January 30, 2005

DURING the recently concluded series with Bangladesh, India’s master batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, smashed an unbeaten 248 in the first Test. In the process, he equalled the record of the other Indian great, Sunil Gavaskar for the most centuries scored by an batsman in Test cricket.

With his 34th hundred, Tendulkar also become only the third cricketer in the 127-year Test history to score centuries against all the other nine Test-playing nations. South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and former Australia captain Steve Waugh are the other two who have scored centuries against all nine Test-playing countries.

If ever there was a prodigy in Indian cricket, it was Sachin Tendulkar. Perhaps only Don Bradman has matched his superiority over contemporaries. The saga started in 1985-86 when, aged 12, he scored a century for his school, Shardashram Vidyamandir, in the Harris Shield (under-17). The following year, he scored nine centuries including two double hundred (and an innings of 276 in a day) for a total of 2,336 runs in a year. Already his was a familiar name in the newspapers and that was to continue dramatically through 1987-88 when he scored more that 3,000 runs.

In the Harris Shield’s five innings, he racked up an unimaginable batting average of 1028. Newspapers as well as Sunil Gavaskar were convinced that this was a completely new cricket phenomenon. Gavaskar even prophesized that this boy would go on to break his, Gavaskar’s, records. How true he was.

In 1988, as captain of his school cricket team, he along with Vinod Kambli complied an unbroken partnership of 664 runs; a record partnership for any cricket according to Wisden.

He made his Test debut in November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi. The 16-year-old faced the onslaught of Imran, Wasim and Waqar. But despite the repeated bouncers, he became the youngest to score a 50 in a Test. It was during the England tour in 1990, the 17-year-old scored his first Test ton, 119 not out at Old Trafford to save India.

Two Test centuries followed in a losing series in Australia in 1990-91. A delightful 148 not out at Sydney, further marked him out as a batsman of world class, but a century in the fifth Test also displayed his determination and fighting spirit. By the time England toured India in 1992-93, the one-time boy-wonder was now a master of the game.

Tendulkar, like Gavaskar before him, is diminutive, but compact and muscular. He loves fast-bowling, hitting the ball on the rise with a heavy bat with perfect timing so that the ball clatters into the boundary boards. He plays spinners with careful correctness, but is not afraid to sweep, and does not let any bowling subdue his aggression. Indeed, sometimes the best chance of getting him out is to hope his virtuosity runs away with him so that he plays the risky shots for the devil of it.

In 1992, 19-year-old Tendulkar was the first overseas player to appear for Yorkshire, a county which at one time would not play anybody from outside its own boundaries.

In 1996 he was appointed captain of India for the first time, aged 23. This was the first of his three spells as captain.

Mohammad Azharuddin was captain when the Australians toured India in 1997-98. The cricket world enjoyed the spectacle of the contest between the master batsman and the spin king, Shane Warne. Tendulkar was superb. An unbeaten 155 in the second innings of the first Test turned a first innings deficit into a 179-run win. Tendulkar made 336 runs in five innings at an average of 111.50.

Tendulkar was captain again in 1999-2000, when he made his highest Test score, 217, against New Zealand. He averaged 108.75 in that series. In 2000-01 his 126 in the deciding Test against Australia helped India win an amazing series, in which Warne’s wickets cost a massive 53.20 each. In fact Warne is among Wisden’s list of five cricket players who have had bad times against Tendulkar.

Tendulkar has a shrewd cricketing brain and has a good arm from the outfield. Sachin’s record as captain, however, has not been outstanding. Nevertheless, his contribution to the game and his role in attracting a following to the game goes beyond his record. His game is characterized by style, aggression and often dazzling brilliance. Sachin has earned respect from fans, critics and cricketers around the world due to his down-to-earth nature which he maintains despite being treated as a national icon. Married with a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, Sachin’s success story was recently made part of a school textbook so that Indian children can draw inspiration from his achievements.

With Sachin Tendulkar having equalled the world record set by one of his countrymen Sunil Gavaskar, compares the facts and figures of these two legendary batsmen.

When Tendulkar brought up his 34th Test ton in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, it was also his 58th first-class hundred in his 214th match since his maiden ton on debut for Bombay in 1988. Not surprisingly, Gavaskar leads the Indian pack with 81 hundreds in 348 matches from 1966 to 1987. Gavaskar only played against six countries, while Tendulkar has enjoyed the luxury of playing against nine.

While England have often borne the brunt of Tendulkar’s blade — he averages 76.5 against them — Gavaskar was never one for British bowlers, averaging just 38.20. And while the master blaster has only notched up 600 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan, Gavaskar enjoyed milking 2,089 runs off Imran and company.

Both men reaped the rewards of batting on subcontinental pitches. For Gavaskar it was in Pakistan where 11 Tests gave him an average of 59. Sri Lanka appears to be a real paradise for Tendulkar as six Tests for an average of 111.66 testifies.

Australia have witnessed Tendulkar notch up seven Test tons against them, including that unbeaten 241 in the drawn Sydney Test against Australia that nearly ruined Steve Waugh’s farewell appearance. Gavaskar hammered an incredible 13 hundreds against the mighty Windies.

Both men have records that speak for themselves. In 125 Tests, Gavaskar amassed 10,122 runs for an average of 51.12. Tendulkar had racked up 9,879 runs in 120 Tests at an average of 57.44. He may still be behind Gavaskar, but it won’t be for much longer and with all those many centuries, the little Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar is a living cricket legend and has been a member of the Indian cricket team since 1989. He is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time and possibly the greatest of his era. Sir Donald Bradman, the Australian great, paid the greatest tribute to Sachin when he said, “He reminds me of myself.”

As for Tendulkar, he says, “I am not going to stop here.” For sure, this adds more spice to the already eagerly awaited Pakistan tour of India in the coming weeks.

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