Master’s stroke

Mona

Dreaming at the age of 10 and realising it at 38, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s journey has been the stuff dreams are made of! As Sachin: A Billion Dreams hit the screens amongst a rousing reception, we talk to some cricketers from the region on what gets him sobriquet — the God of cricket!

Humble soul

Cricketer Reetinder Sodhi, who has had the fortune of playing along the God, remembers his debut in 2000 when Sachin Tendulkar would call him in his room and motivate, “It was as if all the pressure was suddenly off and all one wanted was to give one’s best.” This ‘humility’ is what Reetinder hails as the best about Tendulkar. “At that pedestal in our country...things can go haywire, but not for him. He was always a player; and still he is the same humble, grounded soul... still just a call away,” shares Reetinder

Although he knows the story of making of the great cricketer first-hand, he wants to see it on big screen, “I know it all but still want to see the struggle, the story of Sachin before he became Sachin the great!,” says Reetinder, who is certain that this epic tale is bound to motivate sportsmen across the country.

Work ethic

For city-based cricketer Karanveer Singh, 29, the ultimate idol has been Shane Warne, but like every Indian Sachin Tendulkar has been the guru. This first-class cricket player, a bowler, isn’t awed by the records the master blaster has set, but his work ethics. “What I idolise in Tendulkar is how focused he has been on his game, both on the field and off it,” says Karanveer. Sledging, controversies; not once anyone knows of having Sachin lost his calm and the lesson he has taken home is, “To be prepared; one cannot just walk to the field and expect miracles. One has to be consistent.”

True icon

A Virat Kohli fan, cricketer Nikita Chauhan, again is not for records that Sachin has made but his consistency and persistence, which she finds worth emulating. “Over the decades, Tendulkar has stood his ground; you will not find another icon like that,” she says.    

Inspiring story

Gur Inder, a cricketer from Barnala, shares that the more he knows about Sachin’s life, the more inspired he gets. “Where do you find someone who has made record like 15,000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches?”questions Inder. Obviously, this cricketer, who is waiting for his class 12th result, is going to watch Sachin: A Billion Dreams along with his fellow cricketers!

[email protected]

Success story

yuvraj singh @YUVSTRONG12

Great the man greater the story @sachin_rt billion dreams beautifully put together by James erskine go watch it.   

Kapil Dev @therealkapildev

I wish #SachinABillionDreams a great success. Because no one can match you @sachin_rt. 

Abhishek Bachchan @juniorbachchan

Sachin isn’t just a person, he’s an emotion... India’s emotion! And after they see his film, the worlds emotion. congratulations @sachin_rt

Tax-free in Maharashtra 

Sachin Tendulkar’s biopic has been declared tax-free in Maharashtra. The decision to waive-off entertainment tax has been taken by the state government to honour the contribution of Tendulkar in the world of sports and to ensure that the film reaches maximum number of people in theatres. The film has been previously declared tax free in Odisha, Kerala and Chhattisgarh. —PTI