My Sachin moment, and 8 myths about Tendulkar

The year was 1989. A 16-year-old was making his Test debut in Karachi against the fearsome pace attack of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I and my friends had heard of the batting wizard from Mumbai. The entire nation was looking forward to the match. The hype was such.

I, however, had a problem. An exam the very next day. But I was lucky. One, there was a television at home, so I didn't have to go to the neighbour's to watch TV. Two, The television was a safe distance away from the kitchen, in a room in the farthest corner of the house. So that is how I saw Sachin for the first time -- television on mute. But a power cut meant I couldn't see him getting hit by a Waqar bouncer. Instead I got to see him bat with a band aid on his nose, with no idea what hit him.

Then came my first Sachin moment, everyone in India has a few of them. After much haggling, I had got permission to watch India's innings in a one-dayer that ended an India-Pakistan exhibition match after, if I remember right, some heavy rains. India was chasing, and the required rate was beyond our reach. That was when Sachin walked in. Much of what happened is a blur in the memory, except two overs. First one from Abdul Qadir. Sachin stepped down the wicket, not once, but four times, every time carting the cunning leg spinner out of the boundary. Till then we were desperate, sullen. That one over changed the mood, we were now looking for a win. But Wasim Akram was too good for the teenager, the last over didn't produce any miracle.

Since then Tendulkar has given us many moments to cherish. Much will be written about the magic that flowed from the bat, and many will still write about his last few lackluster years. I won't do either. But I will try to dispel some myths about Sachin Tendulkar.

Myth No 1: Tendulkar doesn't win Tests

Batsmen don't win Tests, bowlers do. Even then, 20 out of 51 of his centuries were in matches India won. That's a success rate of 39%, much higher than Lara's 24% (8 out of 34 centuries).

Myth No 2: Tendulkar doesn't score abroad

Twenty-nine of his 51 Tests or 57% of his hundreds have come away from home. Lara scored 17 of his 34 Test hundreds away - that is 47%.

Myth No 3: Tendulkar doesn't score in second innings

Twenty-one of his 51 hundreds have come in the second innings (41%). Nine of them won matches. In other words, 9 of his 20 match-winning knocks came batting second or 45 per cent.

Myth No 4: Tendulkar's hundreds don't help his team

Of his 51 Test tons, 40 came in matches India drew or won. Which means 78% of his centuries actually did have some positive effect on the team. The number for Lara is 74%, roughly the same. Given that batsmen don't win Tests on their own, it is absurd to blame these greats for their team's failures in Tests.

Myth No 5: Tendulkar scores against weak teams

Sachin's maximum centuries in both formats have come against Australia. Forty-three of his Test hundreds are against strong opposition, the other eight coming against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. In one-dayers, 11 of his 49 centuries were scored against Bangladesh, Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe, while 38 were against better teams.

Myth No 6: Tendulkar doesn't win ODIs

Thirty-three of his 49 one-day centuries have come in victories. A success rate of 67%. Yes, Lara's success rate is much higher - 84%, with 16 of his 19 centuries coming in wins. But 67% is no mean achievement. And we all know what the Indian team was in the early stages of Sachin career.

Myth No 7: Tendulkar doesn't win tight chases

Only two of the victories featuring a Sachin hundred came in the 49th over. In Lara's case the number is 3. But there is a reason these two don't figure in close finishes. Both play up the order, and both being the masters that they are, never leave things to the last over. If they are in the act, the team is home comfortably. No heart attacks. I am certain Sehwag's stats would be no different.

Myth No 8: Tendulkar doesn't win ODIs abroad

Nineteen of his 33 centuries that came in victories, were scored away from home. Fifty-eight per cent. Lara outscores him in this department. Twelve of his 16 centuries in victories were scored abroad - 75%. But Sachin's record is more balanced.

Finally, let us not forget he played consistently for 24 years, with clockwork precision. He indeed is the Run Machine. Coming from a Dravid convert, these statistics should carry some weight.