Sachin Page #3

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I think this is just the stan.

You prefer facing fast bowlers?

- Yeah... I always prefer...

What is the reason for that?

I like to play fast bowlers because

the ball comes straight on the bat.

At the CCI Nets, I think Kapil

also bowled to you?

How was that?

I enjoyed... just kept on playing.

16year-old Sachin Tendulkar,

child prodigy.

The youngest ever cricketer

to play for his country.

At 14, he was the

youngest ever cricketer...

...to play the Ranji Trophy, which

included a century in his debut match.

Once in a decade, a genius is born...

...and Sachin Tendulkar is just that.

I am very proud to say that I've

been selected for the Indian Team.

And tomorrow we'll

be going to Pakistan.

Do you feel a little nervous

about facing the Pak team?

Not at all.

India-Pakistan is the world's

foremost sponing rivalry.

I remember one World

Cup match that India won...

...and there was celebratory gunfire

by the sentries across the border.

It's something other cultures

might struggle to understand.

As the new dominions of Pakistan and

India take over their own affairs...

...fleeing from their looted,

blood-stained towns, comes a new exodus...

Overnight the countries got split.

It was one of the most violent

mass migrations in history.

Unlike anything seen anywhere

else in the world.

Whether it's cinema

or culture or sport...

...lndia versus Pakistan gets imbued

with a different kind of significance.

And cricket is the only area where

the two square off against each other.

You don't want them

to square off anywhere else...

...especially if the

alternative is the armies.

- Long live... India!

In 1989, the conflict in

Kashmir was just about to start.

At that point in time, for a 16

year old Indian to go to Pakistan...

...and play the likes

lmran, Wasim and Waqar.

Unbelievable.

The first time we saw him on

Karachi Grounds during practice...

...he looked about 14.

I looked at Waqar,

and Waqar looked back at me.

And we said,

what's this little kid going to do?

Why have they got him here?

And the next batsman

looks to me to be Tendulkar.

And if one can say he's having

a baptism of fire, this is it.

Coming to a situation where

India are reeling and...

...the Pakistan pace attack

looking almost invincible.

We were consistent 150kmh plus,

with swing.

Waqar Younis to Tendulkar...

it's quite a terrifying site.

The first ball to him was a bouncer,

and we said to him...

"Welcome son, to Test cricket.

This is not school cricket.

The only drive you'll get

here is from the hotel to the ground."

This one a very airy-fairy

shot from Tendulkar.

Bowled!

I felt I was completely out of place.

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