Run-hungry in school, ton-hungry in Ranji

MUMBAI: That Sachin Tendulkar had serious talent was evident by the Himalayan peaks he had scaled as a schoolboy in the Giles Shield and Harris Shield. By the time he was 15, he was ready for a much higher grade of cricket though. Mumbai cricket's grapevine also ensured that news about his feats reached the right ears at the right time. New Zealand were touring India for a three-match Test series in the winter of 1988 and were playing the second Test in Mumbai. Tendulkar was invited to the nets by the then Indian skipper Dilip Vengsarkar and made to face Kapil Dev and other bowlers. The poise he displayed in that net session was noticed by the Bombay selectors and he soon made his Ranji debut a fortnight later.Recalling the season, Tendulkar's first Ranji skipper, Lalchand Rajput says, "We were to play Gujarat. Tendulkar already attracted huge attention. He had scored tons of runs at the junior level and people were constantly talking about his talent and powers of concentration. I had never seen the boy wonder till then and as a captain I was eager to see him bat. On match day, I asked Raju Kulkarni — former India pacer — who was quick and had a good bouncer, to bowl at Sachin. He faced him with ease. What struck you was the amount of time he had." The former Indian coach and opener reveals that while Sachin was in the 15, drafting him into the 11 wasn't easy. "One set of people felt that Sachin was too young and it would be better if he gets a feel of the Mumbai dressing room atmosphere. The others felt he was in fine nick and should be played."Among those who were worried that the boy may get injured was then chairman of selectors and former India fast bowler, Ramakant Desai. "He told me, 'Don't pick him in a hurry, he's too young'. Backing Sachin were former stumper Naren Tamhane and Milind Rege." Rajput opened the innings and scored 99 before being involved in a mix-up with the debutant. "During the tea break he came in and said 'hard luck' in his squeaky voice. I asked him not to worry and be sure of his shot selection and try not to be over-aggressive." Sachin scored an unbeaten 100 to announce himself on the big stage. However, Rajput feels the knock that really won him plaudits was the 88 he scored against Saurashtra on a rank turner. "He has never looked back since," he reminisces. Rajput also fondly recalls the Irani Trophy ton he scored for Rest of India against Delhi the following season. "His second innings hundred had a stamp of greatness. It prompted the selectors to pick him for Pakistan." "I was fortunate to see him bat again when he returned to play for Mumbai in the famous Ranji final against Haryana in 1991 which we lost by one run despite Tendulkar's magnificent second innings cameo. After that knock we hardly saw him on the domestic circuit as he was busy rewriting record books," stresses Rajput. He considers himself fortunate that he got to work with him again as India's coach albeit briefly. It was a period in which Tendulkar's career got a second wind and runs flowed again post a disastrous outing in the 2007 World cup. "He would still bat in the nets for hours. Nothing had changed," he says and laments the fact that he will be gone soon. "He's been an addiction over the last 24 years."