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Even before he took guard at Gwalior, Sachin Tendulkar's place in the pantheon
of cricketing gods was assured. He had already amassed both the highest number
of runs and the maximum tons in Tests and one-dayers alike.
If devout worshippers had any reason to quibble, it was that there was no one
record-shattering innings - Brian Lara has the highest Test score of 400 and
Saeed Anwar and the little-known Charles Coventry shared the ODI record of 194.
Just 147 balls later, Tendulkar set the record straight in emphatic fashion. A
staggering 2,961 matches and almost 39 years after the first ODI was played -
and remember, many ODIs in the early years featured innings of 60 overs each,
which gave batsmen more scoring opportunities - the Little Legend finally
became the first cricketer to score 200 in a one-dayer, propelled by a record
25 fours in one knock.
The landmark 200 came in the final over of the innings, though Sachin crossed
the previous record of 194 in the 46th over; in the interim, several
lustily-hit fours and sixes by M S Dhoni were accompanied by groans from
millions of spectators desperate to see Sachin on strike.
The big moment, though, finally arrived, crowning what is fast turning into one
of Sachin's most productive periods with the bat. The last 12 months have seen
him score 10 international hundreds: six in Tests - including four centuries in
his last four Tests - and four in ODIs.
Three of those 4 ODI tons - Wednesday's 200, the unforgettable 175 against
Australia last November and the brilliant 163 in New Zealand last March - are
among his four highest ODI scores. Only his previous highest score of 186,
against the Kiwis, falls outside this golden patch.
Some years ago, as Sachin struggled with injury and a dip in form, some
commentators had the temerity to suggest that Ricky Ponting would eventually
overhaul his records.
Over the past 12 months, though, Sachin has once again opened up a yawning gap
between himself and all his contemporaries, and ensured that if at all any
comparisons have to be made, they should be with another Australian - Don
Bradman, who was famously reminded of himself when watching Sachin bat.
True, no one comes close to the Don's amazing average of 99.94, or his
phenomenal 29 centuries from just 52 Tests. But the fact that Sachin is
breaking records barely two months shy of his 37th birthday testifies both to
remarkable longevity and an insatiable appetite.
Indeed, there are no speed limits on Sachin Tendulkar's road to excellence.
After two decades of basking in the glory of his sporting pre-eminence on the
world stage, India is now privileged to witness the second coming of the most
complete and prolific batsman of this age. Even the back-breaking expectations
of a billion unrealistic fans, it seems, are a pittance compared to the soaring
aspirations of the man himself.
Over the last year, Sachin has taken his skills to a whole new level of
consistency. The body, close to breakdown in the mid-2000s, has been chiselled
to accessorize this new-found garb of perfection. Back in 1998, he had scored
12 international tons, 9 in ODIs and 3 in Tests. This purple patch has turned
back the clock.
In the last 12 months, he has been the only player to score six hundreds in 10
Tests, at an average of 78.3. In 20 ODIs, a format in which his records are set
in stone, he has notched up 1158 runs at 72.37, with 4 hundreds.
How about a Test triple, Sachin?
In Gwalior, Tendulkar strutted on his stage like a man possessed, ran between
the wickets like a 20-year-old and reaffirmed his relevance in modern cricket's
rapidly-changing dynamics.
When it finally came to pass, the unbeaten double ton almost seemed a scary
inevitability. There were no cramps, no nerves, just steely intent to go on
with a ruthlessly dominating display. Where have all the years gone?
Commentator Ravi Shastri repeatedly referred to him as a run machine, but
that's only a half-Sach. Tendulkar isn't a mundane machine. Instead, he scripts
his achievements with soul. This is a man for whom excellence is a habit, who
is so devoted to his craft, so enthusiastic still, that with experience he has
mastered the art of seamlessly binding talent, discipline and perspicacity, all
without compromising on style, for maximum gain in a team cause. The end result
is machine-like consistency.
Treasure this new, improved Tendulkar. He is, by far, still India's most
valuable player, and will remain so till he decides to call it quits. But
that's for later: after Gwalior, and given the form he is in, it's time to ask
what's next. Maybe a 100 international hundreds, given that 93 are already in
the bag?
* Highest run-getter in ODIs, with 17,598 runs from 442 matches. Jayasuriya
(13,428) and Ponting (12,731) follow
* Most centuries in ODIs (46), followed by Ricky Ponting (29) and Sanath
Jayasuriya (28)
* Since Feb 24, 2009 has scored 1,158 runs in 20 ODIs, with 4 tons, averaging
72.37. In the preceding 12 months, had scored 352 runs from 9 ODIs at an
average of 44
* His double century is the first in 39 years of ODIs, including
60-overs-a-side matches
* Highest scorer in Tests, with 13,447 runs from 166 matches. Next best Lara
(retired with 11,953) and Ponting (playing with 11,859)
* Most Test centuries (47), well ahead of Ponting (39) and Kallis (34) among
active players, and retd Lara and Gavaskar (34 each)
* In 2010, has already scored 477 runs averaging 95.40. Only Hashim Amla (674)
has scored more Test runs this year
* In his last 10 Tests, has scored 1,018 runs at an average of 78.3 and is the
only one with 6 tons in the last 12 months. In the previous 10 Tests, he had
647 runs and averaged just 38.08
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