World praises Sachin

vIndianz.com (25 Feb, 2010) — President of India Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the hundreds of leaders and players from all over the world paid rich tribute to Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first batsman in the history of the game to score a double hundred in One-dayer internationals.

sachin-tendulkar “Sachin Tendulkar has yet again re-written the record books of cricket, by climbing yet another Mt Everest of the game,” Pratibha Patil said in a message. She said in setting a new benchmark for the highest score by a batsman in ODIs as well as in notching up a double century, “the master batsman has set stiff targets” for future generation of cricketers to break.

Manmohan Singh termed Sachin’s feat as a “magnificent achievement” and added that Sachin has led by “example and that all Indians are proud of his achievement”. Singh wished him many more glorious years in his cricketing career.

36-year-old Tendulkar today created history by becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in ODIs with a breath-taking unbeaten 200 to steer India to a massive 401 for three against South Africa in the second cricket ODI in Gwalior.

ODIs, since its 1971 inception, was forced to wait 39 years to see a batsman score 200. The previous best mark was shared by Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) and Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar (194).

National pride: Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha Thursday congratulated Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first cricketer in one-day cricket to score a double century. MPs thumped on their desks when Speaker Meira Kumar made a reference to Sachin’s achievement soon after the house assembled at 11 a.m. “This is a unique achievement which is a matter of national pride and a source of inspiration for budding cricketers of this country,” the speaker said. “We convey our best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar for his future endeavours,” the speaker said. The house also congratulated the Indian cricket team for its “tremendous performance”.

British media hails little master

“Tendulkar underlined his sensational class with a double century in Gwalior. To have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game,” BBC Sports said. “His innings, the 46th one—day century of his career, was typified by wristy strokes, trademark boundary shots and, above all, stamina as he batted through the entire innings,” the report read.

Meanwhile, The Times tried to anticipate whether the Indian can complete a century of centuries in international cricket by the end of this year. “All kneel down and praise whatever god you fancy for the mighty Sachin Tendulkar. This could just be turning into the greatest year of his international career, more than 20 years after it began,” the report said. “Tendulkar now has 93 hundreds in international cricket — 47 in Tests and 46 in ODIs — which is 25 more than the next best man, Ricky Ponting. At the age of 36 and in such great form, he could reach 100 hundreds by the end of the year,” it added.

Sachin pavilion, road in Gwalior

A pavilion at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, where Sachin Tendulkar rewrote the history by becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in ODI, would be named after little master.

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) President Jyotiraditya Scindia has announced the decision to name a pavilion at the ground after Tendulkar, who cracked an unbeaten 200 to help India beat South Africa by 153 runs in the second ODI on Wednesday.

The Gwalior Division Cricket Association also gifted Tendulkar with a silver bat, a Rs 10 lakh cheque.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that a city road in Gwalior will be named after Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachinspeaks

“No record is unbreakable. Records are made to be broken and I would like to see an Indian breaking this record,” Tendulkar said, dedicating the knock to all his fans.

The greatest accumulator of runs in the history of cricket, Tendulkar possesses nearly all major batting record even though he insisted he never chased milestones.

“I do not play for records. I play for enjoyment and for my passion for the game. I did not start playing cricket for breaking records. It has happened over the time. But it feels great,” Tendulkar said at the post-match press conference.

Asked when he felt like getting that double hundred, he said, “After reaching 175-200, I thought about it. But it’s not that only a double hundred was there in my mind. The ball was coming nicely and I was striking the ball well.”

Tendulkar has been in brilliant form since the 2007 World Cup and the batsman attributed his success to coach Gary Kirsten.

“I have enjoyed challenges. I have enjoyed the game 2007 onwards and credit goes to Gary. He has held the team beautifully; it’s about holding the team together. Even at the practice, he has worked as hard as players and probably harder than anyone else. Things have been good,” he said.

Asked if the presence of more match-winners in the side had eased his pressure and allowed him to play freely, Tendulkar said, “Not really. I have done well in the last 20 years. It’s not that I have done well in the last one year.”

“It feels good that I lasted for 50 overs, a good test of my fitness. I’d like to bat another 50

overs at some stage and see that the fitness level doesn’t drop. I’m enjoying my cricket. I’ve always played the way I felt was the right way to play, always done what I felt was good for the team. There have been times when I’ve made some bad decisions as a batsman, but as long as in my heart I know that whatever I’m doing for the team at that moment, I’m going to go ahead with that,” said Tendulkar.

Asked about his extra-ordinary feat Tendulkar said: “I don’t know how to react to this. I was striking the ball and timing the ball well, it was coming on to the bat nicely. Yusuf (Pathan) came and changed the momentum and MS (Dhoni) really struck the ball well; it was due to their big hitting that we were able to put up such a big score. It was only when I got closer to the score that I realised that I had an opportunity and I could take the singles to give MS the strike.”

Anjali misses the excitement

Mumbai: As India stopped and watched Sachin Tendulkar create history, the first batsmen ever to score 200 runs in the history of limited-over international, his wife Anjali, kids Sarah and Arjun almost missed the performance.

Anjali was so busy preparing Sarah and Arjun for exams which began on Thursday and locked herself up with the kids, according to Times of India.

However, son Arjun and daughter Sarah, the newspaper said, couldn’t contain their excitement and stole some moments to watch daddy Sachin in action. “I couldn’t watch the entire match as I was studying for my exams. But I am very happy, very excited,” said an excited 10-year-old Arjun Tendulkar.

According to the report, a source close to the family says, “We all rejoiced when we heard the news. Even Sarah and Arjun were informed, but Anjali bhabi has instructed us not to make too much noise or disturb her at this point as the children may get distracted. Even the media was asked to go back.”

On Sachin’s knock, Anjali said later: “He somehow continues to surprise us all. Putting Arjun to sleep seemed much harder than asking Sachin to score a century.”

Carry on, Sachin

Cricket fraternity on Wednesday hailed Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first batsman in the history of One-day cricket to smash a double century, describing the feat as an incredible achievement.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar led the tribute, saying Tendulkar has established himself as the greatest batsman ever. “There is just no question about that. He is the greatest batsman the game has ever seen,” Gavaskar gushed. “See his record! Who else has got 90-plus centuries, 17000-plus runs in ODIs and 13000-plus runs in Test cricket? He is comfortably the greatest batsman ever,” said Gavaskar.

Gavaskar, meanwhile, advised Tendulkar not to stop here. “He should aim for more. Maybe a Test innings of 450 or a ODI knock of 250. And then he himself wants to win next year’s World Cup,” said the cricketer-turned-commentator.

“There is a little boy in Tendulkar who wants to keep playing. That spirit keeps him going. It’s absolutely incredible how he keeps going.

“A lot of others with his record would have had called it enough. But I guess there is no word called enough in Tendulkar’s dictionary,” said Gavaskar, whom Tendulkar often looks upto. I think he should go for the triple century in Test cricket. This is something he doesn’t have but he is very capable of. This is well within his reach and he should go for it.”

Spin legend Shane Warne, who enjoyed many a duel with Tendulkar, followed the innings and kept posting on his Twitter page, egging the Indian to achieve the milestone. “(I’m) nervous for my good friend Sachin,” Warne posted as Tendulkar approached 200. “Come on Sachin my friend get your 200. World record to please! you deserve it,” he said. Once Tendulkar reached the milestone, the former player posted “Yes, yes, yes! Well done Sachin my friend. Congrats and well done! (It’s) awesome.”

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar paid his rich tribute to Tendulkar, saying it was an incredible feat that spoke volumes of the batting master’s toughness. “It’s an amazing feat to get 200 in a day and that too off only 147 balls,” Vengsarkar said. “It shows his mental and physical toughness. He’s a player who does not throw away his wicket once he’s set. He always places a huge price on his wicket,” Vengsarkar said.

Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi also lavished praise on Tendulkar, calling him the greatest sportsman.

“Sachin – the greatest ever player ever – without any doubt,” the IPL boss wrote on his Twitter page. “I salute Sachin…world’s greatest sportsman. We can see him only rise. (He is an) inspiration to us all. He is the best,” Modi said.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara also paid his tribute. “What an innings it was! He came close to achieving it twice. I always felt that Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya are capable of doing that,” Sangakkara said.

Former Test player Bapu Nadkarni found it difficult to find words to describe the feats of Tendulkar and said, “Whatever record is seen to be impossible to achieve, he makes it possible. That’s all I can say. It seems as he’s getting older, he is becoming more and more mature. No wonder Sir Donald Bradman saw himself in the way Sachin bats,” Nadkarni said.

Role model

“For any cricketer he is the perfect role model. The great thing about him is that he has been outstanding in both Tests and ODIs. As a Pakistani player, I know how much value we have always put on his wicket,” right-handed batsman Shoaib Malik said about the batting maestro.

Former skipper and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif said the feat was no surprise to him as it was only a matter of time for Tendulkar to achieve it. “I always expected him to be the first one to score 200 in ODIs, but I was surprised that he took so long,” Latif said.

Another former Pak captain Aamir Sohail said, “The rule is simple when you give respect to the game, then only the game will give you respect.” Sohail attributed Tendulkar’s success to his humility. “I think if you ask Saeed Anwar (who jointly held the previous record for highest ODI knock), he would say he’s happy that Tendulkar broke his record,” Sohail said. “The reason for his success is that he has a great respect for the game,” Sohail reasoned.

Batting great Javed Miandad said he had always asked Pakistani cricketers to admire Tendulkar for his down to earth attitude, hard work and passion. “Records are there to be broken but it makes you happy when someone like Tendulkar does it. I think he thoroughly deserves this record and many more in days to come,” he said. “He is my favourite player. I had told that one day he would go on to break all batting records and now you see him scoring runs and runs,” Miandad said.

SA captain praises Sachin

South African skipper Jacques Kallis heaped praise on Sachin and said the way the champion batsman paced his innings it showed one need not be a slogger to do well in one-day cricket.

“He is a classic batsman. He played authentic shots and showed you do not need to slog to play well in One-dayers,” Kallis said.

Dejection written all over his face, Kallis rued his team did not play according to the plan and asked the guys to pull up their socks before the 2011 World Cup.

“It was a small field and we lost wickets in a hurry. We could not execute our plans. We need to do a lot of work ahead of the World Cup,” he added.

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