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Thread - Lesser-known facts on SRT on his birthday. Achrekar, his childhood coach, had once slapped him for skipping a warm-up game to support the senior side (Shardashram EM v Shardashram Marathi-medium) in the the Harris Shield final at the Wankhede #HappyBirthdaySachin (cont)
He is believed to have said: "You don’t have to be here to cheer for others. Play in such a way that others cheer for you." In '88, when SRT and Kambli shared that 664-run stand, Muzumdar was slated to come in next and he remained padded up for 2 days! #HappyBirthdaySachin (cont)
More on that game. Poor Sairaj Bahutule had to force his bowlers to return on the 2nd day! Each time, SRT cracked a six in that game, he is believed to have sung "Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go Go". This must have irritated the bowlers :) #HappyBirthdaySachin (cont)
What more? If I remember correctly, SRT was on 192 and Kambli on 182 at the end of Day 1. On the next day, Achrekar had asked them to decl. but the pair kept on batting! Each time the 12th man came out with a message, SRT would drive him away - as per Kambli #HappyBirthdaySachin
L Chauhan, the assistant coach, tried to convey the message but to no avail! Chauhan is believed to have reached his office at Ballard Pier and told the coach that the boys weren't ready to decl. Chauhan later said: “Sir gave them a bamboo (scolding) later.” #HappyBirthdaySachin
That sheer hunger for runs. Phew! When I get free time, I will come up with many more such stories :) #HappyBirthdaySachin
Is this cricket? No! But, if you're a hardcore SRT fan, you could be interested. SRT's 1st car was Maruti 800 - maybe red in colour. "(Back then) I think most of the guys had wanted the Maruti 800 as their 1st car" - SRT. You would still find it in his garage #HappyBirthdaySachin
SRT was a ballboy - IND-ZIM game - Wankhede - 1987 WC. He also got the chance to have a talk with SMG. "I was a ballboy in the IND-ZIM game. The officials made sure that I sat near the dressing room and, so, got to see all the seniors from very close" - SRT #HappyBirthdaySachin
Will get back later with millions and millions of lesser-known stories on the willowy wizard :) #HappyBirthdaySachin
After a short break, the caravan is set to leave its previous station :) On January 20, 1987, SRT fielded in a 40-over-a-side exhibition game for PAK v IND at the Brabourne stadium! (cont) #HappyBirthdaySachin
Marcus Couto, SRT's friend said: Some of the PAK players were going to the team hotel to rest. Imran came to Kenkre (CCI captain) and said that he was short of players and if he could get a few players to field. Two youngsters were in the vicinity – Vasania and Tendulkar.
“Sachin saw Hemant and asked in Marathi ‘Me Zaaoo Ka?’ (‘Can I go’). Before Hemant could nod his head, Sachin was already in the field as a substitute for Pakistan," Couto added. SRT fielded for approximately 25 minutes at deep midwicket #HappyBirthdaySachin
Let's take a break from SRT's childhood days as the Time Machine zooms towards the year 1991 - Eden Gardens. It was a historic moment as SA were returning to international cricket. It was also the 1st time I saw a cricket match live via TV #HappyBirthdaySachinTendulkar
And one witnessed an epic battle between the "White Lightning" and SRT. I have rarely seen a fast bowler who blended pace, graceful approach towards the crease and sheer hostility as well as Donald did in his pomp and he was up against the Master Blaster (cont)
Donald roared in from the High Court End and before Shastri saheb could understand what had happened he had edged it. Donald was too quick for him. He was also too quick for one Sanju Manju. His stumps were shattered. Boom!! And soon he was bowling to SRT (cont)
With zinc cream smeared on his face, Donald was bowling at top pace. He beat SRT's edge a few times but the man didn't flinch. He slowly weathered the storm and also cracked a pull over perhaps midwicket. Donald, eventually, got SRT (62) but by then the damage was done (cont)
The photo is very grainy but here is a rare image of the duo sharing the MoM :) More stories in a while #HappyBirthdaySachinTendulkar
In the 1990's, we witnessed colossal battles between Warne and SRT. The question arises as to when was the 1st time the pair came up against each other? The Time Machine takes a ticket to Dec 17. 1991 when Warne and SRT locked horns in a game between PM's XI and Indians (cont)
Warne had the initial upper hand :) He got one to whistle past the edge of SRT's bat with a razor sharp leggie. The 2nd ball had a bit more sidespin and beat SRT again! Unfortunately for Warne, he didn't have the better of the exchanges in the years to come #HappyBirthdaySachin
Back after lunch! When SRT played for Yorkshire in 1992, he shared a flat with his childhood friend, Kambli, in Dewsbury. Kambli, those days, was playing for Spen Victoria in the Bradford League. The duo used to eat a lot of Chinese food and pizzas #HappyBirthdaySachin
Incidentally, SRT wasn't the original choice to play for Yorkshire. However, McDermott, the initial choice, went down with a groin injury. When Yorks. tried to contact SRT, India were touring AUS and he had reportedly said he was busy (cont) #HappyBirthdaySachin
It was Gavaskar and Sir Lawerence who persuaded SRT. Eventually, on April 3, Hassell landed in India with the contract and SRT signed. In his 1st CC game for Yorkshire (2nd week of May), he crunched 86 against a Marshall-led Hampshire attack (cont)
However, SRT was disappointed that he hadn't notched up a ton. He had said to Solly Adam, his friend: "I’m very disappointed. I always like to score a century in my first match." #HappyBirthdaySachin
Kambli-SRT. Once Kambli searched every nook and cranny of the ground to ensure #RamakantAchrekar wasn't around before flying a kite. But, the coach was watching him from behind a tree. Eventually, SRT read a note which read: "Vinod-kite". And VK got a slap from the coach :)
