NEW DELHI: After overcoming a string of injuries and surgery, Sachin Tendulkar is heading into his fifth World Cup desperate to fulfill one of the rare career ambitions that has eluded him.
During his 17-year international career, which started when he became India's youngest test cricketer at the age of 16 years and 205 days in 1989, Tendulkar has accomplished more than what most cricketers ever dream of.Tendulkar's 14,783 runs are the most compiled by any batsman in the history of limited-overs internationals and his 41 one-day centuries are also the most in the world. Twice during the past three World Cups, he has emerged as the most outstanding player of the tournament.But has never been able to celebrate with the title.
Tendulkar, who will turn 34 during the World Cup in the Caribbean, wants to bring back the premier limited-overs trophy for the millions of his adoring fans.India won the World Cup in 1983 in an upset over West Indies and came within a match of doing it again in 2003, only to be crushed in the final by Australia.Tendulkar was the leading scorer in the World Cup in South Africa, but his failure to make a big score in the final saw India's challenge fade and his player of the tournament award proved to be a small consolation.In 1996, when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosted the tournament, Tendulkar earned his first player of the tournament award. But India frittered away a winning chance in the semifinal against Sri Lanka — which went on to clinch the title.India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have each won the World Cup once, and all are hoping to be the reigning champion when the next edition is again jointly staged in the subcontinent in 2011.Tendulkar remains India's most crucial player in what is likely his last World Cup.Since playing his first World Cup as a teenager in 1992, Tendulkar has gone on to become the quadrennial tournament's highest run-compiler with 1,732 runs from 33 matches.
Yet there were doubts over his form recently until he silenced critics with a century against the West Indies in January.Tendulkar is once again showing signs of flamboyance, but is unlikely to be batting at the World Cup in his favored opening position.During the recent home series wins over below-strength West Indies and Sri Lanka, Tendulkar was shifted down from the opening position as the team management sought to use his experience to bolster the middle-order.
Something similar happened even ahead of the 2003 World Cup when the then team management, lead by coach John Wright, adopted the same logic to use Tendulkar.But as India got off to a tottering start, Tendulkar was back at the helm as an opener. The move transformed India's fortunes and the team went on to qualify for the final for the first time in two decades.
Tendulkar's leg-spin adds another dimension to his team play, allowing the captain to use him as a fifth bowler and use that slot to field an extra batsman.Whatever he does, Tendulkar is guaranteed to be one of the most-watched players of the tournament.
courtesy:Hindu
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