Tendulkar first represented India back in 1989
Iconic India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has received high praise from many legends of the game after completing his 23rd year as an international cricketer.
Tendulkar made his debut at the tender age of 16 against Pakistan on November 15 1989, where he scored 15 runs before being cleaned bowled by Pakistan pace bowling legend Waqar Younis, who was also playing his first match.
Speaking exclusively to MAIL TODAY, India batting great Sunil Gavaskar said: “It’s quite amazing for somebody to be playing international cricket for so long; 23 years is unheard of. I think 15- 16 years is what some of the players in the past have done. But it just tells you the keenness he still has, and the boyish enthusiasm. And that is the reason why he is still around. I just hope that this is his best seasons ever.”
Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri also paid tribute to Tendulkar, saying: “Greatest players are judged by longevity and consistency. And 23 years define longevity more than anything else. It’s a tribute to his greatness. Longevity means you have to have all other (attributes) otherwise you can’t last. And you have to be consistent and he has done remarkably.”
Tendulkar also received high praise from Sanjay Manjrekar, who stated that it was unbelievable how the ‘Little Master’ was still going after facing some of the world’s toughest bowlers.
“What I find really amazing is that his preparation, his keenness, his application, which is in its 23rd year of international cricket, will be the same as it was 23 years back when he played his first innings in Karachi,” Manjrekar added. “That tells you about Tendulkar the batsman and why he has had that kind of success for such a long period of time.”
Tendulkar’s long time friend and team-mate Sourav Ganguly couldn’t hide his happiness and still remembers many of the memorable partnerships he shared with the ‘Little Master’.
“It’s terrific to play for so long with such consistency,” Ganguly said. “A hundred hundreds just peaks everything.”
Before Tendulkar made his debut, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan held India’s record of being the youngest player to represent the country in a Test match, at 17 years and 118 days.
“At that point in time he broke my record,” Sivaramakrishnan added. “So the moment he walked into the Test arena he broke a record and from then on there was no looking back for him.
“And for somebody like him – talent, commitment and the hard work that I have seen him put in through 23 years — would be proud of the achievements. And not too many people would achieve that. So, I’m in all appreciation for the wonderful work that he has done for Indian cricket and hope he goes on and gets a few more hundreds.”
Even England all-rounder Paul Collingwood was inspired by just how many years Tendulkar had devoted to cricket.
“Sachin is simply a legend of the game,” Collingwood said. “Playing against him was always a pleasure. We were trying to get him out as early as possible and which is very difficult. It was always a pleasure to watch him bat — the style, the grace that he has at the crease, and the way he has held himself as a professional. It’s a credit to himself, his family and everybody in India. He has been a great figurehead and a very well respected batsman.”
However, Gavaskar also attributed fitness and luck to all the success Tendulkar has had over the past 23 years.
“In anything in life, you have to have an element of luck,” Gavaskar added. “But once that comes your way, you’ve got to be able have the skill, and the temperament to be able to make the most of the luck that comes your way.
“He has had some odd injury here and there. But, generally, he has kept himself very fit and taken care of his body. That’s why he has lasted that long.”