Hail the Hero

20 years ago to this day a shy and quiet boy took the cricketing world by storm, not because of the innings he played but because people all around were amazed at the calmness the kid showed in handling so much attention. His polite demeanour and humble nature immidiately made him one of the most likeable characters ever to grace the game.

From that day on, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has not only been one of the most revered but also the most analyzed cricketer in the history of the game. Always under the keen eye of the camera the way he has conducted himself on and off the field is an example that kids in today's world need to learn and abide by. As Harsha Bhogle testifies, he has a work ethic that would put the younger aspiring sportsmen to shame. He has played one brilliant inning after another and never ceases to amaze those watching him.

He holds almost every record in modern day cricket but the only accolade missing from his kitty is a World Cup. The next year and a half is the most critical phase for Indian cricket and Sachin still leads the pack and would be hoping to help conquer the final frontier. Every era produces great cricketers who are compared with each other based on style, technique and run scoring ability. But Sachin has been the only man who has been a constant in these comparisons. From Border to Grenidge to Crowe to Waugh to Yuvraj, 100s have taken the field but one man still stands tall over them all.

Through all this attention by the media, by his peers and millions of adoring fans, the man to this day remains as humble as when he started. His passion for the game has only grown each day and so has the man. Let us take this opportunity to hail the gentle giant and hope he gives us many more memories to cherish through the rest of our lives. Hail the man, hail the hero, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.