To have consistently performed despite the pressure of a billion fans and more sets Sachin Tendulkar apart from the other sporting greats of the world. Few, if any, would have had to endure the ruthless, microscopic dissection of every move the man has made during his brilliant career spanning over 24 years. To have come out unscathed from this kind of relentless scrutiny on and off the field is a tribute, in itself, to the genius of Tendulkar.
As one who loves cricket and has followed the game since childhood, it’s no surprise that I have grown up admiring him. There is a lot to learn from him. Absorb how to play sport at the highest level without getting overawed.
How to deal with pressure and not get bogged down. How to stay mentally strong in the face of adversity. To step up under pressure and do it time and again for India. If there is, one thing we sportsmen and women want to learn is how to play well under pressure. Sachin is a living example of it. He is all about staying true to the sport. Everything else is irrelevant when you are in the middle. All you need to know at that point is why you are there. To play your sport and try and win the match for India. To win for the tricolour and for your fans. For yourself. That’s what Sachin did for years.
Farhan Akhtar on Sachin Tendulkar
My father is an ardent follower of the game, and cricket is ubiquitous in my life. It is the most watched and talked about sport in India, and each of Sachin’s actions, as I said earlier, has been defined or devilled by a billion-plus for over 24 long years. However, the fact that he continues to inspire millions and be humble and modest is a testament to the man’s character and values.
I would not be wrong in saying everyone has a little bit of Sachin in them. Each one of us was playing for him. Thinking with him. Walking out to bat with him. And yet when he played, there was always a sense of calm. A reassurance that everything was fine and would be so. He was this steadying influence on us all, and to think that a country of a billion could feel reassured by one man is a testimony to his genius.
I’ve been lucky enough to have encountered Sachin reasonably early. The first was when I was just 16 and had won the Junior Wimbledon doubles title. Sachin arranged for his signature Palio car to be presented to me. While he couldn’t make it to the function, he called me at the time of the presentation, and there’s little doubt I was more elated to speak to him than to have received my first car! He was Sachin Tendulkar, a childhood hero and one of the greatest to have played sport. To speak to him was a privilege.
Suresh Raina on Sachin Tendulkar
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