Opinion Always the jittery debutant

Every newcomer that walks into the dressing room has a Tendulkar story to narrate. It is usually about their observation while watching the legend preparing for the game. Many have tried to emulate him in all earnestness but given up as the standard set was too high and far too many sacrifices had to be made. Moreover,the ingrained meticulousness that Tendulkar has been born with was tough to cultivate. As a senior journalist once said after having tea in Tendulkar’s hotel room,“He prepares tea like he is cooking biryani.” India’s long-time masseur Ramesh Mane has a similar story. He was surprised when he once reached Tendulkar’s room for an evening rub-down before an international game. “The entire kit was neatly prepared. The bats,gloves,thigh pad,helmet placed perfectly. Such small things show his work ethic and his professional approach. He was ready to leave for the ground right away. A strong mind takes care of these things,” says the man who is generally greeted by messy rooms when on such visits.

During off-season,Tendulkar is at the ultra-modern indoor academy at Bandra-Kurla in Mumbai. Once an over-eager official switched on the air conditioner as Tendulkar’s car entered the complex on a harsh summer afternoon. “I come here to sweat it out,” was Tendulkar’s opening statement.

So,in a way,when Tendulkar leans into a drive that cruises through covers and the commentator gets misty-eyed and merely blurts out an “effortless” in a moment of pure joy,they aren’t quite giving the true picture. Energy-draining hours at nets,attention to details and the packed kit bag are just a few things among the many that go into Tendulkar’s bat meeting the ball at the precise point and the perfect time.

There are several theories floating around that try to explain Tendulkar’s phenomenal run this year. But one that is most believable is the one that figures coach Gary Kirsten. The chemistry between the two men has to be seen to be believed. Both are men of few words who live by the adage that practice makes one perfect. The most fascinating sight at India nets is of Kirsten giving endless throw downs to Tendulkar. Maybe,once after about 100 knocks the two men speak to each other,or else it’s just a shake of the head,a smile or at best a muted clap from the coach.

Players speak highly about Kirsten’s simple success mantra that is based on nothing else but hard work. After a recent series win,the coach gave a small presentation to the team to make them understand why he happens to be a hard taskmaster during training sessions. The first slide showed a fielder showing great reflexes and holding on to a sharp edge. This was followed by a visual of the same player taking about 1,000 similar catches at nets. The message was clear: if you want to look good on field,there are no short cuts.

Even before the all-important South Africa tour,he banked on his simple method. He didn’t ask for a mind guru with a miracle touch,nor did he hire a Remember the Titans DVD. Face 3,000 balls at the nets in South African conditions before the Test and give yourself the best chance to succeed was his way of dealing with the toughest assignment of his career. Though a bit late,the plan did work. India scored 459 in the second innings. And the top-scorer happened to be the most meticulous man in the Indian team.

Tendulkar’s 50th hundred helped the team avoid humiliation and also ensured that for once an innings loss didn’t attract the usual vitriolic reaction from fans. Past and present players joined the man on the street to congratulate Tendulkar. “God” was the common word in frantic tweets that Gen Next typed. Sadly,once again,they had pushed Tendulkar to an unreachable pedestal. In a way,it was their way of saying how it wasn’t humanly possible to reach those heights.

In few days from now,Tendulkar will be at the Durban nets on the eve of the second Test. He is sure to be spending hours facing Kirsten’s throw down,behaving like an eager teenager a day before his debut Test and packing his kit bag like a restless nervous wreck. Gods don’t do such things; but meticulous men with a fear of failure and a strong will to succeed certainly do.

sandeep.dwivedi@expressindia.com