From 1989 to 2013 - An unforgettable journey of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar sprinting at Headingly ahead of the England test series in 1990- A very special one for him

Whenever you switched on the television sets and see a 5 ft 5 inch player batting, you always tend to ask-“What is his score?” or “Has he scored a century?” But now this kind of temptation will never be a part of us as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will retire from test cricket after his 200^th test against the West Indies.

After that test, we will never see that 5 ft 5 inch man, with jersey no. 10,walking out from the pavilion to bat for team India at no.4 in test cricket. We will never see the little master again, fielding with his round hat. We will never see him celebrating with the players after each and every victory.

“All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India . I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years. It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old. It’s been a huge honour to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th Test Match on home soil, as I call it a day.”-Sachin Tendulkar, in his recent statement regarding his retirement.

It is indeed a great loss for team India and an end of an era which lasted 24 years. Sachin Tendulkar played with every legends-from Kapil Dev to Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Richard Hadlee to Glenn Mcgrath.

Let’s now look at some notable moments in his career which stamped his authority in International Cricket.

The debut test: – At 16 years 205 days Sachin Tendulkar made his test debut in Karachi, against the lethal Pakistan bowling attack in the form of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. He scored just 15 runs in the 1^st test but came back well in the next one by scoring a defiant 59 runs after being hit by a fast bouncer from Waqar.

Sachin’s 1st century saved the test match for India

The Manchester test: – It was this test that became a special one in his career. He scored his first century and became the youngest player to have reached the triple figure mark. He came at the right time as India were 6 wickets down with 183 on the scoreboard.He not only scored his first century but also saved the test match for India.

Great batting against Richard Hadlee: – In his 1^st ever ODI series, Sachin showed signs of a special player. His innings of 36 runs in the 4th match of a tri-series included 5 fours, out of which 2 came against the legendary Richard Hadlee. He also praised Sachin by saying-“You could see then, as a youngster, he was a player of immense ability and talent.”

Sachin Tendulkar after his century at Perth.

Australia’s tour 1991/92: – Though this series was convincingly won by Australia(4-0), it depicted the massive batting talent that Sachin had inside. There were just 3 players from India who scored centuries in this series and 4 centuries in total were scored. Besides the double century from Ravi Shastri and century from the then captain Mohammad Azharuddin, there were 2 centuries scored by the young man. He overcame the challenges of fast pitches in Sydney(148*) and Perth(114) by scoring centuries with a strike rate of around 70.

Auckland, 1994: – Chasing a low target of 143 runs, Sachin Tendulkar was asked to open the batting and he delivered the goods in an excellent manner. He showed the world, his capability of an aggressive opener. The little master scored 82 runs off just 49 deliveries and single-handedly won the game for India.

Sachin showed his destructive capability in Sharjah,1998.

Sharjah,1998: – India won both the tri-series in Sharjah that year and the man behind that success was –undoubtedly- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The mind-blowing innings that he played, particularly against Australia, increased his fan following. I still remember Sachin’s six in the 22^nd over of the innings bowled by Shane Warne. The ball went over Warne’s head and he gave a helpless expression to Tendulkar.

Probably because of such batting Shane Warne says,

“I would go to bed having nightmares of Sachin dancing down the ground and hitting me for sixes”.

The next tri series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was also convincingly won by India. Tendulkar was dismissed by a short pitched bouncer from Henry Olonga in a match but the little master went for the kill in the final. Sachin scored a century and with the help of Saurav Ganguly, the team won the match by 10 wickets. Henry Olonga was nothing before Sachin Tendulkar as he conceded 50 runs in his 6 overs.

He scored a mammoth 709 runs in 10 innings played at Sharjah that year.

Prestigious moment for 25 year old Sachin.

Bradman’s Invitation: – Sachin Tendulkar was in the 9^th year of his cricketing career when he got a call from the legendary Don Bradman to visit the latter on his 90^th birthday. He accompanied Shane Warne as the duo visited Bradman.

Century dedicated to his father: – In a 1999 world cup match against Kenya, he dedicated his century to his departed father. He overcomed his grief and scored a beautiful century.

Six off Shoaib Akhtar: – In the 2003 world cup match against rivals Pakistan, his sixer off Shoaib Akhtar remains to be as one of the most memorable moments.

Going past Sunil Gavaskar: - On 10^th December 2005 at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Sachin Tendulkar scripted his name in record books once again by reaching his 35^th test century in his 119^th test going past Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34.

Centuries in Australia (2004 and 2008): – India had tours down under in 2004 and 2008 and from these tours it felt as if Sydney was Sachin’s most favorite ground. He scored 241* and 154 at SCG in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

Sachin Tendulkar showed his experience in the Adelaide Test in 2008 when he scored 153.

“1^st man on the planet to score 200 in an ODI”: -On 24^th February 2009, he became the 1^st man to score 200 in ODI history. The way he started that innings, it clearly seemed as if he was heading for a big score. His accurate stroke play was consistent from the 1^st ball and after scoring the 200^th run, Ravi Shastri said the above phrase from the commentary box.

Sachin Tendulkar after reaching the golden milestone- 100th 100

100^th 100: – After the 2011 world cup, billions of Sachin fans waited and waited for the 100^th 100. He had got many opportunities of scoring but failed. He was very close to reach that milestone but got out in the 90’s two times(91 at Oval and 94 at Wankhede).

But the day finally came during an Asia cup match against Bangladesh. On 16^th March 2012, the world saluted the little master for scoring the most awaited century after which Sachin said- “I have lost 50 kilos”.

200^th test: – Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his desire to play this test on home soil i.e. at the Wankhede Stadium.

After that test the Indian team will be without the little master.

After 24 years, there will be no mention of “SACHIN TENDULKAR” in the Indian squad. A great responsibility will rely on the younger players to make up for the loss of- THE MASTER BLASTER.