The Witty Stride

– Satyakam Ray

18 Dec 2022 – Lusail Stadium was alive with chants. The rest of the world, over their TVs, echoed only two things: Lio Messi and Vamos Argentina. That is one of the all-time great sporting spectacles in soccer history. A fitting crown was handed over to the GOAT of the game. In India, cricket is considered a national passion. The Little Master, Sachin, is revered as the god of cricket. He has been honored in this way in the past.

November 16, 2013 – The entire Wankhede Stadium chanted “Sachin Sachin.” Many sobbing, emotional spectators cheered for one Indian cricket legend, a masterful farewell party. The legend is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The man carried Indian cricket to its most incredible heights for about 24 years. The Little Master Blaster is known for his extraordinary performances. He scored 100 centuries. All ’90s kids looked up to him while growing up.

Back then, the only channel available on TV was Doordarshan (DD), which broadcast international cricket matches. When India played against another country, its work efficiency dropped. Everyone was glued to the TV to watch Sachin bat. Why did only India, the famed Indian-Americans, do the same? Ask Barack Obama about that!? As 90s kids, we bunked school or tuition classes to watch Sachin. Such was the craze of the little man; whenever he got out, the TVs in the households were shut down.

In India, cricket gained a cult-like fanbase in the 1990s. The IPL is booming, and significant money and glamour are linked to these events. Nevertheless, the genuine admiration and godly status of cricketers strongly influenced fans’ minds in the 1990s. This was the time when Sachin was playing. After winning the World Cup in 83, India needed one superstar to revive cricket’s popularity. Sachin followed Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

1998—The year of Sachin’s brilliance and best form helped him to amass a record calendar year run and most centuries. Ask any ’90s kid. They will remember the duel between the late legendary leg spinner Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar. Warne used to have dreams at night where Sachin hit him for sixes. Australians and the world also respected Sachin for his brilliant career and humble nature.

The highest number of runs and centuries in test cricket speaks volumes about a sportsperson’s caliber. In his illustrious career, Sachin scored 100 centuries across all formats. It’s a record that’s most likely to remain unbroken unless Virat Kohli shows consistent performance. Sachin scored the first-ever double-century in one-day cricket. His contemporaries achieved extraordinary performances. These include Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis. They have set records in cricket. Still, they all regard Sachin as one of the best players.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former cricketer turned politician, gave a testimony. He spoke about Sachin’s brave batting against the fiery Pakistani bowling lineup during the 1989 tour. It showcased Sachin’s spine. After being wounded by a Waqar Younis bouncer, the bleeding Sachin told Sidhu in a calm, focused voice, “Me, Khelega.” And the next ball was a straight boundary opposite Waqar’s end! Such was the conviction and willpower of the god of cricket.

When it comes to the impact of Sachin on ’90s kids, Virat Kohli is the perfect example. He is the chase master in modern cricket. Virat comes from the generation of boys. They watched cricket on TV. They tried to emulate Sachin in every possible way. In the 90s, every kid wanted to be the next Sachin. The fabulous cover drive and a scoop of Sachin are still a treat to watch. Every household in India was a breeding ground for an aspirational cricketer, Courtesy Sachin Tendulkar. Even when bantering among friends, Sachin’s “Aila” is often used to come. While taking a stance before facing the ball, Sachin used his typical posture. As kids, we usually tried to mimic that posture. Nowadays, Aila is a meme.

Sachin is unique among ’90s kids for several qualities. His supernatural ability sets him apart. His cricketing brilliance is unmatched. He had an illustrious career. Most importantly, he maintained humility. Despite the considerable success, fame, and money, Sachin remained the humblest cricketer on and off the field. His persona, behavior, and ever-smiling face remained the same throughout his career. He never showed anger or frustration on the pitch and always behaved well. Barring a few odd controversies, Sachin never played rough and respected the spirit of the gentleman’s game.

As 90s kids, we learned a great deal from this gentleman and were inspired by him. Someday, the records he made will be broken. Someone else may come along to replace his cricketing throne. But among the ’90s kids, there is only one Sachin, who will stay forever. Cricket is our religion, and Sachin is God.