Nathiya’s Weblog

Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman with the most centuries in either form of the game. On October 17, 2008, when he surpassed Brian Lara‘s record for the most runs scored in Test Cricket, he also became the first batsman to score 12,000 runs in that form of the game, having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar has been the subject of various books such as The Story of the World’s Greatest Batsman by Gulu Ezekiel, A to Z of Sachin Tendulkar by Gulu Ezekiel, Sachin Tendulkar-a definitive biography by Vaibhav Purandare. Tendulkar’s immense popularity has led him to numerous profitable business dealings in the past. He currently has the most sponsorships out of all players in world cricket. Sachin Tendulkar was an early pioneer in India on cricket business dealings when he signed a then record sports management deal with Worldtel in 1995, the value of the deal being 30 crore rupees over 5 years. His next contract with WorldTel in 2001 was valued at 80 crores over 5 years.In 2006, he signed a contract with Saatchi and Saatchi‘s ICONIX values at 180 crores over 3 years. He is the highest earning cricketer in the world.In 2007, Tendulkar also announced a JV with the Future Group and Manipal Group to launch healthcare and sports fitness products under the brand name ‘S Drive and Sach’. A series of comic books by Virgin Comics is also due to be published featuring him as a superhero.

Pahlanji Ratanji “Polly” Umrigar was a highly successful middle order batsman and even went on to captain the national team. Tall and impressively built, he was capable of dominating the bowlers but struggled at times against express pace. A versatile cricketer, he could also bowl the occasional off spin and off cutters at medium pace. As a fielder, he often positioned himself at first-slip. He was prominent figure in the Indian side between the 40s and 60s. Playing in a rather weak side, Polly Umrigar`s talent almost always stood out. And so it was little surprise that at the time of his retirement, he held the record for the most runs and centuries by an Indian.

Umrigar`s 252 not out against Cambridge University in 1959 was an innings of high quality and was at one time the highest score by an Indian during an overseas tour. Umrigar was also the first Indian to hit a Test double century. He excelled as a bowler in the 1959 Kanpur Test against Australia claming 4 wickets. India went on to defeat the mighty Aussies in that game. Umrigar led India in a mere 8 Tests before resigning. “Polly kaka” as he is fondly called, has the rare distinction of scoring a century and taking 5 wickets in a Test. The performance came against another mighty side West Indies and that too in their home den at Port of Spain in 1962. After retirement, he continued to be involved in the game through the BCCI. Umrigar died in November 2006, at the age of 80, after losing a prolonged battle with lymph cancer. Pahlan Ratanji Umrigar continues to remain an inspiration for the future generation of Indian cricketers.

Madan Lal Udhouram Sharma coached India for a brief period in the 90s but did not taste too much success. He will be remembered more for being part of the World Cup winning squad in 1983. His statistics are not phenomenal but he had the ability of delivering with both the bat and ball. Lal played in played 31 Test matches for India and scored just over 1,042 runs averaging 22.65. He also picked up 71 wickets at an average of 40.08 and took 15 catches. He had much better figures at the first class level with 10,000 plus runs and 600 wickets.

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan a famous Indian Cricket Personalities was an able off spinner, who captained India in the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979. Nicknamed, Venkat, he also went on to become a reputed international umpire. He officiated in 73 Test matches and 52 one-day internationals during the period 1993 to 2004 following which he retired. After retiring from first-class cricket in 1985, he also became a cricket administrator and the manager the Indian Test team. Venkat was part of the famous quartet of Indian spinners in the 1970s. But he often lost out his place in the side to the other off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna, who was believed to be more talented of the two. For his all-round contribution to cricket, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003.