We The Sachin People

Many voices, countless recounts, endless walks down the memory lane...Sachin Tendulkar is not only a peerless cricketer, but also a human being par excellence. Savour these ‘experiences’ and discover the man anew...

Karun Chandhok, GP2 racer
Sachin is one of my sporting heroes and meeting him at the F1 pit was a real pleasure. Though it was for a very short while, I was quite surprised to see how enthusiastic and knowledgeable he was about F1. He is extremely humble and for someone of his stature to be so down to earth is unbelievable.

Narain Karthikeyan, F1, A1 GP racer
I have known Sachin since 2004. He likes motorsports and fast cars. So it was instant friendship between us. I have learnt a lot from him. The amazing thing is, even after so many years, the fire inside in him is still there. I have always taken his advice as far as a sporting career is concerned.

Amay Khurasiya, Former India cricketer
Sachin had returned to join the team in England during World Cup after his father’s death. Not being a front-line player, I was not getting to bat at the nets and he could feel my urge to get a knock before the match against Kenya. He just had a personal tragedy but still offered to bowl at me. I can never forget that gesture.

Abhinav Chaturvedi, Media personality
I met Sachin a couple of times earlier and wanted him to sign a photograph for my son. All he needed to do was oblige me with an autograph but he went out of his way to enquire about my son’s interests and whether he played cricket. Such gestures tell you a lot about the humility of the man and his kindness in general.

Geet Sethi, Billiards champion
I met him about five years ago when I was called for a chat with the Indian cricket team. We exchanged a lot of ideas and I was struck by his calmness which I think is his greatest asset. We are all humans and prone to distractions. But Sachin can blank those distractions. I think that is the secret of his longevity.

Arvind Bhat, World No.23 shuttler
I had an ankle problem and tried many physiotherapists but couldn’t find a cure. I heard he had had a similar problem and managed to speak to him on the phone. He told me to visualise the healing process, and I found it really helped. He told me he uses visualisation to cure many of his injuries.

Wasim Jaffer, Mumbai captain
It was only my second season in the Mumbai Ranji team (1997) and Sachin had come over to practice with us. He was batting and Sulakshan Kulkarni was ’keeping. Coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu was bowling. He was careful to hide the ball in his palms. Nevertheless, Sachin told Sulakshan that it’ll be an outswinger. Spot on. Before Sandhu sir bowled the next delivery, Sachin mumbled ‘inswinger’ and Sulakshan was left stunned again.

Kiran More, Former chief selector
Sachin has given us quite a few shocks with his sleepwalking. Once in Sialkot he walked on a terrace that had no boundary, creating panic. He also used to appeal in his sleep. I remember one instance when he twisted his gold-titanium bracelet out of shape in his sleep. Naturally, he had no memory of the incident in the morning. I still can not forget the formidable 148* in Australia in 1992.  Sachin is most definitely the unassailable King of the game.

Abhishek Nayar, Mumbai cricketer
Sachin has always been a positive influence on every young cricketer and it has always been an amazing experience sharing the dressing room with him. Ever since I started playing cricket, I had always dreamt of playing with him. There was a flaw in my technique and he asked me to make some changes. Since then I am batting successfully. I will remain grateful to him.

Pankaj Advani, World billiards and snooker champ
When I was a kid I got to know that the Indian team is coming to Bangalore. I rushed to the airport and asked Sachin to give me an autograph to which he immediately obliged. For me it is one my prized possessions. If there is anyone who deserves to be called a legendary sportsman it has to be only Sachin. Not many in this generation are like him. It is a reflection of his undying passion and commitment for the game and the country.

Amol Muzumdar, Friend and cricketer
We have been childhood friends and I always knew that he would make it big...Maybe not so big! There are many instances and memories involving him as you may imagine. The one I remember right now is when we won the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai in 1999-2000. Just after the match, we partied till 3am. That must be the first time that Sachin visited a discotheque.

Manoj Tiwary, Bengal cricketer
Around two years back when I was just starting my international career in Bangladesh, I had a bad injury. Paaji was to fly to Bangladesh via Kolkata. He called me up and inquired about my injury and the treatment. I told him that I was to see the physician appointed by the board. He referred me to Andrew Wallace in London. He also arranged for me to fly to London and get the treatment done. I shall forever remain grateful to him for his concern and guidance.

Deep Dasgupta, Bengal cricketer
It was in Trinidad when SS Das, Sachin and I went for a lunch-and-shopping. Sitting in the front seat of a cab, Sachin struck a conversation with the cabbie who couldn’t recognise him. He asked him whether he likes cricket and who is his favourite cricketer. The cabbie said ‘Sachin Tendulkar.’ It was really funny.

Lata Mangeshkar, Legendary singer
Sachin’s birthday coincides with my father’s death anniversary. I once met him a day before his birthday and journalists asked him what he would like to say about me. He replied ‘How can I say anything about my mother?’ Since then, he has been addressing me as mother…

Atul Kasbekar, Ace photographer
We were once shooting in Chennai and someone, probably his manager, challenged Sachin that he won’t be able to beat his score in a mobile phone game. Sachin immediately took up the challenge and even placed a bet over the phone in question. Between the takes, all the guy did was to just play the game, absolutely focused almost to the point of going berserk. Before lunch time he won the bet. There is a far deeper lesson to learn from this.

Pravin Amre, Mumbai coach
I first met Sachin when he was 12. Our sir (Ramakant Achrekar) told me that this kid will make it big. I was stunned as our sir was very miserly with compliment. He was never satisfied and always wanted us to do better. And now there was this kid who gets a compliment on Day 1!

Gaurav Gill, Rally driver
I spent a few minutes with him and I was amazed by the kind of questions he threw at me. Even the media has never asked me such questions! He wanted to know about various driving techniques like left-foot braking, car set-up, etc. It was really surprising how much he knows about motorsports.

David Johnson, Former India cricketer
I made my debut against Australia in Delhi, 1996, and that was also Sachin’s first Test as captain. He used to stand at mid-off and used to constantly tell me where to bowl just to take the pressure off me. It was a great relief and also showed how Sachin is always eager to help newcomers.

Sunil Joshi, Former India cricketer
I am lucky to have shared the dressing room with the legend for seven-eight years. Once in a camp in Chennai, Sachin told me: ‘Joey, keep improving your skill. That is what matters the most.’ I remember him telling Mohammad Kaif: ‘Kaifu, don’t run so fast. You are not here to become Carl Lewis but score runs in the middle.’

Madan Lal, Former India cricketer and coach
I remember he played a superb knock in 1989 for Mumbai against us when I was the Delhi captain. I could see that fire in his belly. The urge to go out there and prove a point. The dedication coupled with humility towards senior players struck me that time itself. It was an image that was to remain with me over the years.

Vijender Singh, Olympian boxer
My first ever knowledge of sport wasn’t boxing but cricket and only because I saw his exploits on TV. He handed me the Sahara award recently. I didn’t know who would give it away and I was awestruck to receive it from him. He congratulated me for my achievements. Can you believe it? It was just too much!

Baichung Bhutia, India football captain
We played an exhibition tennis match in Kolkata and his commitment was notable. He was committed even though it was only for fun. This proved that whatever the sport, Sachin always gives his best. When I asked him later about tennis, he said that he was a big fan of John McEnroe and that when he was a child he had imitated his hairstyle.

Mir Ranjan Negi, Former international hockey captain
Sachin’s achievement has been unbelievable. I ran into him a few times in airports and I never found him with any airs about him like other cricketers. Last year we (me, Sachin, Sourav and Prakash Padukone) were felicitated by Kolkata’s sports journalists and it was nice to share the dais with him.