50 tons and still passionate for more

To achieve a personal milestone is always a satisfying experience.

But to achieve a milestone that redefines the boundaries of human achievement is almost beyond description. With his 50th Test century, scored in South Africa on Sunday, Sachin Tendulkar established himself as one of the greatest sportspersons of all time.

The chances of this record being broken anytime soon seem unlikely. Much has already been said about his formidable talent and little or any of that is disputed.

But 50 Test centuries is not just about talent or skill, it is about grit, determination and longevity in a profession like sport where youth is usually worshipped.

It is one of those moments which transcend the nitty-gritty of the game and inspire us to move forward. For India, it is a moment of pride provided by her favourite son.

Tendulkar has declared that he is still hungry and that in itself is both rare, given his age and the fact that he has been playing cricket professionally for 21 years, and formidable, especially as far as his opponents are concerned.

There is no bowler in the world who would not want a Tendulkar scalp on his record.

But interestingly, Tendulkar’s main opponents are not rival teams or bowlers. The world of cricket admires him for the champion that he is.

The nay-sayers come from within Indian cricket’s commentators and administrators, who keep harping on the fact that India needs fresh blood.

The zest of youth can never be denied, but as the Indian Test team has demonstrated in recent times, it is experience and skill which matter the most when the chips are down.

Cricket is, most of all, a team sport and India’s fortunes in South Africa do not rest on the shoulders of one man — even if he is Sachin Tendulkar — but on the manner in which the entire squad of 11 performs.

But for now, the moment belongs to Sachin. His sights are set firmly on the 2011 World Cup, the one milestone he has not yet achieved.

The fact that he is still passionate about the game should sound fair warning to the rest of the cricketing world that Tendulkar wants a lot more.