Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is playing Test and one day cricket for the last seventeen years. Sachin picked up a heavy bat at a very tender age and played the first Test match in Pakistan some 17 years ago. When his friends and classmates were going to school he was hitting a cricket ball with a heavy bat so that the ball travelled faster and hit the rope. He shot into fame quickly and became an idol unparalleled in the history of sub-continent cricket. The sponsors and agencies laden with sacks full of money offered him bounties. He got the taste of big money when he ought to have been in school or college. Run begets run and money begets money. He is rich beyond imagination.
Sachin was operated upon for elbow injuries a few times. Seventeen years of hectic cricket schedule of Indian team was equal to 30 years of normal game of cricket. It took a heavy toll. His form fell. Sachin repeatedly failed to perform and was jeered by his home ground spectators in Bombay recently. Interestingly, craving for wealth did not cease. He signed a 4 million dollar endorsement contract last month and visited a temple in Karnataka for the last resort--divine blessings!
We urge upon the superhero of yesterday to retire gracefully before he is hooted out and make room for other aspirants.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. We will always admire and remember him as a brilliant cricketer who broke all the batting records and entertained greatly.