A Billion Dreams

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was not only an extraordianary player, but an era defining player. Often referred to as the God of cricket, Master Blaster, Little Master and many more names, he also holds the Bharat Ratna title. So many records, so many memories. I remember faking a stomach ache or a headache to miss school and watch him play in an important match. I remember turning off the TV in frustration after his dismissal. I remember dancing all over my house after he scored a century. I remember myself trying to imitate his batting posture. I remember crying after he retired. I remember having stopped watching cricket after he retired. 

“When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest  bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to  race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France,  Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team,  Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam. When Tendulkar embarked on a  glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name  unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown  kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR  was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to “open” the  Nehruvian economy. It seems while Time was having his toll on every  individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands  frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had  legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never  will. “- Time Magazine

I wish a very happy birthday to a God I worshipped with devotion.