I am not a cricket fan... I would much rather watch a movie or read stuff or blog rather than watch a cricket match. The only time I have enjoyed a cricket match is at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk, in Chennai when, on 23rd April 2008, Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings clashed with Harbhajan Singh led Mumbai Indians. The electrifying atmosphere, Shivamani, Hariharan's live performances, the dance and jingles of the cheer leaders and the 'Mexican Wave' of hands going around again and again, around the stadium.But when it comes to the Master Blaster, its show-time, folks. To quote from the Times Of India, 'Just 147 balls later, Tendulkar set the record straight in emphatic fashion. A staggering 2,961 matches and almost 39 years after the first ODI was played the Little Legend finally became the first cricketer to score 200 in a one-dayer, propelled by a record 25 fours in one knock.'
The Time Magazine's quote on Sachin: "When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam. When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy. It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."
He will always remain a man for whom excellence is a habit, who is so devoted to his craft, so enthusiastic still, that with experience he has mastered the art of seamlessly binding talent, discipline and perspicacity, all without compromising on style, for maximum gain in a team cause.
Sachin, You Rock!!!
