One of the things that strikes you about Sachin Tendulkar is his humility. Heck, the man has been around for almost forever! Yet when he is called on to the stage to accept an award or to give a little speech, he still seems utterly tongue tied and embarrassed.One would have thought that by now it would be as easy for him as that trademark straight drive but this is perhaps what sets him apart. On a breezy Monday evening at a city hotel, Tendulkar stepped up on the stage to receive the award for being chosen the No 1 on the Sports Illustrated India’s Power List of top 50 most influential people of Indian sport.
The list, a veritable who’s who, included the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya, et al. But the Milestone Man, looking elegant in his dinner jacket and with wife Anjali in tow, stole the limelight as usual. For starters, he dismissed the notion that he is powerful.
“It’s not about power,” he told the assembly of guests. “It’s teamwork. I have never tried to play cricket to become powerful. I played it because that’s the only thing I could do,” he said to deafening applause. “I wanted to play cricket whole-heartedly for the country. I am living my dream and have played with two-three generations. I wanted to be a special member of the team and I have done it,” he added.
On being asked by the compere, Atul Wassan, whether he is now aiming for a triple ton, Tendulkar smiled: “Whenever it comes, it will come. I don’t make big statements, just let my bat do the talking.”
The evening also saw Gitanjali Group CMD presenting a diamond-studded cricket ball to Preity Zinta, owner of King’s XI Punjab for being the highest-ranked woman at 23rd on the Power List.
Sania, looking glamorous in pink, said she is not looking too far ahead in her career at this stage, what with a dodgy wrist and suspect fitness. “I am looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and taking it one at a time”, she said to the media while on her way out.
Did one sense a welcome change in the way she handles the media these days?
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