Travelling around with the master: Sachin Tendulkar

Dubai: It seems like just yesterday that it all began. But Sachin Tendulkar has completed 20 years of international cricket and as a reporter I feel privileged to have covered many of his matches right from his school days.

Journalist circles first began talking about this young boy in Ramakant Achrekar's coaching camp who plays for Sharadashram Vidyamandir school and bats like Sunil Gavaskar.

In 1988, when he was involved in a world record 664-run partnership with Vinod Kambli in the Lord Harris Shield Inter School tournament, the world took first notice of him.

He emulated his idol Gavaskar in walk and even talk. In fact, he still cherishes the moment when Gavaskar personally gave him his ultra-light batting pad. Sachin was only 14 then.

Soon he was playing the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy matches in India where he hit century after century. Travelling with him in those days helped me to get to know him.

Scaling greater heights

Every time he scaled greater heights, people close to him narrated incidents about his dedication and determination to be the best. Achrekar once revealed how he used to offer a rupee to anyone who dismissed Tendulkar, but if he remained unbeaten, he could keep the coin for himself. On most occasions, Tendulkar pocketed those coins and still has them even today.

Similarly, his society's watchman's son who used to play with him revealed that Tendulkar used to often dip a rubber ball in water. The idea was to spot the wet marks on his bat to ensure he was middling the ball correctly.

On the occasions I've travelled with the Indian team, it's always been a sight to see Tendulkar being mobbed by fans in the plane. And when elderly women come to greet him, Tendulkar makes a point to get up from his seat and accept their best wishes.

Once, on a flight from Jaipur to Kolkata, the number of passengers lining up to meet him increased so much that he had to put on his head phones, close his eyes and pretend to sleep.

Being seated just two seats away, I noticed his CD collection included Hindi playback singer, the late Kishore Kumar's classics, and songs by Dire Straits. A peep into his kit bag during net practice revealed the Indian tricolour flag pasted inside.

Tendulkar is known to be a great fan of seafood. He often flies to Goa to enjoy some of his favourite dishes from one of the popular restaurants there.

Among the many interviews I've had with him, the one I treasure the most was when I met him the day before he decided to become a permanent opening batsman in one-day cricket for India in 1994. His answers were all oozing with confidence.

In the course of the interview, he narrated how he had transformed himself into a one-day opener for the first time in New Zealand. "Manoj Prabhakar was sent back from New Zealand and the team was looking for an opener. I went up to the captain and manager and expressed my willingness to do the job. I knew I was taking a risk but I wanted to give it a try," he said.

Fortune favours the bold.