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Revision as of 22:14, 20 December 2003 by Zoicon5 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born April 24, 1973) is an Indian cricketer (batsman) and member of the Indian national cricket team since 1989. He is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his or any other age. Sir Donald Bradman said, "He (Sachin) reminds me of myself".
Born in Mumbai (previously called Bombay) into a middle class family, he played his first international match when he was 16, against Pakistan in Karachi facing up to the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. In one day cricket (ODI), he holds several records including most runs, over 12000 and the greatest number of hundreds, 36 and counting. To go with this he has more than eight thousand in Test cricket and 31 hundreds in, at an average of almost 58, above the 50 that distinguishes one as one of the game's greats. And he is only thirty years old. He is also a bowler of variety and is know to break parterships when called on to bowl. And he has more than a hundred wickets in ODIs and 28 in tests. He continues to perform well under the massive weight of expectation of hundreds of millions of cricket followers, in India and around the world, and most recently was named Player Of The Tournament in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
Some of his more famous efforts in test cricket are:
- 114 against Australia at Perth in 1991-92
- 179 against the West Indies at Nagpur in 1994-95
- 169 against South Africa at Cape Town in 1996-97
- 155 against Australia at Chennai in 1997-98
- 136 agaist Pakistan in Chennai in 1998-99
- 155 against South Africa in Bloemfontein in 2001-02
- 193 against England at Leeds in 2002.
He seems to play his best cricket against the best teams, however he has been criticized for not leading India to more test match victories away from home. Only the last of the innings listed above led to an Indian victory abroad.
Sachin's batting in ODIs really took off after he was invited to open the innings at Napier against New Zealand in 1994. His first hundred came later that year, against Australia, in Colombo. And it is hard to remember a full series since without a Sachin century.
Some of his more memorable innings have been
- 90 against Australia in the 1996 World Cup in Mumbai
- 104 against Zimbabwe at Benoni in 1997
- back to back innings of 143 and 134 against Australia in Sharjah in 1998
- 98 versus Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup at Centurion, South Africa.
He has also been a useful bowler and fielder and has a good arm from the outfield. Sachin's record as captain has not been outstanding.
But his contribution to the game and his role in attracting following to the game goes beyond his record. His game is characterized by style, aggression and often dazzling brilliance. And he is just getting into his best years.
Sachin's fame in his own country is such that he is virtually a prisoner in his own home, with his appearances in public causing near-riots amongst fevered fans. He reportedly takes his car for late-night drives around the city as a one of the few chances to escape the protective bubble he is forced to exist within.
Sachin is married to his childhood friend Dr. Anjali and has a daughter Sara (5) and a son Arjun (3).