After 80 years of playing test cricket, for the first time India has become the number one team in world cricket, followed very closely by South Africa and Australia. Over the years, India has produced scores of great cricketers, but one stands out. Sachin Tendulkar. GuruMaa also loves cricket, and follows the matches very closely, especially when She is in India. Over the years, She has also been a big fan of Sachin.
So, what makes him so special? Why is he an icon? Why is he a legend?
Sachin has scored the highest number of runs in both Test matches and One-day games. He has broken scores of records. (Please go to Cricinfo.com for a complete compilation of his career records.) He has completed two decades in international cricket and yet looks fresh and eager to play and win. He loves cricket, loves his game, always wants to win, wants his team to win and wants India to win. And, he has done every single day during his past 20 years!! He has not let his injuries let him down, he has not led periods of poor form slow him down. He has not let age get to him. Sambit Lal writes, ‘his batting is based on the purest of principles: perfect balance, economy of movement, precision in stroke-making, and that intangible quality given only to geniuses, anticipation….. There are no apparent weaknesses in his game. He can score all around the wicket, off both the front foot and back, and has made runs in all parts of the world in all conditions.” He has played against the best bowlers – fast pacers and spinners, and played well in India and on tours.
Sambit Lal also notes that his greatness was established early: “he was only 16 when he made his Test debut. He was hit on the mouth by Waqar Younis but continued to bat, in a blood-soaked shirt. His first Test hundred, a match-saving one at Old Trafford, came when he was 17, and he had 16 Test hundreds before he turned 25. In 2000 he became the first batsman to have scored 50 international hundreds, and in 2008 he passed Brian Lara as the leading Test run-scorer and the first to 12,000 runs. He currently holds the record for most hundreds in both Tests and ODIs - remarkable, considering he didn't score his first ODI hundred till his 79th match.”
He has won fame, accolades and riches. He has been awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2008.But, he remains grounded. He is a spiritual guy, and loves his wife, Anjali and a doting father to Arjun and Sara. He is committed to his game and remains equally committed to his family. He is always eager to mentor younger players.
Besides cricket skills, what can we learn from Sachin? Viru, another great player who can win matches single-handedly for India, was asked this question. He pointed out a few distinctive qualities which we can all learn from for our personal and professional lives:
(a) Discipline – for instance, Sachin is never late for any practice sessions
(b) Mental Strength – he is a great self-motivator – always believe in yourself
(c) Proper Planning – Sachin planned every innings – understand the wicket, the conditions, the expected bowling strategy, the next balling change etc. and plan the shots accordingly
(d) Adaptability – Be flexible and adapt to every situation as it is presented to you
(e) Dedication – he is completed dedicated to cricket when he is playing and on tour, but when not playing, he reserves his time for his family
When Ms. Sharda Ugra of India Today asked Sachin about the secret of his success, Sachin very humbly replied, ”I don’t know how to answer this. I wish I know the answer. I’ve just gone out and played with a lot of passion and I spend a lot of time preparing myself, not only physically but mentally. I spent time preparing. There have been ups and downs but when there are disappointments, I would much rather convert that negative energy in training harder or spending more time at the nets. The setbacks have motivated me. My thinking is simple. I want to convert those disappointments into positive energy and use it to get even more determined. That’s what I’ve done, nothing else”
This is what GuruMaa has been teaching us, this was what great role-models like Sachin can also teach us. Let us try and convert negative energy into positive energy every moment of our lives!
