In that are of human activity where only the fittest survive, it is rare for even the supremely gifted to escape the snares of destiny and age for an eternity as he has. As fascinating as his past and present, therefore, is the future of this man who, even as he completes the 38th year of his life today, continues to be able to make his bat do his bidding. Sachin Tendulkar. Starting at the knee of cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar as an 11-year-old, the disciple has turned guru with the world at his feet. There is nothing left to prove… and yet everything left of his illustrious career is a matter of conjecture. Indeed, there is but one question: where from here?
Should this 38-year-old choose to extend his performances on the international stage past the age of 40, it would not be an exaggeration to state that Sachin Tendulkar, his prolific self further invigorated by the rich vein of form that has throbbed through his willow in recent times, will spend his post-retirement life comforted by the confidence that some of his records — and practically every batting milestone worth the mention is already suffixed to his name — might never be broken.
To project the career of this multiple record-holder by a few more years would be to arrive at staggering figures: around 115 international centuries, a tally of 17,000 runs in Tests and 20,000 runs in ODIs, a possible triple ton in the five-day version of the game and career-closing batting average exceeding 60... even numbers that currently escape imagination. Admittedly, Donald Bradman’s career batting average of 99.94 is inarguably beyond his reach, and it is unlikely that he will eclipse Brian Lara’s record Test score of 400 not out or strike six 6s in an over in any form of the game. And to extend statistics as a tool of comparison would be to reveal that the shortlist of those averaging in excess of 60 with the willow after examination by a minimum of 20 Test matches is limited to three names: Donald Bradman (99.94), Graeme Pollock (60.97), George Headley (60.83).
However, even for a world obsessed with numbers, such fantasies cannot override the weight of fact: his credentials stand second to none. Indeed, the remaining part of the Sachin Tendulkar story is about being first among equals. And debate.
By what criteria does one judge the Greatest Of All Time? Runs? Records? Numbers? Consistency? Versatility? Grace? Temperament? Sachin Tendulkar scores on each count.
With due respect to the abilities and ambitions of his younger modern-day contemporaries — be it Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene or Kumar Sangakkara — the chasm separating him from the rest is unlikely to be bridged. Ever. So far ahead of his contemporaries has the ‘bonzer’ surged that he bears favourable comparison with the man who anointed him his successor. His career having already stretched across 22 years to The Don’s 20, not only does the Indian emerge ahead in terms of longevity, but also in depth and range: if the achievements of the Boy from Bowral were scripted only in Test cricket staged in two countries, the Boy from Bombay has earned his laurels in both the five-day and one-day arenas across the length and breadth of 10 nations.
Nonetheless, the last lap of his career might yet have the last word on this fascinating subject.
Form and fitness willing, there lies in wait for him not only the glory of a fairytale farewell, but also the everlasting title of Greatest Of All Time. Such is the slippery foothold of this pedestal that even the hint of a wrong step is susceptible to exploitation by cynics.
Ergo, as much as his today, it is his tomorrow that will decide whether, in the sweep of history, he will be regarded as the very best to have ever wielded a cricket bat.
Hereafter, Sachin Tendulkar’s only competition is with his own self.
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