Sachin and I burst into the sports scene almost simultaneously, and thereafter our careers have had very similar trajectories. Even today, there are several similarities. While I continue to play the sport for enjoyment rather than for any career goal, Sachin, too, is doing the same and playing certain tournaments. This is because of his love for the sport. Cricket is all he knows, and for someone as dedicated and passionate, it is near impossible to completely give it up.
With Sachin in the 1990s, there was something unique. Almost everyone in India would call him by his first name, and a deep affection was attached to it. He was like the son in every Indian household we identify with. He was the answer to every Indian problem in cricket and was always the boy next door. He wasn’t a superstar. He was one of our own. One we identified with. Cared for. Loved. And the best thing about him is he could retain this boy next door image till the very last day of his career.
Joydeep Mukherjee on Sachin Tendulkar
What brought both our careers together in a way is the longevity. While I played for a good three decades, Sachin played for 24 years. If you play for so long, there is only one answer. You just want to play the sport more than anything else. The passion for it is undiminished even after 20-plus years, and each time you play, there is a joy difficult to put down in words.
The other thing similar is the wait for the world title. Sachin waited for 22 years before he finally laid his hands on the World Cup. We in chess waited a long time before winning the Chess Olympiad. Winning in a team sport is very different compared to winning individually. And when you play as a team for India, there is a very different connotation attached. To be the best in your sport as a team is a dream, and Sachin pursued this dream with unwavering focus and passion. I watched every game of the 2011 World Cup and felt very happy for Sachin when India won the trophy. It was a dream fulfilled, and no one deserved it more.
Extracted with permission from Sachin@50 Celebrating A Maestro, Simon and Schuster. To be published on 24 April for Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.
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