World Cup Cricket : Stars to Watch : All Rounders: Sachin Tendulkar

Country & Record

Full Name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Born: April 24, 1973, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Team: India

Batting Style: Right Hand Bat

Bowling Style: Legbreak googly

ODI Debut: Pakistan v India at Gujranwala - Dec 18, 1989

ODI Statistics:

One Day Internationals: Batting and Fielding

M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St

381 371 36 14783 186* 44.12 85.65 41 76 115 0

One Day Internationals: Bowling

O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ

381 7685 6472 147 44.02 5/32 4 2 52.27 5.05

WC Statistics :

Mat  Runs  HS   BatAv  100   50   W    BB  BowlAv  5w  Ct St

33  1732  152   59.72   4  12   6   2/28   78.16  0  10  0

Profile:

A Right-hand bat and a part-time spinner, came into limelight in his early teens and started to represent his country in his late teens. Holds the records for most ODI appearances, runs, hundreds, man of the matches etc….More than 24,000 international runs nearly 75 centuries, more than 100 half centuries, about 200 wickets and above 100 catches. There doesn't seem any need for someone to talk about what he is capable of. 17 years of serving Indian cricket, he has been awarded with Arjuna Award, PadmaShri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (The Highest recognition for a sportsman in India).He was named the Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1997. These events and comments reflect Sachin ....the nearest to the definition of perfection in cricket. When he became the first batsman to score 50 hundreds in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar established himself as the greatest of all Indian cricketers. Recognized by Sir Donald Bradman as his modern incarnation, Tendulkar has a skill - a genius - which only a handful have possessed. It was not a skill that he was simply born with, but one which was developed by his intelligence and an infinite capacity for taking pains. If there is a secret, it is that Tendulkar has the keenest of cricket minds. The awe of opponents was as great as that of crowds. But the finest compliment must be that bookmakers would not fix the odds - or a game - until Tendulkar was out.

Strengths:

His major strength is Experience. This man can play all the shots in the books and on his day can tear off any attack in the World. His running between the wickets is really quick and can score runs at his will. When it comes to bowling, the variety in his army is his strength.

Weakness:

Though any team is yet to point out a potential weakness in him, drying him up of runs, or frustrating him could be one way to force Sachin to make mistakes. When Sachin bowls, the major weakness is he might be a bit expensive at times.

Threats:

Batting lower down the order might cause a little problem, as it will all boil down to the amount of pressure, wickets fallen etc. With his amount of experience Sachin should be able to manage it.

Expectation of him in World Cup:

At almost 34, the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup is perhaps his last shot at the big prize. And if any ODI player has ever deserved this prize more than a team, it is Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest ever one-day international player. Going by his past WC records, he is expected to be the leading run scorer yet again. This World Cup, we might even see Sachin bowling more than the previous World Cups. With his role as a mentor, and at the hint that he might be batting down the order, Sachin would be expected to unofficially lead his team to Victory with the help of the other Indian players.