The Hindu : Sport : Special day for the maestro

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

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Special day for the maestro

Sports Reporter

New Delhi: After a special day that will be etched in the memories of everyone who saw it, Sachin Tendulkar who made his 35th Test hundred to cross Sunil Gavaskar's record, said it was "very satisfying" and that the moment was one of very few where he had "become emotional."

"First hundred and this hundred are different," he told newsmen when asked to compare the two. "Both are special — the first was to save a match which we did, and the first one is always memorable. This was emotional more than anything else."

Emotional

Asked if he had visualised the moment before and if it felt exactly the same, the thirty-two-year old said, "One visualises before every Test match to get a 100. Similarly I did that last night as part of my pre-match preparation." He looked to the heavens after reaching the milestone. "That was for my father. I got emotional because I miss him. The first person to see my bat was him."

Tendulkar had battled a tennis-elbow, which threatened to interrupt his glittering career and the 35th was cathartic. "For four months, it was very difficult for me. That (surgery) was the last option. Mentally it was very tough and there were times when I felt frustrated and impatient. But my family and well-wishers helped. It was not a singular effort."

The moment came amidst a little drama: the umpires offered light and Dilhara Fernando ran up and held on to the ball. Was he tense? "The umpires wanted to know if we wanted to continue batting, and I think it's obvious we did since I was in rhythm. When Dilhara Fernando didn't deliver I smiled at him."

Timely advice

The advice he received from coach Greg Chappell and wife Anjali helped. "Greg asked me not to think about the number 35. Coincidentally the same advice was also given to me by my wife." He thanked his parents, uncle and aunt who brought him up for four years, brother, coach Ramakant Achrekar, wife and children. His message to Gavaskar was marked by the humility that has come to characterise the man. "Heroes will always be heroes. Mr. Gavaskar was my hero, and he will always be my hero. Message to him is thanks for all the support he has given me. He himself has set such a benchmark that only a disciplined lifestyle can help cross it."

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