Congratulations Sachin!!! Way to go.
The stifling suspense and the prolonged wait finally came to an end as Sachin Tendulkar on Friday emerged as the highest run-accumulator in Test cricket’s history……Tendulkar arrived here with 11,939 runs against his name from 151 Tests, averaging 54.02 hitting 39 centuries in the process. His ODI record put together– he tops the run-accumulator’s chart there too with 16,361 runs — Tendulkar has scored more than 25,000 international runs with the help of a mindboggling (42+39) 81 centuries and 138 half-centuries.
And all those runs flowed from the blade of someone who, rather reluctantly, swapped leather-flinging with willow-wielding after a blunt Dennis Lillee told the 12-year-old aspiring fast bowler in a Chennai camp that he had no hopes as a pacer.
Or probably the blame actually lies with Waqar Younis.
Tendulkar was hit on the mouth by Waqar in his debut Test series in Pakistan with dripping blood drenching the shirt of the cuddly teen with curly hair. Nineteen long years since the incident and bowlers around the world continue to bleed even to this day for a folly of one of their predecessors.
I remember watching this young man who joined the Indian cricket team with enormous hype surrounding him. I remember him as the first player of the new generation of Indian cricketers who had this “fuck-off” attitude that was so desperately needed by the Indians. I remember him being a lousy captain. I remember him resigning as captain and returning to what he does best, being a great sportsman. I remember him being the first athlete in India to be managed by a professional company that bought him loads of cash.
Sachin, you thoroughly deserve all the accolades.
