Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sachin Tendulkar's Proudest Moment,

Sachin Tendulkar said 2011 World Cup triumph was the proudest moment of his life as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to capture the "ultimate" prize. "I couldn't have asked for more," said Tendulkar".

"Winning the World Cup is the ultimate thing. It is the proudest moment of my life. It shows it is never too late.
I thank my teammates who were fabulous. I could not really hold back my tears. These are happy tears so I don't mind crying."

Virat Kohli said the victory was a fitting tribute to Tendulkar. "This goes out to all the people of India. Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him."

Gautam Gambhir, who played a key role with the bat in making 97 off 122 balls, said the win was a gift to his great teammate Sachin Tendulkar from the entire squad. "All credit for this win should go to Tendulkar. We were all playing for him, this trophy is for him."

Little Tendulkar, on his part, thanked each of his team-mates and the support staff including polar explorer Mike Horn. I would like to thank the support staff especially Mike Horn who joined us at the start of the tournament and was there for our last couple of games" He worked on the mental side and has helped us deal with the expectations and pressure.

The team stuck together in the rough phases and proved people wrong who doubted our ability. Self-belief has been always there but in the last two years, we have been very consistent.

"It's been great honour to be part of this team. Thanks to (coach) Gary (Kirsten) and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning expert)."

Misc.

Tendulkar’s Dream
Young Sachin had aspired of being a fast bowler. It was this dream that made him undertake trials at Chennai based MRF pace academy, but his small stature proved to be a major hindrance to his aspiring career. ( THANK GOD !!! else the WORLD would have been deprived of such a genius batsman. )

First step towards cricket
Tendulkar’s sensational journey to cricket stardom sparked of when his brother Ajit made him meet Mr. R. Achrekar ( Cricket Coach ). Sachin failed to perform in the first go which made him very nervous but his brother’s persuasion led Mr. Achrekar give him another chance.

Turning point in his career
It was his change of school to Shardashram Vidya Mandir in Dadar – close to Shivaji Park on his coach’s advice which marked a turn around in Sachin’s career. He says,” I use to bat in four nets at one strech. Whenever, I use to get tired, Achrekar use to keep a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and say, “Anyone who gets him out will take this coin. If no-one gets him, Sachin takes it.” Tendulkar till date contributes this technique in being instrumental for enhancing his concentration. He still treasures the 13 coins earned by him during the practice sessions.

Naughty Duo
Sachin and his best pal Vinod Kambli hold the World Record of 664 runs stand for Shardashram School in inter-school tournament in 1988. Tendulkar candidly admits that the total would have never assumed mammoth proportion had he and Kambli not ignored the man waving from the boundary with the coach’s message to declare.

Tendulkar’s Idol
Tendulkar’s idol is the American Tennis superstar-John McEnore. During his young age, he argued and fought for McEnore with his colony friends who supported Swedish Bjorn Borg. Sachin sported a head-band, sweat-band and a tennis racquet showing his staunch loyalty towards his idol.

Family Quirks
Sachin’s wife Anjali tends to become nervous while he bats whereas his brother has become so superstitious that he allows the family members to only watch the match recording.

His reactions to his dismissals
On pre-mature and early exits, Sachin likes to take out his anger somewhere. He prefers to be left alone, till he cools down.

God’s Importance in his life
Tendulkar is a God fearing person, a staunch devotee of Sai Baba, Ganpathi and frequently visits temples during night when it’s calm and quiet. He visualizes God in his parents. Religion to him is what his parents have inculcated in him, his upbringing and his way of life. Sachin strongly believes in the concept of re-birth, existence of Hell and Heaven. He loves celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home with his family and believes that it firms his ties with his loved ones.

Greatest Hits..By Sachin

Ton-by-ton guide to Sachin Tendulkar’s feat in surpassing Sir Don Bradman’s 29 Test centuries.Â
1990Â At the age of 17, Tendulkar reaches three figures for the first time in a Test as he makes 119 not out against England at Old Trafford. The innings includes 17 fours but the match is drawn.
1992Â

Tendulkar shows the Australian fans what he is capable of by batting almost five hours for an unbeaten 148 in the third Test at Sydney, but once again the game is drawn.Â

The following match in Perth sees him make 114 off 161 balls, with 16 fours, but India are beaten by 300 runs.Â

Tendulkar is a class apart as he makes 111 out of an Indian first innings total of 227 against South Africa in Johannesburg and at 19 years and 217 days becomes the youngest player to reach 1,000 Test runs.Â

1993Â
England are on the receiving end as Tendulkar scores his first century on home soil, hitting a six and 24 fours in his 165 as India win by an innings and 22 runs in Madras.Â

Next up are Sri Lanka and Tendulkar’s second innings 104 not out helps India to a 235-run victory in Colombo.Â

1994Â

Tendulkar returns home to face Sri Lanka again and it is a similar story as he collects 22 boundaries in a first innings score of 142 at Lucknow as India triumph by an innings and 119 runs.

The year comes to an end with a home series against West Indies and Tendulkar defies Courtney Walsh and co for almost seven hours to make 179 in Nagpur. The game ends in a draw.Â

1996Â

Tendulkar is in brilliant form on his second tour to England, marking the start of a three-match series with 122 at Edgbaston, but he is unable to prevent the home side from winning by eight wickets.Â

The third match at Nottingham sees Tendulkar score 177, including 26 fours, and he shares a stand of 255 with Sourav Ganguly. The match, however, ends in a draw.Â

1997Â

India are beaten 2-0 in South Africa at the start of the year, but Tendulkar marks the second Test in Cape Town with a score of 169, which features 26 boundaries.Â

Tendulkar makes Sri Lanka suffer again by making 143 in an Indian total of 537 for eight declared in Colombo, but the game is drawn.Â

The second Test follows a similar pattern with Tendulkar this time batting for six and a half hours to reach 139.Â

There is no let-up for the Sri Lankans as they travel to India only to suffer another Tendulkar onslaught – 148 including three sixes and 20 fours in Bombay, but they escape with a draw.Â

1998Â
Australia visit India in early 1998 and Tendulkar greets Mark Taylor’s men by hitting fours sixes and 14 fours in his 155 not out at Madras as India win by 179 runs.Â

He does even better in the third Test at Bangalore with an innings of 177, but Australia prevent a clean sweep with an eight wicket win.Â

Tendulkar makes his first Test hundred against New Zealand, but his 113 cannot save India from a four-wicket defeat.Â

Arch-rivals Pakistan visit India and Tendulkar helps himself to 136 in Madras, only for India to lose an exciting match by 12 runs.Â

1999Â

Once again Tendulkar feasts on Sri Lanka’s bowling, making 124 not out in the drawn Test in Colombo.

India return home to play New Zealand and Tendulkar scores 126 not out in the drawn Test at Chandigarh.Â

A landmark innings in the third Test sees Tendulkar make 217, his first Test double century, in a 344-ball innings which includes 29 boundaries.Â

India are outplayed in Australia at the end of the year, but Tendulkar shows his class by scoring 116 in the second Test at Melbourne. The home side win the game, however, by 180 runs.Â

2000Â

Tendulkar plays the supporting role to Rahul Dravid with 122 as India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Delhi. Dravid scores 200 not out.Â

It is Tendulkar’s turn to double up in Nagpur as his 201 not out off 281 balls leads India to 609 for six declared, but the match is drawn.Â

2001Â
India complete a magnificent 2-1 triumph over Australia by winning the final Test by two wickets in Madras, with Tendulkar contributing 126 in India’s first innings.Â

Partnered by protege Virender Sehwag, Tendulkar hammers 155 off 184 balls against South Africa in Bloemfontein, but the home side win by nine wickets.Â

England try to keep Tendulkar in check, but it does not work at Ahmedabad, where he scores 103 in a drawn Test.Â

2002Â

Zimbabwe suffer in Nagpur as Tendulkar hits 23 fours in his 176 and India go on to win by an innings and 101 runs.Â

Tendulkar hits his 29th century to equal Bradman, with West Indies the team to suffer. He reaches 113 not out at the end of the first day in the second Test.Â

He then surpasses The Don’s record with a sublime 193 in the third Test against England at Headingley.Â

Interesting Stories and Facts about Sachin

Here are some interesting stories for all the god’s fan….
1.Sachin was given a pair of pads by his cricket hero Sunil Gavaskar when he was a schoolboy – and he made his Test debut for India against Pakistan aged just 16-years old in 1989 wearing those very pads…..

2.Like loads of other cricketers, Sachin is pretty superstitious – he’ll always put on his left pad before his right whenever he’s getting padded up……

3.“He hasn’t spent Diwali at home since we got married. But it really doesn’t matter that it’s Diwali… any time he spends at home is great!” – Anjali, his wife, told once…
Once in a BBC interview when asked about his dream women, Sachin answered ‘my wife’ without batting an eyelid.

4.”He scored a fantastic 148 in Shane Warne’s debut Test in Sydney and then followed it up with another century at Perth, one of the toughest pitches in the world, where Indians have traditionally struggled. The value of his hundred increased because all the other Indian batsmen struggled.
His weakness is the fact that he is so talented. His adrenaline pumps strongly when he walks out to bat with the noise of the crowds. You can’t hear yourself think with that noise.
I would pay $1000 to watch Sachin bat.
To score a 148 at Sydney – and that too when you are 18 — was out of the ordinary though the wicket was a lot like the ones you encounter in India, flat with lots of runs for the taking…….”
The above facts are told by Allan Border.

5.The entire cricket world is convinced of one thing : Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is the world’s best batsman. Not just for his extraordinary skill, not just for his ability to tear even the most formidable of bowling attacks to shreds; but also for a rare never-say-die spirit, an insatiable hunger for runs and victory, a desire to dominate the opponent ; commitment, dedication …

These are what the little champion has built his reputation on. ..

6.Tendulkar was a person who would never show any disrespect to the national flag..He respects the national flag most and had even sought permission to use the tricolour on his helmet……
It’s not the riches or the records but the love for the game that keeps the world’s richest cricketer going day after day. It is his hard work, determination, temperament & dedication for the country that keeps him charged….

7.Tendulkar, now in his eighteenth year in international cricket says, ”I still play… because I still love the game.” ”I would like to clarify this. It’s not about records. It’s all about loving the game and enjoying being out there in the middle. That is extremely special to me and far bigger than breaking records or creating new ones.”

”Creating records happens after you’ve gone on the cricket field, but you’ve got to find a reason to go on the cricket field, and for me the reason is very clear.”

”From the age of three I’ve loved this sport and I’ve never thought about scoring the most number of centuries or runs in international cricket. Everyone enjoys breaking records, I’m enjoying it too, but that is not the reason for playing cricket.”

“Whatever level you reach, getting better never stops”-Sachin.
Tendulkar said ”When I started playing, I always wanted to be regarded as one of the best and the idea was that when I stopped playing, people would remember my name. Being regarded as one of the best players is always a good feeling, and that drives you, it refuels you completely. You want to be on top of your game all the time and push yourself harder and harder. There’s a huge responsibility and it is a great challenge. I love that,” he added…..

8.Some quotes by GOD himself……
My big sister gave it to me after returning from a trip to Kashmir, which is known for its high-quality willows. It wasn’t the best bat, but it was like a piece of gold to me. I used to imagine myself batting for India, hitting fours and sixes, the people cheering.
I used that bat until it broke ..

I was the only one supporting John McEnroe — everyone used to call me “Mac” because I styled myself on him. I made my father buy me the same headbands and sweatbands and even grew my hair long. You wouldn’t believe the pictures of me from that time. I was also extremely naughty. Very, very difficult to handle. …I had a nanny who used to run after me virtually 24 hours a day, because I never wanted to go home

My father, who died in 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that he had full faith in me. It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups and downs. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour.When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: “You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it.”
Of course, my parents were extremely happy when I became the youngest player to play for India, at 16. ..

Cricket is something very, very special to me. It has never been about owning this or that car and the other things that come with this life.. An obsession with money or worldly matters was always thumbed down. My only dream was to wear the Indian cap and the Indian colours. In that respect, my childhood dreams have come true…..

Having children brings back all my old childhood memories, wonderful years. Now, every minute is measured and calculated. I still dream — without dreams, life is flat, you stagnate. I don’t go to the temple every morning, but I do pray. I thank God for everything he has given me, because life has been very good to me.

9.Chappell should remember how Tendulkar has achieved his greatness and carried the weight of expectations of a billion people since the age of 16, Jadeja said. He added “When tendulkar enters the field, the crowd says-SACHIN! SACHIN! This is something what every cricketer wants”..

Sachin Tendulkar, the brightest star in the world of cricket has achieved his greatest prices with his intellectual and skilful cricketing brains..
SACHIN dreamt a world of superstars and great triumph and he achieved it..

At the age of 10 he walked to the field at 6 am with a cricket bag bigger than him for the practice. At the age of 11 he moved with his paternal uncle to get trained in cricket by the most renowned coach Ramakanth Achrekar. ..

10.Billions of hearts weep…..on the day when Sachin (GOD) retire.
Indians wish that day never comes. It would be one of the most disappointing days of our life. Ever since Indians started watching cricket, it was Sachin, Sachin & only Sachin who made them feel cricket so special. Sachin is only responsible for making cricket a religion in India. They haven’t experienced watching cricket without Sachin. Whether he was injured/rested, there was always a ray of hope that he comes back to team soon. But after retirement, he will never be backing………..If anyone wants to achieve anything in life, Sachin is the best example for them.
I feel most people find it hard to digest that Sachin will no more be a part of Indian cricket…….on that day, isn’t it?
JUST imagine that day, when Sachin plays his last game. He comes to bat for the last time, and everybody in the stadium claps & the chants of SACHIN!!! came for the last time after he gets out, while walking back to the pavilion, the entire crowd gives him a stand awaition. Many of them will be in tears, millions of eyes wet watching their hero play for the last time. An era ends. The end of a legend came……..The bond between every generation breaks. Would you miss Sachin a lot? I think most of people would say “YES”. The saddest day of Indian cricket- when genius retires…LOVE YOU SACHIN!!!

11.From the early 90s to the early years of the new millennium represented the decade of Brian Lara, Richardson, Martin Crowe, Steve and Mark Waugh, Mathew Hayden, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Gary Kirsten and Rahul Dravid. But there can be any doubt that the No.1 batsman in the world for a decade now has been Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar. .
But figures, however important they may be, are something that Tendulkar’s achievement should not be measured by. He should be judged by the manner of his batting & that is what Bradman did.

Symbolized by Sir Bradman naming him in his dream team of all time. The team in which Tendulkar is the only Indian player.
He has scored runs on slow pitches of the subcontinent, fast tracks of West Indies, bouncy wickets in Australia and South Africa and in whirling conditions in New Zealand and England.

The thought of having Tendulkar as an opponent gives bowlers bad dreams. No batsman has inflicted such psychological damage to bowlers at any time in the world like Tendulkar did to Shane Warne!!!(Warne said Tendulkar is my nightmare).
His technique is so well organized that he is able to encounter any delivery with ease and comfort, giving the impression of having all the time in the world to play the stroke, the hallmark of the greatest of batsmen.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Trivia

Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to have been declared run out by a third umpire1992 against South Africa in South Africa.

He was the first overseas cricketer to play for Yorkshire CCC in 1993.

Shane Warne famously remarked after the Australian tour of India, and then Sharjah in 1998, that his nightmares are full of “Sachin coming, dancing down the track and lofting me over for yet another six !”

He once asked his care taker Laxmi bai to prepare a dish of frogs considered to be an yuck dish in India as a child.

Tendulkar has been seen taking his Ferrari 360 Modena for late-night drives in Mumbai. (Gifted by Fiat through Michael Schumacher, the car became notorious when Tendulkar was given customs exemption; Fiat paid the dues to end the controversy.)

During India’s tour to Australia, he was declared out when he ducked to coin the term “shoulder before wicket”

————-
He has won the most number of man of series and the man of matches in the
One day Internationals.

————-
On December 4, 2006, Tendulkar was featured in a question on the American
game show Jeopardy! The clue was “Sachin Tendulkar of India is a leading
‘bowler’ in this sport”

———
“Sachin, the name was given to him by his late father after the great music
composer & singer, Sachin Dev Burman”

SACHIN’S Domestic Career

At the age of 14 Sachin became the youngest player ever selected for Mumbai in the West Zone Ranji Trophy league.And the legend born………..

he was selected for the Sportstar Trophy for boys under 17. His scores of 158, 97 and 75 also won him the Man of the Series award and took his team (Dattu Phadkar XI) to victory.
In the Giles and Harris shield he had a fantastic run: 21 not out, 125, 207 not out, 326 not out, 172 not out, 346 not out, 0 and 14. The ‘failures’ of 172 not out, 0 and 14 were scored in the Giles Shield. His Harris Shield total of 1, 025 runs came to the staggering average of 1, 025!!!The two triple centuries had come in the Harris Shield, in the semifinals against St. Xavier’s, Fort (326 not out) and in the final against Anjuman-E-Islam (346 not out).

A soldier is not judged by the weapon he carries or the battlefields he conquers, but the character with which he uses his weapons on the battlefield. Sachin plays for a team, and we cannot think of a better saviour of Indian cricket than Sachin. Do not judge him merely by the runs he scores, for he has spawned a generation of fiercely motivated young cricketers that will carry the honour of our team for the next two decades. See his batting style, that style no one batted, bats & can ever bat…………………..

Tendulkar’s childhood memories

On the first day, Achrekar told Sachin to watch in order to get a feel of what playing with the ‘big boys’ would be like. ‘For the first and so far perhaps the only time in his cricket career, Sachin just stood and watched the others play,’ remembers Ajit….

‘His father was always behind him and his brother Ajit would accompany him to the nets. This was essential for the youngster.’
On the way home from that first session, he told his brother with the same confidence with which he would handle the world’s best bowlers, “I can bat better than any of them.”

Ajit noticed his ‘uncanny ability’ to judge the length of the ball and middle it.

Sachin was studying in the Indian Education Society’s New English School, close to the family home in Bandra (East) where most of his friends also studied. But the school lacked a good cricket ground and coach. On Achrekar’s suggestion, the switch was made and purely for the sake of cricket. Professor Ramesh Tendulkar was first approached by Achrekar with the suggestion; since the coach was by now convinced the boy had potential. But the father turned to Ajit for his opinion because Ajit had cricketing experience and had been guiding Sachin’s entry into serious cricket. Till now Sachin played cricket only during the school vacations. Now he would have to combine studies and cricket. But the final decision was left to Sachin himself – a tough one for someone so young who would miss his school friends. Commuting every day from his home in Bandra (East) to the new school meant a one-hour journey and he would have to change buses. However, it did not take him very long to reach a decision. Cricket was more important than fun and games in the backyard. Sharadashram it would be. It is remarkable that a family so steeped in middle-class values with education coming above all had the courage and foresight to take such a far-reaching decision.

Sachin in his child-like excitement picked out the first bat he saw, one that appeared too big and heavy for his size. Both Ajit and Achrekar tried to dissuade him. But he was firm in his choice and it has always been heavy bats from then on. Today he wields one of the heaviest in the world. (Up to 3lbs 2 ounces).
By now Sachin’s life revolved round cricket and cricket alone. Studies had begun to take a backseat. But there was a four-month hiatus during the monsoon months when the only cricket being played in Mumbai was the Kanga League.

His first big match knock produced 24 runs. This included three stylish boundaries – a square cut, a cover drive and a straight drive. Ajit was struck by the power in his kid brother’s hands since most cricketers of that age did not have the strength to hit boundaries, getting their runs mainly in singles and two’s. But Sachin’s timing was so good that he was able to find the gaps in the field, allowing the ball to race to the boundary.

The first person to predict the big time for Sachin was an umpire by the name of Gondhalekar. He was umpiring the quarterfinals against Don Bosco at Cross Maiden in which Sachin smashed 10 fours in a knock of 50. The umpire called Achrekar and predicted the lad would one day play for the country – a prediction Achrekar brushed aside since this was the boy’s first year in competitive cricket.

Achrekar was keen that Sachin get a place in the Bombay Cricket Association (BCA) nets for under-19 boys which were spread across the city and usually conducted by an ex-Test cricketer.

Ajit took Sachin to the MIG (Middle Income Group) Cricket Club ground, a short walk from their home in Bandra to meet the coach in charge, a man named Dandekar.
But Dandekar was shocked when he heard Sachin was just 12 and bluntly told Ajit his kid brother was too young to get into the under-19 nets.So the summer was spent instead in practice sessions with Achrekar, both in the mornings and afternoons. Sessions intense enough for Sachin to say goodbye to a normal childhood with summer vacations filled with childhood pranks and fun and games.

All through this year of 1985, it was cricket, cricket, and more cricket. The phrase ‘eat cricket, drink cricket, sleep cricket’ began to ring true for Sachin. Even after he broke into international cricket, Sachin was known to talk – cricket, of course! – and walk in his sleep. And the phrase he uttered most often in his sleep? ‘Take two!’ (In Marathi – ‘Don-ge’).

The grind would begin at 7.00 in the morning, a quick breakfast and then at the ground at 7.30. A batting session would be followed by tips from Achrekar who was always on hand to guide his favorite student. Bowling was a fascination with Sachin from the early days and even then he bowled an assortment of medium pace and leg spin. Fielding was also taken seriously. The morning session would be till 10.00, and the afternoon would begin at 3.00 and continue till 7.00.
Just 12, Sachin also played his first match in the Kanga League, scoring five for Young Parsee Cricket Club in the ‘F’ division.

A special batting prize was presented to the precocious youngster, still one year short of his teens. By now he had made quite a name for himself and his school fielded him in both the Giles and Harris Shield tournaments. In fact, his maiden century came in the Harris; the senior of the two.That landmark came against Don Bosco School, Matunga at the Bharat CC ground at Shivaji Park. He was unbeaten on 96 at the end of the first day of the three-day match, coming in after the loss of two wickets. To get over the tension, Sachin decided to spend the night at his parents’ home instead of his uncle’s. But it was a sleepless night. Early on the second day, one of the rival team’s pace bowlers was square cut to the boundary and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar’s first century entered the record books………Oh my God….

Sachin was chosen for the Mumbai under-15 team for the Vijay Merchant inter-zonal tournament to be played in Pune. By this time, the big names of Mumbai cricket were beginning to take notice of this wonder boy.
It has happened countless times since in newspapers and magazines around the world. But the very first time Sachin’s photograph appeared in the papers was when he scored 123 against Maharashtra in just 140 minutes in the opening game at Baroda.

Now it was back to do duty for Sharadashram in the Harris Shield. In the very first match he registered an amazing score for a boy barely into his teens: 276 against BPM High School, that too in a single day against boys three to four years older than him. Just one rung lower, in the Giles Shield, Sachin had been appointed captain. The first match was against the powerful Balamohan, Ajit’s former team. Sachin confidently predicted he would win not only that match, but the title as well…..

Sharadashram were struggling at 40 for three in reply to Balamohan’s 250 when the captain (Sachin) came in and smashed 159 not out in two hours. The team was on its way. And so was Sachin.

And true to his word, he had led his school to victory, scoring 665 runs with three centuries in the Giles Shield. For the first time, Sharadashram English achieved the Harris/Giles double, largely due to Sachin’s huge scores.

‘Sachin was making runs by the tons. I went to Shivaji Park in Dadar and met him just around lunch. I told him that since he was fielding I would come later in the evening to chat with him,’ Warrier told……’I was quite surprised to see his brother too with him in the evening. I was wondering how he had found the time to call his brother to the ground. I suggested we go to a restaurant and have a cup of tea. They agreed and we walked a short distance from the ground to a small Irani restaurant. It is one of the oldest in that area. As we started chatting I realized that Sachin was keeping mum and Ajit was doing all the talking. Every time I asked a question, Sachin would prompt his brother in Marathi, ‘Tu sang na’ (You tell him). So I told him, since you go to an English medium school you should speak to me in English and not in Marathi. He politely smiled. ……..
‘Sachin is also a good singer.’

Even while scoring a mountain of runs, Sachin did not neglect his bowling and picked up quite a few wickets with his medium pacers.
In October of that year 1987, he was part of the selection trials at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai (then known as Madras), overseen by Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee. But Lillee was not impressed with his bowling (due to his short height) and told him to concentrate on batting, biggest mistake by an Australian………..
Sachin was not selected for the Academy.