This businessman saw simple boy turning a legend

LUDHIANA: He met Sachin Tendulkar when he had just made a mark in the domestic cricket and was yet to enter the international cricket scene. But now, as Naresh Sharma, a private entrepreneur of Haibowal, looks back over these years and the journey of Sachin, he feels there will be no other batsman like him in the world of cricket.
Naresh Sharma, who met Sachin in 1987-88 when he had started showing signs of making it big, says, “I met Sachin during a Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Delhi at Feroze Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi and got a picture clicked with him and spinner Raju Kulkarni.That time, I had heard that this boy is showing promise, but didn’t know that he will make it so big in the international cricket”.
“I remember that I told him that I have heard a lot about him and wished him luck. He was bit shy, very soft spoken and down to earth and he continues to be known for these qualities even now”, he adds. Naresh, who finds Sachin’s innings against Australia in Triangular cup in Sharjah as favourite, says “Those innings wherein he demolished Australia are the greatest in one day cricket.”
“I don’t think that any batsman in the world will ever achieve what Sachin has during his cricketing career. It feels good that he is retiring after attaining everything. He has contributed so much to Indian cricket and I am sure he will continue to inspire young talent”, said Naresh.
Another resident, who met Sachin on his 39th birthday at his friend’s brother’s party at Chandigarh on April 24, wants Sachin to visit small towns and cities to tap young talent.
Ranjodh Singh, a reputed architect from Canal road, “It was an honour to meet Sachin. I have heard much about his great qualities and found him to be a very decent, humble and down to earth person. Apart from being a great cricketer, he is a great human being that makes him so special”.
“Having achieved so much in world cricket, we want Sachin to take another responsibility of tapping young cricketing talent in small towns and cities across India. I also want him to come to Ludhiana”, adds Ranjodh Singh.