Mumbai, 2011.
The big six has just been struck; there’s a wave of palpable excitement in the air.
India have lifted the very big tournament that they were so wanting to win, in the end, managing to eclipse a hefty Sri Lankan ask on their way to record their first ever World Cup win on home turf, and in the process recording a second world cup success.
The crowd is at its feet, the world is in love with the Indian cricket team, with the writers, websites, print, radio and digital media are all singing praises of Dhoni and his winning army.
And as the picture-perfect of the moment had wanted to have it- the Indian cricket team’s members are lifting the man famously described as the “God of Cricket” on their shoulders, giving the famous son of India a famous ‘victory lap!’
What can be better.
When a media person rushes close to a young, promising figure among the playing and eventually, victorious eleven, asking what “this big moment means,” he responds by saying- for many years, he has lifted the burden of the team on his shoulders, we are doing it now for him!
That’s the future Indian captain Virat Kohli and current sensation talking about the very cricketer he grew up admiring.
What can be better?
Today, as the great Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar turns 47, his famous young compatriot – Kohli the ‘legend’ himself- had a heartwarming message for the fantastic “Sachin paaji!”
In fact, where April 24 is concerned, then no longer is it a surprise to know that much of the country as famous parts of the world become one unified singular Sachin-devoted force, driven by one purpose and one purpose alone; in extending a regard to a man who has famously entertained and given the nation so much for all these years, well nearly 2 decades, to be precise.
Therefore, time and again, cricketers- some from the current and others, from the past lot- extend heartfelt tributes and level rich praises in honor of the great run-maker, also celebrated as India’s former run-machine.
So on 24 April 2020, when current India captain (all format) Virat Kohli extended his message to the very man he had famously lifted on his powerful shoulders back in the day, there was widespread attention, and as expected, keen interest in what was exchanged.
So here’s what Kohli shared on the great Sachin Tendulkar:
Happy birthday to the man whose passion for the game of cricket has inspired many. Wishing you an amazing year ahead paaji.
In a heartwarming post made on social media channels, the Virat run-maker from India extended his kind wishes for the ‘little master!’
Other than that, there were others too, who joined in the chorus and had kind and beautiful words to express about the famous legendary bat from Mumbai, such as Sehwag, who shared the following message across Twitter and Instagram handles:
True that the great man could stop time in India when batting. But the biggest inspiration @sachin_rt Paaji’s career is summed up is in these two pictures. Much needed to remember especially in these difficult times that after every adversity comes victory #HappyBirthdaySachin
The two pictures that Virender Sehwag had been referring to were from the days of India’s rather forgettable run in the Caribbean (2007 world cup) and the next, was the famous pic of India lifting the famous 2011 World cup title.