The wait is not yet over. Sachin Tendulkar, a man who has excelled in all formats of the game, is struggling to get his 100th hundred. The last time he hit a ton was against South Africa in India's victorious World Cup Campaign. Some say he is selfish and plays only for personal milestones and others won't hear a word against him. Over the years, players like Dravid, Laxman have performed consistently but have always been overshadowed by the “TENDULKAR” phenomenon. Is this man greater than cricket itself? Is the media hype about his 100th ton getting him down. Here's what a few youngsters in the city have to say...
Cricket -whenever this sport comes to our minds, the only name that pops out in most of our minds is Sachin. He is adored by most of the people in our country. Yes, there is a lot of media hype about Sachin and the reason is his passion for the sport. Apart from playing for his personal achievements, he has always kept the team spirit alive. When it comes to giving credit to players like Dravid and Laxman for their consistent performances, compared to Sachin they have been given less credit through the media.
JIGNASHA BHATT, III year, MOP Vaishnav Colllege for Women
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Is Sachin selfish? No he's not. He is probably the most selfless cricketer. He does not play for personal milestones in fact he has always put the team first. Its not that players like Dravid and Laxman are not getting credited for their effort, they are. It's just that, there are times, where they get over-shadowed by Sachin. One really can't blame anyone for this.
AKASH MUNDRA, pursuing commerce
When Sachin Tendulkar is at the crease, a match is a visual delight. Does this cricketing god plays for records? The answer is a definite no. It is not possible to get up on the morning of a match and say, “All right I am going to score a century today”. It just happens. So why is he so nervous as he closes in on a century? The reasons are his fans and the media. There is so much being said about the 100th ton. Most people seem to have forgotten that he is also a human being. If one expects rich dividends every time Sachin takes guard, he is sure to feel the pressure. The case is different with Dravid and Laxman. Both have a habit out of performing during crunch situations. So they have been taken for granted. Sachin has been around for 22 years. He is bound to break records and set new ones. His performances are more popular due to the hype leading up to it and the expectation from the people. A great man once said-Happiness = Reality – Expectation. Leave the man alone. He will get there soon.
ABHINAV PRASHANT, III Year , SRM University
With 33,000 runs under his belt , Sachin Tendulkar hardly has any milestone which he has not achieved. So it is pointless to say that he plays for personal records now and not for team. There has been obvious media hype about his 100th hundred, which has overshadowed the consistent performance of players like Dravid and laxman in the current series. Dravid has been one of most consistent player in world cricket and if he had played for some other country he would have definitely got equal status as Sachin now.
VINEETH SAMDARIA, II Year , Loyola College
If one says Sachin plays for milestones, there is no bigger insult to a man who has probably achieved more than any other cricketer. Personal glories don't drive people to strive hard and perform relentlessly for over two decades; dedication and commitment are their adrenaline. Yet comparisons to Sachin's popularity, no matter how futile they seem, are inevitable. Contemporaries like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, players whose contributions to the success and development of Indian cricket are second to none, are not unsung either. Their achievements are also applauded by fans and connoisseurs alike. But our affinity to Sachin lies in our fondness towards a boy, whom we've seen whack the greatest of bowlers all around the park for years, whom we've seen grow from a frail but unafraid kid to a 38-year old genius who still manages to enchant us all when he wields his willow. The name Tendulkar is no bigger than a Dravid, Laxman or a Ganguly. But you can't help feel all your desires fulfilled when he looks up to the heavens each time and raises his bat to us all!
ARSH SHAH , pursuing CA
