Aug. 1: A good 20 years after his Test debut in Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar continues to prepare for a Test match with no drop in intensity. High expectations follow Tendulkar everywhere but the veteran had continued doing what he does best. When the master blaster takes the field on Tuesday he will surpass Steve Waugh’s record of 168 Test matches.
Much has been said and written about Tendulkar’s age. “The tennis ball does not know my age when I am hitting it,” tennis legend Martina Navratilova had once said and it describes Tendulkar’s journey perfectly. “I have scored a double hundred in ODIs at the age of 37, and that proves I am fit,” said Tendulkar.
For a nation that is obsessed with numbers, Tendulkar’s remarkable journey making him the most capped cricketer of all time has gone unnoticed. His plethora of records makes it difficult to keep track. “I don’t play for records. It’s the people who keep track of them. My job is to play well, make runs and contribute to the success of the side,” added Tendulkar.
It is not that Tendulkar had an injury-free run. From a career-threatening tennis elbow to fractures and tears, the body has taken them all. What has kept the champion going is his boyish hunger for runs. “All these records are a tribute to his fantastic work ethic. This longevity could not have been achieved without commitment and determination. I am sure he has a good three years of cricket left in him,” said Tendulkar’s first captain and chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth.
Perhaps the greatest compliment Tendulkar has received recently came from Virender Sehwag during the second Test. “When Sachin and Raina were batting it was difficult to see who the debutant was.”