Players like him come once in many generations, and his instinctive ability to grasp, adjust and deliver is what makes him such an outstanding cricketer. Cool and restrained on the field, Sachin Tendulkar combines physical and mental strength, flair and character, passion and steel.
He has already played for more than 22 years, and it would be very hard to spot any change in his attitude. He has played with the same vigour and dedication throughout, and his character is marked above all by simplicity. He has shouldered the responsibility of Indian cricket and entertained everyone for more than two decades. Yet the hunger to excel and improve has not died, and the pride he takes in representing his country was evident in the way he reacted after reaching his century of centuries. He looked up to the heavens and then pointed to the Indian crest on his helmet, a gesture that showed nothing matters more to him than the nation.
His character inspires people both on and off the field. He has been an idol for many youngsters who want to become cricketers. His teammates find a friend, guide and mentor in him, and everyone who has played with him would agree. He is a source of motivation, and his mere presence in the team is enough to lift its spirits. It is natural for people to be influenced by someone like him.
His qualities make him an inspiration for aspiring cricketers and teammates, and for a whole generation of young people as well. He is an ideal person to look up to, and his qualities are a perfect recipe for success.
What has made Sachin Tendulkar what he is today
Dedication: His dedication needs no justification. A man who has played for more than 22 years and remains as lethal as when he made his debut is awe-inspiring. He has never let his performance slip and has always put the team ahead of everything else. Many people feel that he played for records. If so, then so be it, because those records have helped India reach where it is today. Despite all he has done, Sachin was criticised because it took him a year to score his 100th hundred. He never felt the need to react and carried on with his job. Now that he has achieved almost everything, he could retire, but he wants to serve the country for as long as he is physically able. Even when the whole team chooses to skip an optional practice session, he is the one man seen practising in the nets. Such is his dedication, and everyone should salute his commitment.
Principles: He is a man of principles and sticks to them strictly. Sachin is the king of endorsements and over the years has been the face of many products and companies, but he has never endorsed any liquor or tobacco product. The reason is a promise he made to his father that he would never be part of such campaigns. A year ago he turned down a very lucrative deal because of the word he had given his father. Sachin knows how closely young people follow him, and he feels it would be wrong to draw them towards such harmful habits.
Away from controversies: Be it Tiger Woods, Wayne Rooney or John Terry, many sporting stars have been caught up in one controversy or another. Sachin has stayed away from all of that. His disciplined life has kept him free of controversy, and such is his influence that even coaches from abroad ask their players to follow his example.
Honesty: Sachin firmly believes that honesty is the best policy. If he is out and the umpire fails to notice, he simply walks. Cheating goes against his principles, and this has often prompted umpires to consult him about whether he is out when they find a decision tricky.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
