Sachin the true Zen master

24-Feb-2010 is a special day for all cricket lovers across the globe. Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer ever to score a double century in a ODI, now has a history of about 40yrs. And as Sanjay Manjrekar said, no one deserved the record more than Tendulkar. Almost the whole country was praying that he would get past 194 and then eventually into 200 and he obliged. One would be excused for thinking that he might have unleashed a brutal attack to get to 200, but it was as elegant as it could get (the contrast was more visible with Dhoni's and Pathan's ugly hitting at the other end).

We have been fortunate enough to be in the same era as Tendulkar's. I have followed most matches of Tendulkar's starting from his debut hitting Abdul Qadir. The world stops to watch Tendulkar on song - it was the case 20yrs ago and continues to be so. Almost everything about the man is perfect, the stance, the balance, the grace whether defending or leaving or executing the straightest possible drives and the follow-thru. Who can take his eyes off the upper-cut that sails over the 3rd man boundary, or the cover drive that bisects a packed off-side field or the straight drive that travels all long the ground or the flick that he can place anywhere from mid-wicket to fine-leg. Ah! there was a time when Tendulkar was young - the booming drives and many of those used to be in air - the heart beat would stop till the ball lands safely, followed by the joy of seeing the ball cross the boundary and followed by the realization that there was no need to get anxious as Tendulkar would have anyways placed it so safely.

Over these years we have witnessed several type of innings - both in test cricket and in ODIs. Dour defensive innings, brilliant counter attacks (obviously everyone would think Warne in Sharjah) and innings of character. I remember a particular ODI guess in 2002 when Saching got a 150+ score on a low and slow track. Previous match he had hit a booming hundred and this was so different as he nudged the ball cleverly into gaps and scoring mostly in singles and twos, when everyone around found so difficult to put the bat on to the ball, let alone scoring. I always used to quote these two matches while giving gyaan to my juniors those days as to how one needs to be adaptable.

What about his bowling? I haven't seen anyone (including the the greatest ever Warne and Murali (though I feel Murali "legally" chucks) turn the ball more than Tendulkar. May be if one really sits down to measure, may be he would be bracketed along with these two. But seen anyone turn the ball both ways? No way. If he had taken bowling seriously, the amount of wickets that Warne and Murali have taken would not even be talked about.

I'm always intrigued trying to answer the question what makes him so successful? Can we imbibe a few qualities? Can we draw some "management lessons"? Agreed he is naturally gifted and so were several others who didn't last long. Three things come to my mind. His child like quality (just checkout the way he celebrates when he takes a catch or runs out someone), commitment (remember the desperate dive that saved a single in the first ODI) and the fact that he thinks he is still learning. The last one to me is a lot important.

I have read a beautiful book titled "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by the famous Zen master Shunruyu Suzuki. The essential message of the book is that the beginner's mind is alway's empty and is open to everything. The beginner's mind has several possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. When there is no thought of achievement, no thought of self, we are true beginners and can really learn something. Its about being sincere and to make full effort.

Everytime I think of Sachin, I'm reminded of beginner's mind and in that sense, we do not have to look beyond Sachin for a Zen master - for simplicity, the single minded devotion to the task and the ability to remain so humble despite achieving so much.

My sons, both are crazy about cricket, are only 12 and 8yrs old. Wish Tendulkar can go on for another 10yrs and three generations would have seen him and most importantly would have been inspired.

Thank you very much,


RamP!
ramp.ramp@gmail.com

PS: Photo courtesy Cricinfo/Getty Images. Hope they don't mind my putting the photo without permission on a joyous occasion.