Why Do People Love Sachin Tendulkar?
Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He has a dedicated fan following across India and globally due to his incredible cricketing achievements, his remarkable consistency over 24 years at the top level, and his humble personality off the field.
An Unparalleled Career
Over his illustrious career spanning 24 years, Sachin Tendulkar has achieved feats in cricket that are unparalleled. Some key highlights include:
- Most runs in Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426). The first player to cross 10,000 runs in ODIs.
- Most hundreds in international cricket – 100 hundreds including 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs – unmatched by any player.
- First player to score a double century in ODI cricket (200* against South Africa).
- Most number of half-centuries (96 in ODIs and 67 Test half-centuries) and centuries across formats.
- Most matches played by any player (664 international matches).
His sheer dominance with the bat for over two decades in all formats and against all opposition makes him stand above any other cricketer. His consistency and record-breaking ability mean cricket fans around the world saw history being made every time Sachin batted. For most cricket fans, Sachin was Indian cricket for a long time – so synonymous was his batting prowess with the success of the Indian team.
| Years Active | Matches Played | Most Runs For India |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 – 2013 | 664 international matches | 34,357 runs across Tests and ODIs |
What records make Sachin Tendulkar a standout cricketer?
The most significant records that make Sachin Tendulkar peerless in the cricketing world are:
- Most runs in Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426). He was the first to get to 10,000 runs in ODIs.
- Most hundreds across formats (100 international centuries including 51 Test and 49 ODI centuries).
- Most half-centuries across formats (163). His consistency is remarkable.
- First double century in the 50 over format (unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010).
- Most Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards in international cricket.
- Most matches played by any player (664). His longevity at the top level for 24 years is unprecedented.
His mountain of runs, hundreds across formats, consistency, and longevity set him apart from any player past or present. His records show that Sachin was able to sustain his supreme batting form from his teenage debut years well into his late thirties across all conditions and opposition. This unrelenting dominance for over two decades puts him in the top league of sporting excellence globally, let alone in cricket.
A Symbol of New Dynamic India
For the cricket loving public in India, Sachin Tendulkar’s arrival on the international stage in 1989 as a prodigiously talented 16 year old symbolized the rise of a new generation that was shaking India out of its socialist era slumber into a more dynamic nation.
India winning the 1983 world cup had been a high point. But as the country embraced open markets and the economy opened up, the next generation of Indians represented by Sachin had a brash confidence to take on the world without feeling inferior.
Sachin’s scintillating stroke play, supreme confidence against the top teams and his consistency against fearsome fast bowlers symbolized the aspirational new India. For cricket fans, watching Sachin dominate imposing international attacks was like the country itself making its presence felt strongly on the world stage.
A pure batsman with a conventional technique, Sachin was also an incredibly smart student of the game – his mental toughness, discipline and ability to adapt his game to different situations and formats made him the consummate modern cricketer for India.
He carried the batting hopes of an entire nation in those early years almost single handedly, before others like Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag rose up as world class batsmen alongside him and the Indian team became world beaters particularly at home.
How did Sachin Tendulkar inspire India on the cricket field?
As a cricketing prodigy who played pivotal innings from his teenage debut years into his late thirties for India, Sachin Tendulkar was an inspiration to the Indian team and the nation in many ways:
- As a young batting sensation, his confidence and strokeplay against the top teams gave India the belief to stand up against strong opposition after years of poor performances abroad.
- His sheer weight of extraordinary performances – 100 international hundreds, most runs and most match winning innings – made him India’s batting mainstay for years. This allowed the team to build up and emerge as a world force.
- As senior statesman later in his career, his experience and expertise as the world’s leading batsman allowed younger players to develop under his guidance. His personal work ethic and discipline were exemplary.
- Over 24 glittering years, Sachin was synonymous with Indian cricket – he was the face of the sport. His personal conduct under tremendous fame and public pressure was widely admired, inspiring youngsters.
In many famous victory scenes in those 24 years, Sachin’s towering presence lifts the Indian team – visuals etched in public memory highlighting why people saw him as an inspiration alongside being a sporting giant.
A Humble National Hero
Despite his unparalleled fame and following Sachin Tendulkar has been highly admired for his personal humility and unwavering commitment to cricket.
Some insights into his humble personality that make him so widely loved:
- Extremely grounded personality despite God-like fame since his early teens
- Dignified speech and conduct. Never lost poise despite extreme scrutiny
- Committed to cricket with monk-like focus for 24 years while silencing critics
- Devoted to his family. Adored his father and pays tribute to him often
- Loyal to friends he grew up with and old coaches who guided him
- Respect and graciousness towards fellow cricketers including juniors in the team
Little wonder then that his farewell speech after his celebrated final Test match left millions in tears, highlighting why fans revere him both as a genius cricketer as well as respect him for the exemplary human being he has been despite decades in the spotlight.
Many observers have noted that not once has Sachin Tendulkar allowed his phenomenal success and fame to get to his head. He wears his greatness lightly, always put team first rather than personal milestones.
His humility, as much his extraordinary batting feats on field, make him a national hero to his cricket mad homeland.
What qualities make Sachin Tendulkar a humble hero ?
Despite unmatched popularity that could easily have led to a celebrity-like lifestyle, the qualities and values that make Sachin Tendulkar a humble national hero both on and off the field are:
- Gentle demeanor: Soft spoken, thoughtful speech. Nervous laughter still visible after years of scrutiny.
- Grace towards competitors: Respectful towards opponents, juniors and fellow players from his debut years. Appreciates bowlers for their skill.
- Devoted family man: Adores his father and family. Protective about family life balance even at height of cricketing commitments.
- Lifelong student: Eager learner from coaches early in his life. Noted for cricket IQ and adapting game. Remains humble listener.
- Patriot: Passion to contribute through cricket visible in his game. Jumping in joy for team symbolizes that spirit. Victory dedicated to countrymen.
- Simple pleasures: Loves India food, music, festival celebrations with friends away from limelight. Fame has not changed those roots.
United Adoration Spanning Generations
Few public figures anywhere have managed to inspire affection and loyalty across age groups like Sachin has done in India – his appeal spans multiple generations.
From 5 year old kids taught the game by fathers and grandparents who grew up on tales of the child prodigy’s batting exploits in the late 1980s to middle aged professionals, homemakers and grandparents – Sachin evokes admiration across the age spectrum.
Why do both young and older fans love Sachin Tendulkar?
Sachin Tendulkar appeals to cricket lovers across ages due to a combination of factors:
- Inspiring Excellence: His sustained excellence over 24 years is unseen in any sport. Inspires younger fans to excel.
- Nostalgia for Older Fans: Fans who saw him debut as a youngster in late 80s are middle aged now and feel nostalgic attachment.
- National Pride: United India in the 1990s rallying around his batting heroics when country had few global sporting icons.
- Role Model: Humble conduct after so many years of fame. Devoted to family. Adored by kids wanting to be like him.
- Living Legend: With retirement in 2013, his career completed a full arc that few could imagine seeing again. Goosebumps even now!
Very few national figures anywhere capture the public imagination for a full 25 years like Sachin managed to do with his cricketing genius, personal conduct inspiring affection across generations cementing his tag as the true ‘God of Cricket’ in India.
United in Prayer – Sachin at the Crease!
At its peak fervour, Sachin Tendulkar opening the batting for India would have the country virtually coming to a standstill. Streets and shops would get deserted, offices would have screens brought in for staff to see the master at work.
And then would begin epic moments of collective joy, anxiety, fear and ecstatic release watching Sachin build an innings against the top teams. Commentators speak of ‘a hush descending down around the stadium’ as Tendulkar walks out to bat or builds up the suspense before unleashing signature strokeplay.
Matches in India would have rampant crowd trouble when he got dismissed cheaply. At Eden Gardens, the legendary cricketing venue in Kolkata, riots broke out when he was adjudged incorrectly by an umpire.
For India, Sachin batting was not entertainment but an emotional, even spiritual experience uniting fans across regions, languages, gender, age groups and socio-economic strata! United in hope and prayer that their beloved genius will deliver once more against an opponent that seemed invincible earlier.
| Stadium | Peak Crowd Reaction to Sachin’s Dismissal |
|---|---|
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Full blown stadium riots |
| Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Pinned drop silence followed by mass walkout |
| Chepauk Stadium, Chennai | Dejected crowd, many break into tears |
Why does Sachin Tendulkar evoke such intense emotions in Indian fans?
Sachin Tendulkar makes watching cricket a highly intense shared emotional experience for Indian fans due to these aspects:
- Child Prodigy to Legend: Fans saw full 25 year arc of Sachin’s career from boy wonder to retirement. Rare in any sport.
- Carried Nation’s Hopes: Sachin sole batting beacon in a fragile team for years. Fan hopes pinned on him delivering.
- Batting Maestro: Watching Sachin bat resembled performance art, electric skill blended with textbook technique.
- Epic Centuries: His historic match winning tons spanning 24 years against top teams created shared national memory and lore that fans recount.
- Unites the Nation: Fans across regions, languages, age groups united in supporting Sachin assault opposition attacks.
Little wonder fans saw Sachin as a unifying god-like figure bringing the nation together when he was at the crease weaving his magic!
Conclusion
Sachin Tendulkar’s extraordinary cricketing achievements delivered over a 24 year career make him worthy of being called the greatest batsman of all time statistically.
However, what makes him such an adored national, even cultural icon in India, goes beyond just cricket statistics. His story arc has run parallel to India’s own trajectory since economic liberalization in the 1990s.
As a young 16 year old, Sachin symbolized the bold new India taking on the world. For decades, his heroics on the cricket defined Indian hopes. In victory or defeat, his personal conduct inspired admiration.
Even after retirement in 2013 with his records cemented in cricket’s Hall of Fame, Sachin Tendulkar continues to be India’s unifying god-like cultural icon bringing the nation together in nostalgia and admiration.
His sheer sustained excellence has never been seen in any sport over 24 glittering years. Combined with humility and conduct that kept him firmly grounded despite God-like fame since teens – Sachin Tendulkar’s extraordinary career and persona make him a figure unmatched in sporting history.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sachin Tendulkar make his international debut?
Sachin Tendulkar made his international debut in November 1989 as a 16 year old prodigy against Pakistan. His talent was evident from his very first Test series against fearsome quick bowling attacks where he displayed incredible skill at a young age to be counted among the world’s best instantly.
How many matches has Sachin Tendulkar played for India?
Sachin Tendulkar has played a record 664 international matches for India over 24 years till his retirement in 2013 including the highest number of Test matches (200) and One Day Internationals (463). His extraordinary longevity at the top level remains unmatched in cricket’s history.
What makes Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman of all time?
While many experts cite Don Bradman’s near perfect Test batting average of 99.94, Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as the greatest modern day batsman due to his combined incredible achievements in both Test cricket and One Day Internationals for over 24 years. His 51 Test hundreds and 49 ODI hundreds along with most international runs make him peerless.
How did the nation react when Sachin Tendulkar retired?
Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement in 2013 was mourned across India. Fans shed tears and tributes poured in from royalty, business leaders, politicians and celebrities showing how he had become a unifying national icon after nearly 25 years of astonishing cricket. His farewell speech was heard by millions in pin-drop silence highlighting his stature.
Why do Sachin Tendulkar fans call him the ‘God of Cricket’?
Fans adore Sachin Tendulkar both for his batting genius that unleashed breathtaking stroke play combined with his personal humility and values. His devout focus on mastering his craft and unwavering service towards Indian cricket make fans revere him both as an unmatched batting wizard and a role model. He united the entire nation for decades when at the crease making him worthy of the name ‘God of Cricket’ in India.
