When Sachin Tendulkar began his cricket career, the sport was significantly different from what it is today. In 1989, Indian cricketers could fail without facing consequences, and there was no intense scrutiny of their performances. Cricket was viewed by many as merely a sport, without the passionate following it has today. However, Tendulkar first decade in cricket ushered in significant changes. As he amassed batting records, he brought together the nation of India. And he eventually became the greatest batter of his generation. Tendulkar’s success was a key factor in spurring increased interest in cricket in India.
Despite his achievements, Tendulkar faced both triumphs and setbacks in his career. Injuries were a common occurrence, and Tendulkar also bore the weight of captaincy, particularly during World Cup competitions. After exiting five World Cups without a win, Tendulkar finally achieved victory in his sixth attempt when MS Dhoni led the Indian team to a win in 2011.
During an interview for ABC Australia’s documentary ‘Bradman and Tendulkar – the untold story of two of cricket’s giants’, former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri shared his opinion that Tendulkar faced the most intense pressure from the burden of expectations placed upon him.
“Every time he went out, you know, the entire nation would sit up and watch. When is he going to get a hundred? They treated it as his failure if he didn’t. I know he might have felt very lonely at times. When you reach those heights, it can be a very lonely place to be because you are the only one there who understands what’s happening.”
Beginning his cricket career at just 16 years old, Tendulkar was quickly recognized as a “child prodigy.” He made impressive progress in his career, with his first Test century at Manchester in 1990 remaining a memorable moment. However, it wasn’t until his 1992 tour of Australia that Tendulkar’s talents and his love for cricket became apparent to all.
This is where he’s moving from Tendulkar towards Bradman : Shastri
Despite Australia’s domination over India, Tendulkar’s exceptional performance was evident as he scored twin centuries. A remarkable 148 in Sydney and a thunderous 114 at the WACA in Perth, considered the world’s bounciest field. Shastri, who played alongside Tendulkar on that tour, quickly realized that he was witnessing something truly exceptional.
“That’s when I first saw greatness from 22 yards. It is one thing getting runs and another thing watching a kid who is 18 years of age dominate an Australian attack like the way he did. You felt that this guy was in a different league now. This is where he’s moving from Tendulkar towards Bradman,” he added.
