JOIN USAs the man touched down on Planet 100, his former team-mates and legends of Indian cricket looked on with respect, adulation and awe. Incredible achievement was the common refrain as they stood up and applauded the feat.
“It’s an incredible achievement. I don’t think anyone else will get there, the nearest is 29 centuries behind,” former Indian captain Anil Kumble told Deccan Herald.
“The game has got shorter and the chances therefore are even tougher. I don’t see anyone coming close. It’s a great achievement. People have been waiting for a year for this century and I am glad this will take the pressure off Sachin. Whoever you are, such an imminent landmark is bound to work on his mind. I am glad it is done and dusted,” added Kumble.
The former leg-spinner paid tribute to Tendulkar’s limitless enthusiasm for the game.
“What stands out for me is Sachin’s childlike enthusiasm for the game. He has always been on the field, and we are talking 22 years here! He has the same enthusiasm today that he had all those years back, and I have not seen anyone like that. Even at practice, if he is not batting, he is bowling, just not standing doing nothing. More than the matches, it is the practice, the travel, the injuries and being away from the family that takes its toll. That’s what makes it an even more fantastic feat. That, and the fact that he has had to meet people’s expectations for so long. Of course, the last 5-6 years, others have also done a great job, but still, to have done what he has is truly amazing.”
Rahul Dravid, like Kumble, has spent plenty of time with Tendulkar and the batting legend said the little man kept pushing the boundaries of his sport. “Sachin has always made us reassess our boundaries, that’s what he has done throughout his career,” said Dravid. “He has constantly made us rethink what the benchmarks are. It’s almost path-breaking. No one ever thought of the possibility of 100 international centuries, it was always in the realms of the fantastic and you didn’t think it was something that could be in existence. It wasn’t until Sachin got close to it that people began to sit up and take notice. It’s a tribute to his sustained pursuit of excellence in performance.”
Off-spinning legend EAS Prasanna said it was mind-boggling achievement while batting great G R Viswanath felt proud about the feat.
“I feel wonderful. I’m sure it was a relief for Sachin. I’m equally relieved of the anxiety. It’s an incredible, mind-boggling feat. We’re all proud that an Indian today holds a record that no one can emulate,” said Prasanna. “It was only a matter of time before he did it. We are extremely proud of his achievement. It’s a record that no one will break and we should salute the man for having served the country for 23 years. Scoring 100 centuries is a testimony to his class and longevity,” averred Viswanath while former all-rounder Roger Binny said Tendulkar must be a relieved man now.
“Hats off to him – not just for this hundred but the other 99 too. It would have been at the back of his mind and added to the pressure. His game was not as natural today as it usually is. I’m sure he will be walking much lighter now. He has set the benchmark. It’s going to be very tough for anybody to equal.”