A GENIUS NAMED SACHIN
24th April was just another day. No particular significance was attached to it. But it all changed in 1973. The day has assumed significance because one man who the entire country loves was born on this day. Yes he is none other than our own Sachin Tendulkar. I say our own Sachin, because Sachin is our nation’s favorite cricketing son. Right from the day he held the cricket bat at the age of six, he has not stopped surprising people. Almost every individual irrespective of age, sex, creed have an opinion on Sachin. A lot of people wondered how Sachin is able to play with such a heavy bat. It is indeed very tough for any ordinary player. But for Sachin, who carries the weight of 1 billion people on his shoulders, the weight of the bat is just like a drop in the ocean. There is unimaginable pressure on Sachin every time he comes to bat.
Sachin’s life is a lesson for us. I have grown watching him bat. There is some kind of fear when he is batting. It may be the fear of Sachin getting out, the fear of India losing etc. I have never experienced that fear with any other player. I wonder it’s the case with most people in India. I have rational and realistic expectations in my day-to-day life. But when it comes to Sachin, my expectations become unrealistic. I want him to score a hundred every time he bats. The logic behind my expectation is the selfish wish to watch him bat and savor that moment forever. The 21 years of Sachin’s cricketing life is a journey worth revisiting a million times. When he made his debut against Pakistan at the age of 16, he defied the famous saying, “success comes with experience”. For Sachin, the success came very early in his life. That has not made him complacent. But it had made him crave for more and that’s the reason we see him enjoying the game even after so many years. When asked what motivates him to play cricket, one of the reasons he gave was that he likes out thinking the opponent. This applies to everyone who wants to succeed in his or her life. One needs to out think and outsmart the opponent. His work ethic is impeccable and even today he practices 6 hours every day. That’s incredible. There are a few things that make Sachin what he is.
When we think of Sachin, we can remember the flowing cover drives, satisfying straight drives, calculated cuts and pulls, unbelievable upper cuts etc. we admire every bit of Sachin and derive satisfaction from that. This is the first thing about a genius; give a sense of satisfaction just by watching one work. Sachin knew exactly where his strength lies, what are his limitations and in what areas he is very good at. This is the second thing about a genius, self-awareness. When Sachin started playing cricket, experts said he would break every single batting record. Now we all know how many records he has to his credit. This is the third thing about a genius, ability to meet and surpass the expectations.
The famous desert storm match at Sharjah in 1998 revealed two things about Sachin. When there was a severe storm blowing in the ground, he stood in the middle and there was determination in his eyes. This is the fourth thing about a genius, sheer determination and passion for the game. After the match, Australian bowler Michael Kasprowickz had said he fears bowling to Sachin. Lot of bowlers in the world will agree with him. This is the fifth thing about a genius, instilling fear in the opposition. Australia toured India in 1998. To counter Shane Warne, Sachin while practicing created a rough patch outside the leg stump and asked the bowlers to pitch on the rough. The test match at Chepauk came. Sachin faced Warne and the rest is history. This is the sixth thing about a genius, have a vision and an outstanding work ethic to realize that vision.
Sachin lost his father during the 1999 world cup. But he came back and scored a brilliant 140 against Kenya. Though the opposition was relatively weak, one still had to put the ball in gaps and concentrate for hours. This is the seventh thing about a genius, extraordinary mental strength that can overcome any emotional situations. Sachin opted out of the T20 world cup when everybody wanted him to play. Sachin said he didn’t want to disturb the T20 team combination, as there are talented youngsters in the squad. This is the eighth thing about a genius, ability to know when to stop and leave way for others. In the ongoing IPL, he has scored 570 runs and has taken Mumbai Indians to a place where it had never been. This is the ninth thing about a genius, leading by example.
All around the world, people admire Sachin. The Australian crowd says, we want Sachin to score a hundred, but Australia to win. Anil Kumble had once said, “I am thankful I have to bowl at Sachin only in the nets”. Similarly, Brian Lara had said, “Sachin is a genius, I am a mere mortal”. This is the tenth thing about a genius. Ability to command respect from the team mates as well as the opposition and the spectators.
These 10 things and much more make Sachin a genius in every sense of the word. Happy Birthday Sachin
