November 15, 2009 and by now if you have not heard that Sachin Tendulkar has completed 20 years in International Cricket you've probably been on some other planet. Unprecedented Media Hype, Columns and columns of tributes and blogs unlimited! Not a great time for the non-Sachin fans! I've been a die-hard Sachin fan since the day I saw him get his first International hundred on Indian soil. The year was 1992 and he dominated a below-par England bowling attack to notch up 165. And like all those big moments I can say -"I was there"! But that was not the last time I was going to be there. I developed a strange superstition; probably the only thing I am superstitious about! If Sachin is at the crease and I don't leave my seat he will get a 100! It worked four times in Chennai and the times I did leave he actually got out! The same superstition worked even in Dhaka when I was part of an ESPN team in 2004 and where he got his record leveling 35th ton! Here's a list of my favourite test hundreds of Sachin at Chennai; a ground where he has more 100s than any other International venue:
- 155 against Australia in 1998: This ranks among his best test innings ever. He dominated Shane Warne who was also at the peak of his powers. A match-winning hundred!
- 136 against Pakistan in 1999: A typical turning fifth day Indian wicket, a target of 271 to beat Pakistan. Sachin braved a severe back pain and almost took India past the winning post. We lost by 16 runs but none of the fans complained they had witnessed one of the best test innings in a losing cause!
- 103 (no) against England in 2008: This match was staged just after the Mumbai terror attacks and Sachin silenced a lot of critics (for the millionth time!) with a fourth innings hundred that helped India chase an improbable 387 on a turning fifth day pitch.
I've had the pleasure of interacting with Sachin on a couple of occasions and have been amazed at his simplicity.
I don't think there has been a personality (Sporting or other) whose appeal cuts across all regions of this diverse country as much as Sachin. For me this Adidas TV commercial captures the essence of all that is Sachin and his ability to bring the nation together. Will he be around in 2014 and celebrate 25 years in International cricket? Chances are....!
