Sachin: A Billion Dreams released worldwide on Friday. With the docu-feature, countless Sachin Tendulkar fans all over the world have yet another shot at experiencing the enigma the cricketer was during his 24-year-long international career.
From his first Test fifty against Pakistan to the 2011 World Cup win, the film takes viewers through a number of glorious memories.
After having watched the film, Here are the eight things I now know about the little master’s life.
1. Arjun Felt The Heat
After the 2007 World Cup, Anjali Tendulkar asked her children not to react if anybody in school tells them that India lost because of Sachin. But when a boy in school told Arjun that India lost because of Sachin, he couldn’t control himself. Arjun pinned the boy down and asked him to repeat his words.
When Sachin later asked him if he had hit his schoolmate, Arjun said: "No, but if he tells me the same words again then I will".
2. Viv's Timely Phonecall
India’s 2007 World Cup debacle was hard on Sachin. He didn’t leave his house for seven days after the loss. The reports about his retirement upset him, and he contemplated quitting the game.
But then, his idol, Viv Richards spoke to him, over the phone, and urged him to continue playing. The phonecall gave Sachin the push he needed.
3. His Aunt The Bowler
Sachin would often ask his aunt to practise with him at their home in Shivaji Park. His aunt would throw a ball at a particular length and the cricketer would concentrate on improving his back foot shots.
4. Don’t Wish Him Luck
Did you know that one of the greatest batsmen of all time did not like being wished good luck before a match? Even if a coach said, “Sachin, good luck”, the cricketer would say “NO! don’t tell me that”.
5. A Little Romance
Sachin Tendulkar’s wife Anjali was so fond of Sachin that after the first time she saw him in 1990, she cut out photos of him from newspapers. Anjali, then a college student, would stick these photographs in her textbooks so she could see him every time she opened a book.
6. “Fasting” Cricket
A big World Cup 2011 semi-final and the Indian team weren’t served food on time in Mohali.
First, they weren’t given breakfast at the hotel, because the dining area was sealed off for security purposes to allow the Pakistani team to dine. The players went on to the field without having eaten. That day, their lunch truck was late too.
Sachin urged his team to stop thinking about food and concentrate on the game on hand instead.
7. Post Tennis Elbow Injury
After slightly recovering from his tennis elbow injury in 2004, Sachin decided to dive head-first into training. His training regime comprised a net session, wherein he faced 140 deliveries and ran up 10 flights of stairs.
8. He Has A Lifelong Injury
In 2001, Sachin Tendulkar sustained a toe-injury. His toe was broken and the doctors told him he would never recover from it. He was advised to refrain from putting too much weight on his toe. For the next 12 years of his career, Sachin had to extensively pad up his toe, every time he stepped on the field.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)