Sachin - The God of Cricket

Although a handful, but there are some who question the legendary contribution of Sachin R. Tendulkar in Indian cricket. I understand, emotions speak more than our words when it comes to Sachin Tendulkar.

The adulation of the people from all over the world, not only from India, stamps the great work of the Little Master to the Cricket as a game. He has been the institution for many, those who are currently playing cricket for Indian Cricket Team.

Critics have every right to put their say but when somebody hears that Sachin is playing for his own records, doesn’t contribute much to the Indian team, he is privileged from BCCI, his century is never fruitful for India, so on and so forth.

I don’t want to throw back my emotion to enchant the noble qualities of the Sachin Tendulkar but I would like to put forward some numbers that unbiasedly unfolds the secret of his greatness.

Few myths about Sachin:-

Myth 1: Sachin’s century is not helpful to India

Since 1974-2013 (till Nov 30), India played 841 ODI matches out of which it won in 423 matches with success rate is 52.9%, but when Sachin hit century, the success rate goes up to 67%, when he score more than 50 and less than 100 the success rate is 61%.

                               

To link the India’s rate of winning when Sachin score less than 20, the graph depicts that only the success rate is 41%. In simple words when Sachin score less than 20 runs there are only 41% of the matches where India won.

Myth 2: Sachin’s maximum centuries are against weak countries.

Sachin score centuries against all the opponents (not considering some countries like UAE, Bermuda etc.) and to the surprise maximum centuries had been scored against the world’s strongest team i.e Australia and success rate is close to 80%.

He scored 38 centuries against strong opponents whereas only 11 centuries against weak opponents. When I say weak opponents or strong opponents, this is only my understanding of cricket played by these countries, if you want to change some countries, still it does not make much difference in the result. 

Myth 3: He plays good on home pitches than outside.

Of his total 463 matches, he played 164 in India and 299 matches Not in India (147 away and 152 neutral). Sachin hit 20 centuries in India and rest 29 outside India.

Myth 4: He is not useful in chasing or in second innings.

Sachin scored fewer numbers of centuries while chasing as compare to batting in the first innings but here the catch is when he score century in the second innings there are 82% matches where India wins.

Besides these numbers, Sachin’s indomitable spirit with humble smile disarms the opponent. He devoted himself to give his best not only in his batting but there has been occasions where he has bowled an outstanding spell and has even surprised the world with his master fielding.  There were times when he got injured and it was nearly impossible for him to continue his cricket career but he defeated the luck with his integrity towards cricket and the nation at large.

And that’s why even opponents honour him as follows:

“If there is a better batsman than Sachin then he hasn’t arrived yet” -  Viv Richards (June 2011)

“There are boxers with better records than Muhammad Ali, but if you mention the word boxing, you have to mention Muhammad Ali. When you talk of basketball, you have to mention Michael Jordan. When you speak about cricket, I’d speak of Tendulkar “– Brian Lara (Nov. 2013).

“I have seen God. He bats at no. 4 in India in Tests” – Mathew Hayden (1998)

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