Do you know… Sachin…Tentulkar

‘Do you know’ and ‘Sachin’ raises fire-alarms these days since Maria Sharapova was trolled for a simple ‘I don’t’.

Sachin Tendulkar in Glasgow Celtic colours? (Source: PTI)

They are all scared — very scared — of answering “No” to this question in Scotland. And, no, we’re not talking about the referendum to be held on September 18 which desperately needs other options such as: ‘Cant decide. Yet.’ Or, ‘Can we hook up with the French instead?’ Or…

Word’s been out that Sachin Tendulkar will be part of the opening ceremony, and rumours range from him being “preened around” to him being a part of a “cook-off” with Sir Alex on a giant stage. To set the record straight on the man for whom it sufficed to set records with straight drives, we head off in search of those-in-the-know, armed with the question, “Do you know what Sachin will be doing at the opening ceremony?”

Uttered in the same breath, ‘Do you know’ and ‘Sachin’ raises fire-alarms these days since Maria Sharapova was trolled for a simple ‘I don’t’ with plentiful abuse for not being clued into cricket. “Let’s just say, it’s going to be a nice surprise,” the volunteers say, half-smiling, half-cagey.

Mindful of the sentiments of the Sachinists (or Pro-Sachindependence), an adjunct to the opening ceremony media guide also diligently corrects a tiny wee typo-error which has spelt the UNICEF ambassador wrongly as Sachin ‘Tentulkar’.

The trick when the name’s uttered is to just say ‘Aye, aye’. All beware of the Lochness Monster and Sachin’s Indian fans.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More

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