“The God of Cricket is retiring.” The whole nation is sad and
not only that, cricket lovers throughout the Globe are moved by this decision.
Talk about the retirement and the farewell ceremonies to felicitate this God of
Cricket on his last match are un-matched. No one has ever heard of any
cricketer or any athlete, anywhere in the World getting such a glittering
Farewell.
Like many others I also believe that his absence from the world
cricket will be felt as I have watched him playing all my life. But I think it
is unfair to him when people refer to him as God.
BUT WAIT!! He is no God. He is just another
human being who became a living legend persistently following the basics. By calling him God, somewhere I feel that his greatness as a Man
and his dedication as a human is challenged and that is not justified.
I am sharing some (just a few) of the things that I think of
when I see him (on and off field) and I think these traits can be key to
inspire anyone in any field of life and not only cricket
Humility: He is an
idol of humility. In spite of the fan –following and the superb career studded
with success and world records, he never let the success get to his head. He
never rose himself above the game. The game stayed above him always and he
showed that in every match he played even when people (including viewers, media
and his team mates) were hell bent on putting him above the game.
Focus: In his
career of 24 years he has been in form and out of form many a times. He has
played well and also played bad in many matches; he has thrilled the spectators
and also disappointed them many a times. But he never lost his focus regarding
his playing. The ecstasy after a super performance and the distress after flop
show at the field, were never carried over to the next game day.
Excitement: He has
excited people all over the world so many times with his super skills, but they
seemed to have no obvious impact on him. He was always very openly and
obviously excited about the game. He never showed signs of it being monotonous
or repetitive. He appeared as excited for a game after years of cricketing as
he had appeared in his early career.
Contentment: When people
fight for higher ranks, he declined captaincy of the team after performing
poorly as a captain and was easily able to play under the guidance of much
younger captains than himself, both in age and in cricket. He never showed
signs of arrogance or seniority in spite of being the most senior player in the
team for many years.
Dedication: Seeing his
cricketing career one can see signs of not being a player but a devotee to the
game. He dedicated his career to only one thing and that was playing cricket.
He was never in controversies, never displayed arrogance or behavior issues in
spite of being at the very top of the cricketing pyramid and staying there for
ages. His dedication to game and to game only has always been commendable. He is
the manifestation of what many managers tell their subordinates and coaches tell
their teams and parents tell their children, “just focus on your performance
and the score board will take care of itself”
Tranquility: “He is too
old and he should retire”; “He is out of form and he should not humiliate himself
by playing more”; “He is too unfit to play any longer”; “He should leave the
game before he is thrown out”; “He is a burden for his team” and many more
negative statements year over years whenever he was in ‘poor form’. None of that
negativity even touched him he came back better and stronger every time proving
the critics and the naysayers wrong. His Zen like tranquility in bad times of
his game, health, team-performance etc. was unmoved and never effected by
anything outside.
Self-Confidence: He knew his
strengths and his faith on his abilities were so strong that no failures, no
criticism, no defeats could beat him down. He stood tall (in spite of his short
frame) in every adversity and rose as a hero for the generations.
No he is no God as God’s do not retire. He is a human being who
showed everyone that following some basics taught in early childhood and never
loosing grip on that one can rise to level that for most is unimaginable. His
basics, his principles, his story, his life, his game can motivate anyone in
any field of life and can guide the generations to do great things.
Truly he proved “just focus on your performance and the score
board will take care of itself”
Kudos to you Mr. Sachin Tendulkar for being an inspiration. And
all those who know you also know this that you will never retire from cricket;
you will be very much in the game even after you stop playing the international
format of it……
Looking forward to your next innings after the International
Cricket one is over…….
SOME ACHIEVEMENTS COPIED FROM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achievements_of_Sachin_Tendulkar
Official awards
·
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 1997,
2010, 2012
Media awards
·
In August 2003, he was voted as the
"Greatest Sportsman" of the country in the sport personalities
category in the Best of India poll conducted by Zee News.[7]
·
In November 2006, Time magazine named
him as one of the Asian Heroes.[8]
·
In December 2006, he was named
"Sports person of the Year"
·
In June 2009, Time magazine included
his Test Debut in "Top 10 Sporting Moments".[9]
·
In 2010, he was voted as one of the
world's 100 most influential people in "The 2010 TIME 100" poll
conducted by Time magazine.[10]
·
The current India Poised campaign
run by The Times of India has nominated him as
the Face of New India next to the likes of Amartya Sen and Mahatma Gandhi among
others.
·
In February 2010,he was declared
"Sports Icon of the Year for 21 years" by NDTV at the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards.[11]
Others
He is the only player of current
generation who was included by Sir Don Bradman in
his squad of playing eleven. And rated him the best among cricketer of his
generation.
List of some other notable achievements:
1.
Highest run getter in test matches
(15,847 as on 8 November 2013).
2.
Highest run getter in ODIs (18,426).
3.
15,310 of his runs came while opening
the innings with the aid of 45 centuries and 75 fifties in 340 innings- most by
an opener.
4.
Most number of centuries in Test
matches – 51.
5.
Most number of centuries in ODIs – 49.
6.
Most number of man of the match awards
(62) in the ODIs.
7.
Most number of man of the series awards
(17) in ODIs.
8.
Best average for man of the matches in
ODIs.
9.
First cricketer to reach 10,000–11,000–12,000–13,000–14,000–15,000–16,000–17,000–18,000
runs in the ODIs.
10.
Only player ever to cross the
14,000–15,000–16,000–17,000 and 18,000 run marks in ODIs.
11.
He is the highest run scorer in World
Cups (2,278 at an average of 56.95)
12.
Most number of the man of the match
awards in World cups.
13.
Most number of runs in the 1996 World
cup – 523 runs at an average of 87.16.
14.
Most number of runs in the 2003 World
cup – 673 runs in 2003 Cricket World Cup, highest by any player in a single
Cricket World Cup.
15.
Most number of Fifties in ODIs – 96.
16.
Highest number of 50+ scores in ODI’s –
145 (49 Centuries and 96 Fifties).
17.
First player to have scored over 100
innings of 50+ runs in ODIs.
18.
Appeared in most number of tests – 200.
19.
Appeared in most number of ODIs – 463.
20.
First player to score 200 runs in an
ODI.
21.
Tendulkar top-scored for India on 129
occasions – most such occasions for any player in ODIs.
22.
He was the first players to complete
the all-round treble of 10000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches.
23.
Is the only player to have made three
scores of 175 or more.
24.
Is the only player with five scores of
150 or more.
25.
Holds the record for scoring 1,000 ODI
runs in a calendar year on most occasions. He did so seven times – 1994, 1996,
1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007
26.
Tendulkar has scored over 1,000 ODI
runs against all major Cricketing nations.
27.
Has played ODIs with 866 players
(teammates and opponents) – most for any player in ODI history.
28.
He has most scores in 90s: 18
(including one not out innings).
29.
He Was involved in 99 century
partnerships – most by any player.
30.
Tendulkar was the first batsman to
score over 3,000 runs against an opponent (3,077 runs against Australia).Since
then he has also done this against Sri Lanka (3,113 runs).
31.
Tendulkar was the fastest to reach 10,000
runs taking 259 innings and has the highest batting average among batsmen with
over 10,000 ODI runs.
32.
Tendulkar is the only Indian to score a
century on ODI captaincy debut (110 v Sri Lanka at Colombo RPS on 28 August
1996).
33.
Tendulkar was the first Indian player
to score a century and capture four wickets in the same ODI (v Australia at
Dhaka on 28 October 1998).
34.
11.27% of all the runs and 24.50% of
all the hundreds scored by all Indian batsmen have come from Tendulkar’s bat.
35.
His nine centuries against Australia
are the most by any player against a particular country. He occupies the second
place too, with eight centuries against Sri Lanka.
36.
Sachin Tendulkar with Sourav Ganguly
holds the world record for the maximum number of runs scored by the opening partnership.
They put together 6,609 runs in 136 matches that include 21 century
partnerships and 23 fifty run partnerships. The 21 century partnerships for the
opening pair is also a world record.
37.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid hold
the world record for the highest partnership in ODIs when they scored 331 runs
for the second wicket against New Zealand in 1999-00 at the Hyderabad.
38.
Only the second player (after Javed
Miandad) to appear in SIX World Cups – from 1992 to 2011.
39.
Most ODI runs in a calendar year: 1,894
ODI runs in 1998.
40.
Most Centuries in a calendar year: 9
ODI centuries in 1998.
41.
Longest career span : 22 years 91
days.
42.
Between April 1990 and April 1998
Tendulkar played 185 consecutive matches – a World record.
43.
He is the only player to be in top 10
ICC Batsmen ranking for 10 years in Tests.
44.
He was the first cricketer to receive
the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honor only to be followed
by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
45.
In 2002, Wisden rated him as the second
greatest Test batsman after Sir Donald Bradman.
46.
In 2003, Wisden rated Tendulkar as the
No. 1 and Richards at No. 2 in all time Greatest ODI players.
47.
He was involved in unbroken 664-run
partnership in a Harris Shield game in 1988 with friend and team mate Vinod
Kambli.
48.
Tendulkar is the only player to score a
century in all three of his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy
debuts.
49.
In 1992, at the age of 19, Tendulkar
became the first overseas born player to represent Yorkshire.
50.
Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by Indian
government. He is the only Indian cricketer to get all of them.
51.
Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in
a calendar year in ODIs 7 times.
52.
Tendulkar has scored 1894 runs in
calendar year in ODIs most by any batsman.
53.
He has the least percentage of the man
of the matches awards won when team loses a match in ODIs. Out of his 62-man of
the match awards only 5 times India has lost.
54.
Tendulkar most number man of match
awards (12) against Australia.
55.
In August 2003, Sachin Tendulkar was
voted as the "Greatest Sportsman" of the country in the sport
personalities category in the Best of India poll conducted by Zee News.
56.
In November 2006, Time magazine named
Tendulkar as one of the Asian Heroes.
57.
The current India Poised campaign run
by The Times of India has nominated him as the Face of New India next to the
likes of Amartya Sen and Mahatma Gandhi among others.
58.
Tendulkar was the first batsman to
score over 50 centuries in international cricket.
59.
Tendulkar was the first batsman to
score over 75 centuries in international cricket.
60.
Has the most overall runs in cricket,
(ODIs+Tests+Twenty20s), as of December 2012 he had accumulated almost 34,074
runs overall.
61.
Sachin Tendulkar with Sourav Ganguly
hold the world record for the maximum number of runs scored by the opening
partnership. They have put together 6,271 runs in 128 matches
62.
The 22 century partnerships for opening
pair with Sourav Ganguly is a world record.
63.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid hold
the world record for the highest partnership in ODI matches when they scored
331 runs against New Zealand in 1999
64.
Sachin Tendulkar has been involved in
six 200 run partnerships in ODI matches – a record that he shares with Sourav
Ganguly and Rahul Dravid
65.
Most ODI Centuries in a calendar year:
9 centuries in 1998.
66.
Only player to have over 100 innings of
50+ runs (49 Centuries and 96 Fifties)(as of 7 March 2012)
67.
The only player ever to cross the
14,000, 15,000, 16,000, 17,000, 18,000 run marks IN ODI.
68.
Third highest individual score among
Indian batsmen (200* against South Africa at Gwalior in 2011).
69.
The score of 200* is the third highest
score recorded in ODI matches.
70.
Tendulkar has scored over 1000 ODI runs
against all major Cricketing nations.
71.
Sachin was the fastest to reach 10,000
runs taking 259 innings and has the highest batting average among batsmen with
over 10,000 ODI runs
72.
Most number of Stadium Appearances: 90
different Grounds.
73.
Consecutive ODI Appearances: 185.
74.
On his debut, Sachin Tendulkar was the
second youngest debutant in the world.
75.
When Tendulkar scored his maiden
century in 1990, he was the second youngest to score a century.
76.
Tendulkar's record of five test
centuries before he turned 20 is a current world record.
77.
Tendulkar holds the current record (217
against NZ in 1999/00 Season) for the highest score in Test cricket by an
Indian when captaining the side.
78.
Tendulkar has scored centuries against
all test playing nations.[7] He was the third batman to achieve the distinction
after Steve Waugh and Gary Kirsten.
79.
He holds record for the second most
number of seasons with over 1000 runs in world in a calendar year.
80.
On 3 January 2007 Sachin Tendulkar
(5751) edged past Brian Lara's (5736) world record of runs scored in Tests away
from home.
81.
Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the
fastest to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket history. Both of them achieved
this in 195 innings.
82.
Second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to
make over 10,000 runs in Test matches.
83.
Became the first Indian to surpass the
11,000 Test run mark and the third overall.
84.
First to score 30,000 international
runs.
85.
Tendulkar's 33,906 runs in
international cricket include 18,426 runs in ODIs, 15,470 Tests runs and 10
runs in the lone Twenty20 that India has played.
86.
On 10 December 2005, Tendulkar made his
35th century in Tests at Delhi against Sri Lanka . He surpassed Sunil
Gavaskar's record of 34 centuries to become the man with the most number of
hundreds in Test cricket.
87.
Tendulkar is the only player who has
150 wickets and more than 15,000 runs in ODIs.
88.
Tendulkar is the first batsman in
history to score 100 centuries in international cricket.
89.
Holds the record for amassing most runs
in a winning cause 11157 (average 56.63), including 33 centuries, in 234
matches.
90.
Also has the highest average in a
winning cause 56.63 which is the highest among the batsmen with 7000 runs or
more in a winning cause.
91.
He completed 50,000 runs on October
5th, 2013.
92.
He has got 20 ducks in ODI cricket.
93.
He has scored most runs in boundaries
(fours)in ODI cricket 2016*4= 8064.
94.
He has scored 195 sixes in ODI
cricket(Not most but in top 10).
95.
He hit 25 boundaries in his unbeaten
200 against south africa , the first and most in a single ODI innings
AND HE STILL HAVE ONE INTERNATIONAL
MATCH TO PLAY……
