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f all the stars in India’s firmament, Sachin Tendulkar,
element of truth in this in Tests but certainly not in ODIs, where
who turned 35 during the DLF Indian Premier League season, match-winning innings as he might have done. There may be an
still shines the brightest. Whether one is talking about Test 30 of his 42 hundreds have been in winning causes. Vindication
cricket, or one-day internationals, his place in history has long came, gloriously, in Australia, where he scored consummate Test
been assured. He has the records, and the universal respect of centuries in Sydney and Adelaide and then played two match-
his peers, for there to be no doubt about that. turning innings that clinched the CB Series finals for India.
His unbeaten 117 in Sydney was, amazingly, his 17th hundred
Tendulkar had previously played only a few games of Twenty20 against Australia in Tests/ODIs combined.
in his life – and just one for India, in Johannesburg in 2006 – but
given his success in other formats it was hardly a surprise that His legendary status made it all the more infuriating for
he was asked to lead the Mumbai Indians. And he may have been Mumbaikars that he was forced to watch his team struggle at
itching to prove himself after India won the ICC World Twenty20 the start of the tournament from the sidelines. Their fortunes
without him. recovered as Sanath Jayasuriya found his touch with the bat,
but it may have been no coincidence that each of Tendulkar’s

One of the secrets of his success is that he has remained first three games back – against Chennai Super Kings on a
refreshingly passionate about the game for all his 20 years in much-anticipated night in Mumbai, Kolkata Knight Riders and
the professional ranks. Every match, he plays to win and to Deccan Chargers – were all won as Mumbai made a late bid for
score runs. Despite missing the first half of the tournament with the last four.
a groin strain that became the most famous injury in India, his
cricket in the IPL was no different, especially as it gave him an Tendulkar’s contribution to those matches was modest, but class
opportunity to represent Mumbai, the city where he grew up, always comes to the fore and he soon settled into the Twenty20
learned his cricket and has always had a home. His commitments groove. On May 21 at his spiritual home, the Wankhede stadium,
with India have severely restricted his opportunities to play Tendulkar made 65 in just 46 balls as Mumbai Indians embarked
state cricket for them but his record whenever he has played is on their pursuit of Kings XI Punjab’s 189 for four. That Mumbai
formidable. He acknowledges the debt he owes to the place and ended up losing by just one run was hardly Tendulkar’s fault:
wants to repay it. when he was fourth out with the score on 159, there were still 18
balls remaining, yet somehow his side contrived to be dismissed
Statistically, he is in a realm of his own. After India’s recent for 188.
home series with South Africa, he needed 172 runs to displace
Brian Lara as the greatest run-scorer in Tests and another 218 A quickfire 18 could not prevent defeat to Delhi Daredevils
to become the first ever to reach 12,000. He already holds the three nights later, although Delhi had to wait until the game’s
record by a distance for run-making in ODIs with more than penultimate ball to achieve their five-wicket win, and his elegant
16,000 to his name. His combined tally of centuries stands at 30 against Rajasthan Royals was merely the prelude for another
over 80, more than 20 clear of his nearest rival, Ricky Ponting. He last-ball defeat. So there was a degree of catharsis about the
has scored more runs at ICC World Cups than anyone. undefeated 40, including a glorious six over cover off his old
ally Anil Kumble, to help Mumbai brush aside Bangalore Royal
But his stature can be measured in ways other than mere Challengers in his side’s last group game. The near-misses made
cricketing numbers. He is rich beyond measure, and revered by you wonder what kind of progress Mumbai Indians might have
everyone within the game. He has accepted the burden of fame made if Tendulkar had played in the first half of the tournament,
with good grace and a cool head. It cannot be easy to bat with allowing him possibly to enter the latter stages in better form.
freedom knowing that so many millions hang on your every
performance. Small and beautifully balanced, Tendulkar remains the wicket

that every bowler prizes. Shane Warne rated him the best he
There have been suspicions that this pressure has made him ever bowled to and few bowlers of the past 20 years would
unduly cautious in Test cricket; that he has not played as many argue with that view. The IPL did not change that.

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