only in India, all over the world Sachin receives standing ovations when he walks out to bat tells how special he is to cricket and his fans. Sachin is being regarded like God not only for his batting but his behavior on and off the field earning him the name everywhere in the world. He is so humble, polite and respectable for a person of his status and achievements.
Sachin once said "I have received many letters written in blood" tells how much he is in the heart of the youngsters. He is an inspiration to many others not only in India. Sachin is blessed with the keenest of cricket minds. Sachin is clean in his book without any controversy against him. It tells how well he manages himself on and off the field.
SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR IS THE GRESTEST CRICKET EVER
"Tendulkar's considerable achievements seem greater still when looked at in the light of the burden of expectations he has had to bear from his adoring but somewhat unreasonable followers, who have been prone to regard anything less than a hundred in each innings as a failure. The aura may have dimmed, if only slightly, as the years on the international circuit have taken their toll on the body, but Tendulkar remains, by a distance, the most worshipped cricketer in the world" by Sambit Bal, Writer in ESPNCRICINFO
I don't know how to finish off but with my all wishes, hoping his dream of winning a World Cup will become true this coming year in his own land. The passion Sachin bought to the cricket is just unmeasurable. Only God knows what happens when Sachin retires from the game. As of now, we all hope and wish Sachin will carry on playing as long as possible.
