A tribute to the Master!!

It has been 20 wonderful years since our little Master had his debut on the big stage. I have been among the lucky to have a large part of these 20 years coincide with my prime years of interest in cricket. I have always admired at his cricketing skills but now I wonder how that is only a small part in his great achievements. The largest part, of course, is his motivation. What on earth possibly keeps him going till date? Let us see.

He has shattered all the possible batting records of other players, active and retired. Most centuries, Most runs in Test, Most runs in ODI and whatever you name. To but it in better perspective, statisticians and experts are coining new categories to hail him as its sole member. Like the other day I read, he became the first to score 30000 international runs. Of course, he is the leading run scorer in ODIs and Tests individually, so, isn't it a bit obvious? Come on, get innovative, how about, 'Sachin became the first player to score fifties on all Fridays in a calendar year!!'. So, thats how depleted the cricketing records are now in highlighting maestro's magics.

Maybe, these kind of stats would have driven him till he broke a few of them, but not to the point where there are no records to break. Could money have been his motivational factor? He has the most number of endorsements and I believe he has been the richest paid cricketer for many years, if not in the current one. Going by his philanthropic activities, I gather his motivation could not be earning more money. And he could have made more of it, when his teammates tried to seal the outcome of matches outside the stadiums.

Sachin was asked to open a library even before he made his Intl' debut and his coach was afraid that such events would make him feel that he has already achieved everything. (Source: An article by Harsha Bhogle posted in Cricinfo). He rocketed to such a stardom in his teens that for any others of his age would have proved too much to handle. Like money, fame can simply make you blind. But, he hasn't given in to fame, seen by his simplicity during TV interviews or post match conferences. So, fame is neither the motivation that we are looking for.

It is just his plain desire to play cricket, much like a school boy's desire to play gully cricket in the summer holidays, every single day. He enjoys playing cricket so much that the other things like his records, his endorsements, etc., fall by the wayside and don't distract him. His devotion to cricket is comparable to that of the artists who keep repeating their spellbound performances in a Broadway play. One never has to worry about work if he/she chooses a profession they love. Well, that sums up Master's dedication to cricket!!