Sachin Tendulkar: Stories from a legend's debut

In a team that had some of the big stars of Indian cricket including Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and K Srikkanth, three debutants made the squad for the all-important tour of Pakistan in November-December 1989.
Fast bowlers Vivek Razdan, Salil Ankola and 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who had by then made a record of sorts by scoring a century in each of his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup debuts, went different directions as far as their international careers were concerned since that tour across the border.

While Ankola's only Test appearance was also Tendulkar's debut match in Karachi from November 15-19, Razdan played in only two Tests (in Faisalabad and Sialkot). And, Tendulkar went on to play for almost 25 years, setting nearly every batting record that one can imagine.

Razdan first met Tendulkar at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 1987-88 and the manner in which the little teenager batted in the nets, he knew that here was someone special.

"The way he batted against us when some of the senior (Tamil Nadu) cricketers avoided to face us at the Pace Foundation, we knew he was different to all other boys of his age at that time," Razdan, 46 and a television commentator in domestic matches, recalls.

The Pakistani public was curious to look at a 16-year-old school boy who is out to take on the giants like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Abdul Qadir among others.

"The day after we landed in Lahore, we played a benefit game to raise funds for Imran Khan's hospital. Wherever we went, the buzz was around because everybody was so anxious to look at the 16-year-old schoolboy who was picked for that tour of Pakistan, which probably was one of the best teams ever. The buzz was equally about India having three debutants. We could feel it," says Razdan.

From boy to man
After intensely-fought first three Tests, all ending in draws, Pakistan were desperate to win the fourth and final game at Sialkot, where Tendulkar was felled by a Waqar Younis bouncer. Razdan remembers how Tendulkar even rejected Imran's offer to go inside, take rest and come back to bat again.

"Pakistan were hell-bent on winning the final Test and the series. A green wicket was prepared in Sialkot. There was a lot of juice on the surface. For the first time in the series, we were able to take the first innings lead. India made 324 and Pakistan, 250. In no time, we were 38/4 in the second innings and we a day to bat. That's when the Waqar incident happened.

"Those days, Sachin did not wear a visor. He was lucky. The ball could have hit him straight on the face. Luckily, it hit the flap of the helmet and went right on to the nose. He started bleeding. Salil was the 12th man. He and the doctor rushed in.

Even Imran said, 'chote, chot lag gayi hain. Chalo, baad mein aajana (Boy, you are hurt. Go in and come later). Sachin insisted that this was not the time to go out. 'My team needs me outside at the moment'. The way he and Sherry (Navjot Singh Sidhu made 97) batted, despatching Waqar for a couple of boundaries was remarkable. Sachin made 57 and that was a special knock in the drawn encounter. That was an indication that something big was about to happen.

"In our families, 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds are spoon-fed by parents and here was a 16-year-old away from his family, all alone, with that passion and thought process of 'the team needing me' instead of thinking about blood.

That moment transformed the boy into a man. The grit and determination he showed gave us enough indication of what was to come. Obviously at that time we did not know he would go on to play 200 Tests. But we knew he was a special talent, a special boy," Razdan, who took 5//79 in that Sialkot Test and was never to play again, says.

If Tendulkar had passed the baptism by fire in flying colours, he showed the world that he meant business in that exhibition match in Peshawar after the scheduled ODI had to be called off due to bad weather on that tour.

Razdan recollects: "Before Sachin took on Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over en route to 18-ball 53, it was 19-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed, who was hit for two sixes in an over earlier. And, Sachin could really hit long, even for a 16-year-old.

One of the sixes landed in the second tier of the stadium. Qadir then said "Bachche ko kya marte ho? Mujhe marke dikhao." (Why are you hitting a youngster? Hit me). When Qadir came to bowl, he hit him for four sixes in an over. Qadir clapped at him at the end of the over, took his cap and came out of the ground. Such kind of a knock was unheard of in those days. These were glimpses that showed you this guy was different."

It was also the same series before which the BCCI and the players ran into pay dispute. Some of the senior cricketers refused to tour before being convinced to do so. The players were offered a tour fees of Rs 50,000.

Razdan recollects that the senior cricketers earned greater respect from the debutants for keeping them away from such issues. "We (Sachin, Ankola, Razdan) were the only three to sign that contract of Rs 50,000 tour fees.

We were paid Rs 25,000 before the tour and the rest on return. We three being new, the seniors said why involve the debutants, 'let's keep them out', said the seniors including captain Srikkanth, Kapil paaji and Ravi Shastri," Razdan says.

Doubts after failure
Tendulkar has often said that after making 15 on his Test debut, he had doubts if he'd play another Test. But Razdan says that the feeling one got in the team was that Tendulkar would play all the four Tests.

"The best thing about Sachin was right from the first day he knew he would be in the playing XI. That gives you a lot of confidence, regardless of what happens. Right from the word go, the team was formed with Sachin in it.

He made 15 in his debut innings and probably as a cricketer, he'd be thinking he'd not play again. But the feeling in the dressing room was that when you take a 16-year-old, there is no point in keeping him out. With all the buzz and the atmosphere, it would be unfair to drop a player after scoring just 15 in the first innings," remembers Razdan.

He says that the tough Pakistan tour, in which India came back undefeated, was an eye-opener for all of us and gave us an insight to what international cricket was all about. "You cannot get a better atmosphere. Either you break or become big," he says.

From playing with Tendulkar, Razdan has turned into television commentator. The last time he met Tendulkar was after the batting maestro's last Ranji game in Lahli in October 2013 prior to his farewell Test series.

Getting better each time
Cricket can be good to some, cruel to some others. While Ankola went on a couple of India tours and appeared in 20 ODIs till1997, Razdan played only 29 first-class matches before quitting in 1993-94.

Within a month of returning from Pakistan, Razdan was on the flight to New Zealand with Tendulkar and the rest of the Indian team led by Mohammed Azharuddin.

Tendulkar came close to becoming the youngest to score a Test hundred. At McClean Park, Napier, Tendulkar fell for 88. Razdan remembers how inconsolable Tendulkar was at missing the chance of scoring his maiden Test 100 in only his sixth Test.

"You could see how hurt he was feeling on missing out on the opportunity. Even Kapil paaji tried to console him. After that, however, in his next tour to England, he scored his first 100 at Old Trafford. With each series, he was much tougher and gaining experience," says Razdan, who played in the tour games in New Zealand.

Razdan, who is seen carrying Tendulkar off the ground during one of the games in New Zealand, says he was heavier than he actually looks.

"In an one-dayer in New Zealand, Sachin had cramps. As I was not playing, I rushed to help him out. We called for a stretcher but it took a long time to come. As Sachin was limping, he said to me 'why don't you lift me up'. He was very heavy, bone heavy. When I was taking him halfway down the ground, I saw the stretcher coming and said 'I'll put you on the stretcher'. He said, 'No, no, I am comfortable'. I said, 'you may be comfortable but I am not, and if I carry you further, I will need the stretcher.' He put his arm around my neck and was so comfortably sitting in my arms," says Razdan.

Another memorable incident that Razdan remembers involving Tendulkar is when he bowled captain Azharuddin a bouncer during nets.

"We went for practice one day and the pitch was a little damp. Bedi paaji (cricket manager) said the fast bowlers will have an off day and the part-timers would bowl. Azzubhai went out to bat without a helmet. The new ball was given to Sachin. Off the second ball, he bowled a bouncer and Azzu fell on the wicket. Sachin's response was, 'why call me a part-timer'. At that point, the practice was called off with only people knocking against spinners. He patted on his bat and said, 'I've got strength in my shoulders'," Razdan reminisces.

And it is on these shoulders that Tendulkar carried the hopes of a billion fans for the next two and a half decades. And it all began on this date, 26 years ago.