bees saal baad

Apparently there was this piece written by Harsha Bhogle, a greenhorn then, talking about one Sachin Tendulkar, very well a greenhorn then. This appeared in Sportsworld, a magazine that I used to consider a poor man's Sportstar (of course not literally). Whenever I couldn't lay my hands on a Sportstar, I would grudgingly settle for a Sportsworld. But that tale is for another day.

In this article, written in his trademark simple yet weighty style, Harsha Bhogle delineates the early story of a man, whose principles we would cynically dismiss as those belonging to Aesop's Fables. In italics are a few select Bhogle's words followed by a reflection of the current situation. What can one not do armed with an arrogant hindsight?

And for all the publicity he has received, Sachin Tendulkar is really still a kid... And is very shy. Opening out only after you have coaxed him for some time.

Oh! really?

His record is awesome. He has scored far more runs than all of us scored looking dreamily out of the window in a boring Social Studies class when we were his age.

:) :)

Quite often, he is playing all day; important because it has helped him build the stamina to play long innings. "I don't get tired," he says, referring to them. "If you practise every day, you get used to it."

Madras'99 ........... Bristol'99

Wasn't he thrilled at being invited to the Ranji nets? "Definitely. After playing there I got a lot of confidence."

thrilled?! invited?! Ranji nets?! (with all respect to the Ranji Trophy)

The question that arises then, given all the publicity is: Just how good is Sachin Tendulkar?

For an honest reflection ask Henry Olonga, Shoaib Akhtar, or better, Shane Warne.

Luckily for Sachin, there is a calming influence over him, just so he doesn't get carried away by this acclaim.

There are a few things in life utterly immune.

Achrekar, in fact, is quite upset about the publicity Sachin is getting. "People don't realise that he is just 15. They keep calling him for some felicitation or the other. The other day he was asked to inaugurate a children's library. This is ridiculous. These things are bound to go to his head. He will start thinking he has achieved everything. I hope all this stops so he can concentrate and work hard."

Promise kept, chinta karu naka, Achrekar Sir!

In how many cities would a 15-year-old be presented a Gunn and Moore by the Indian captain?

GM signage be damned, after him, in fact, it has become an honor for a batsman to share the letters M.R.F on their English willows with him. Brian Lara and Steve Waugh would concur.

This is really just the beginning and I will be watching this little star with avid interest for the next three years. He is in the right company. And the right environment. The next few years will show whether he has it in him the mental toughness to overcome the over-exposure. If it does not go to his head, surely there is a great future beckoning.

No comments.

and the best for the last.

Isn't there a lot of pressure on him now? Everyone assumes he will get a big score? "Only in the beginning. Till I get set. Once I get set, I don't think of anything."

ha ha ha, little did one expect Harsha Bhogle to be some soothsayer from another world we didn't know of, prophesying something which has only changed recently, a little bit.