I had never heard of a Sachin Tendulkar. So such praise from someone like Gavaskar had naturally stunned me. By the end of the year we were shooting a film overlook for sports.
I was interviewing Vengsarkar and Sachin was practicing in the nets with the Bombay team. Vengsarkar took me over and introduced me to this 15-year-old who by that time had not only played Ranji for Bombay but had also scored his first century against Gujarat.
I clearly remember the interaction. It was his first video interview. I wouldn't say he was naive, but rather innocent and soft spoken. Though a little shy in front of the camera, the boy was very confident without being a show-off.
We talked about his heroes - Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards. When I asked him why they were his heroes, he said because that they play their natural game. Now, Gavaskar was very defensive while Richards was a very attacking player.
If you look at Sachin's batting it is a combination of both. The other thing he spoke about was facing fast bowling. He said he liked it as the ball came on the 'batt' not bat. The one word to describe him was charming.
I remember Vengsarkar telling me that this boy will soon play for India. He also mentioned that Sachin hit the ball too hard outside the off stump and he will be caught mostly on the off-side. Check his record and you will find what said Vengsarkar was right.
We were in the middle of the Hindu Gymkhana and the Islam Gymkhana and there was a match going. At the end of the match I saw his cricket kit was lying, so I asked him to pick it up and walk towards Marine Drive and he just said okay. The confidence with which he did it most actors would take three or four takes for that. The next couple of times we met, we discussed the interview. He clearly remembered it.
One poignant memory about Sachin was in 2005, at his restaurant in Bombay. His partner Sanjay Narang was a student of Woodstock School, Mussoorie where I too had studied. The cricket coach for Woodstock for 33 years was Brij Lal, who had coached Sanjay too. So, when Brij came to see me, Sanjay very sweetly arranged an evening with Sachin.
Brij being the typical small town cricketing hero from Allahabad couldn't contain his enthusiasm. Here is this man from Allahabad telling Sachin Tendulkar," Woh jo tum World Cup me out ho gaye na 2003 mein Glen McGrath ki bowling par tumhe aisa shot nahi maarna chaiye tha."
So here was Brij Lal coaching Tendulkar in his own restaurant. Sachin just smiled and nodded did not say anything.
I guess the only difference today is that he speaks a little more than he used to then. The style of speech has not changed at all in the last 25 years.
He has gotten more confident and speaks much more in front of the camera, and seems to enjoy it. Through all these years of good and bad spells, it's amazing how he comes out a winner and a better human being who is grounded yet touching the skies. I just hope he gets the opportunity to finish his innings with a win.
(Tom Alter spoke with Maria Bilkis)
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