Sachin Tendulkar
He is the true fusion of majestic brilliance as a great sportsman, unmitigable dedication to the game and unmatched humility and simplicity. His adroitness with the bat has taken him to the zenith of batting glory. Achieving milestones, reaching pinnacles and shattering world records are second nature to master willower Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. In a fitting testimony to his legendary cricketing acumen he embraced history at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town in South Africa on January 4, 2011 by becoming the first batsman in the annals of cricketing history to notch up 51 Test hundreds. He top-edged South African pace bowler Morne Morkel for a six over wicket-keeper’s head and then followed up the celebration with a cracking cover-drive for boundary. Earlier, batting genius Tendulkar scored his 50th Test century at Centurion in South Africa on December 19, 2010. With his latest historic feat he reached where no cricketer has gone before.
Coming 21 years after he made his first century as a 17-year-old against England at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1990. Sachin’s 51st ton off 213 balls was a testimony to his career longevity and enduring class. The 37-year-old right-hander, who has devoted a remarkable 21 years to international cricket, has almost every batting record that is there to be taken under his belt. Other then Brian Lara’s Test match highest of 400 not out and first class highest score of 501 not out. Tendulkar has re-written every other batting record. He is also the only batsman in the world to have scored a double ton ODIs. Besides, he holds the record for most ODI hundreds (46). He is steadily inching toward the 50 ODI tons mark as well. He has 97 international centuries, the most by any batsman, 29 of which Tendulkar amassed on foreign soil.
Since his debut in Pakistan on November 15, 1989, he is someone who has been defining a game on his own—with every stroke, every move and every record. His insatiable appetite for runs makes him the batting don of the world. Apart from stacking up one record after another, master blaster Tendulkar has shown the capacity for remaining an enduring symbol of hope for an India on the move. In a game constantly metamorphosing. Sachin and his appeal have withstood the test of time.
Source : Competition Success Review, February 2011
