Sachin. Born to Bat

237 Pages·2014·6.65 MB·English

by  Khalid A. H. Ansari

In memory of Field Marshal S.H.F.J. ‘Sam’ Maneckshaw Proud son of India,
gallant soldier, my President on the All India Council of Sport, respected friend,
philosopher and guide
SACHIN
BORN TO BAT
The Journey of Cricket's Ultimate Centurion
SECOND EDITION
KHALID A-H ANSARI
Edited by Clayton Murzello
INTRODUCTION BY
SACHIN TENDULKAR
JAICO PUBLISHING HOUSE
Ahmedabad Bangalore Bhopal Bhubaneswar Chennai
Delhi Hyderabad Kolkata Lucknow Mumbai
Published by Jaico Publishing House
A-2 Jash Chambers, 7-A Sir Phirozshah Mehta Road
Fort, Mumbai - 400 001
[email protected]
www.jaicobooks.com
© KHALID A-H ANSARI
All rights reserved
Also by the author:
Reliance World Cup, Champions of One-Day Cricket, Cricket at Fever Pitch
Edited by: Clayton Murzello
Cover photographs:
Front: Sachin Tendulkar portrait by Atul Kamble; kid Sachin courtesy The Making of a Cricketer by Ajit
Tendulkar.
Acknowledging the cheers from the Wankhede Stadium crowd during his final Test on November 15, 2013
by Atul Kamble
Back: Touching the Wankhede Stadium pitch in respect after his final Test on November 16, 2013 by Atul
Kamble
SACHIN: BORN TO BAT
ISBN 978-81-8495-300-8
First Jaico Impression: 2012
Second Jaico Impression (Second Revised Edition): 2014
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publishers.
Page design and layouts: Special Effects, Mumbai
All articles appearing in the Archives section of this book were published in MiD DAY
With the exception of images from Bipin Patel, Getty Images, Kamal Julka, Marcus Couto, Mark Ray
Milind Rege, Ricky Couto, Suman Chattopadhyay and The Making of a Cricketer by Ajit Tendulkar all
photographs belong to the newspaper’s archives
Contents
About the Author
Author's Acknowledgments
Editor's Acknowledgments
Prologue
Sachincredible
Introduction by Sachin Tendulkar
Perceptions
Sachin’s B.R.E.T.T. Factor
Archives
Sachin — A New Star on the Horizon
The Start of It All
Sachin Has Always Been Bold
Marvellous at Manchester
No Perth Pangs for Sachin
Madras Meal for Tendulkar
The Big, Yet Quiet Tendulkar Wedding
Sachin Sizzles, India Fizzles
Next Man In
I'm Not to Blame: Sachin
Spark to Flame
Sachin's Having a Ball
Shabash, Sachin
I Would Bowl to Sachin with a Helmet On: Lillee
A Genius Called Tendulkar
Runs and Roses from Sachin
Sachin to Meet Bradman
'This Ton's for Dad'
Sachin Quit in Disgust
Cheers to the 100-Test Man
The Best Batsman of His Era
Big Runs in Big World Cup Battle
The Woman Who Knows Sachin Best
Sach is the Art of Coping
India's Sunny Side
Look into that Mirror, Sachin
Act of Will in Sydney
The Great Adelaide Connection
Importance of Being Honest
It's Chennai Yet Again!
My 20 Greatest Moments
Hail the Master!
There Will Be No Lack of Commitment from Me: Sachin
Bat-on Baaton Mein!
Extraordinary Centurion Rules Super Sport Park
History Here!
My Most Unforgettable World Cup 2011 Moments
'I Had a Dream'
Sachin: Now, I Can Move On
Obsessed with Stats, but What a Player!
Friday the 15th: No better place to be than Wankhede
Emotional Sachin Bids Adieu
Statistics
Epilogue
About the Author
P
adma Shri Khalid A-H Ansari has a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB),
Master's degree (MA) in Political Science from Bombay University and
Master's degree (MA) in Journalism and Mass Communication from Stanford
University, USA.
Recently retired, he was chairman of Mid Day Multimedia Ltd. and Mid Day
Infomedia Ltd., which he started in 1976 which publishes Asia's leading
afternoon newspaper, MiD DAY, in two languages from Mumbai, Delhi,
Bangalore and Pune and the nationalist Inquilab, Urdu Daily.
Khalid A-H Ansari was also chairman of M. C. Media Ltd, whose activities
include FM radio broadcasting (a joint venture with BBC, London) in various
Indian cities.
His biggest contribution to Indian sports, in the opinion of many, was his
crusading magazine Sportsweek, which he started in 1968 and published until
1989, when he took up an assignment abroad.
Some highlights of his professional career:
Was member of the official Indian delegation to the United Nations General
Assembly, '89.
Started Earth Times at UN headquarters in New York and published the
Earth Summit Times, official UN newspaper for the Earth Summit, in Brazil
'94.
Was Managing Director and Executive Editor of Khaleej Times, Dubai and
editor of Asiad Chronicle, official publication of the New Delhi Asian
Games '82.
Is author of 'Reliance World Cup', 'Champions of One-Day Cricket' and
'Cricket at Fever Pitch'.
Was a member of All India Council of Sports under Gen. K.
Kumaramangalam and Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw.
Covered the Kargil war in 1999, the Fiji coup in 2000, the NAM conference
in Harare and CHOGM summit in the Bahamas.
Covered foreign visits of Presidents A.P.J. Kalam, Zail Singh and
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, and Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Behari
Vajpayee.
Is Chairman Emeritus of the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra.
Resigned as member of the Organising Committee of the New Delhi
Commonwealth Games, '10.
Was president, Bombay Gymkhana and Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-
Town, member of various government advisory committees and is
associated with numerous charitable, social, cultural and sports
organisations.
The Abdul Hamid Ansari Charitable Trust, started by him in memory of his
father, arranges free study classes, eye camps, computer classes, and
sponsors vocational education for up to 500 girls every year from
underprivileged sections of Mumbai.
He is also trustee of the CHAMPS Foundation, started by Sunil Gavaskar,
which provides financial assistance to retired international (Indian)
sportspersons in need.
Son of renowned freedom fighter Abdul Hamid Ansari, he was voted
Gentleman of the Year by Gentleman magazine in 1988, given the Alumnus
Achiever's award by Mumbai's Government Law College and St. Xavier's
College and granted honorary life membership of the Cricket Club of India
(CCI) in 2004.