Milestone man does it again

Tendulkar becomes first batsman to score 15,000 runs in Tests

Wearing a totally perplexed look, Sachin Tendulkar whirled around to look at the electronic score board, wondering what the fuss was all about after scoring his 28th run. “Congrats Sachin, 15000 Test runs,” the board screamed, clearing the doubts in the little man’s minds.

After a quick look up at the heavens, Tendulkar acknowledged the cheers of his mates standing on the balcony outside the dressing room as well as that of the crowd, and walked halfway down the track to receive a congratulatory handshake and an admiring pat on the back from fellow legend Rahul Dravid. At the end of the over, West Indians flocked from all parts of the ground to shake the great man’s hand, their sense of awe tangible as they almost wrestled with each other to get there first.

For Tendulkar, while 15,000 is as monumental number as it is for anyone else, this is no more than another milestone in a career littered with milestones. “When people throw stones at you, you must learn to convert them into milestones,” he had said famously a few years back, explaining how he has been impervious to admittedly only occasional criticism.

Every international run the 38-year-old scores is a new record because he is the most prolific scorer in Test and one-day cricket. He also has the record for the most tons in both formats – 51 in the longer version, 48 in the one-day game – and a country is waiting for the moment when he brings up his 100th international hundred. The second-innings stint is Tendulkar’s 300th innings in his 182nd Test.

India need 124 for more for victory and Tendulkar a further 67 for his century. Uppermost in his mind will be the team’s 124; if the individual 67 comes along the way, that will be no more than the icing on the cake so far as the Master is concerned.