Imagine a person being under constant pressure to perform for nearly two decades, and every time he goes to his workplace. Imagining something of this ilk would really scare us, more when most of the times your team looks up to you in every crisis situation. Any ordinary mortal (including me) would have committed suicide by the end of the first year itself, but if the person is someone with very very special abilities as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, then the prediction is bound to go wrong.

This post is not a tribute just to the maestro's brilliant innings of 94 (yesterday), but to every single run he scored so far in his international career. If his innings of 137 and 141 in Sharjah were masterpieces, his 94 yesterday was nothing short of chef d'oeuvre . He already showed glimpses of his imperious batting style in the previous match where India had to win, but I reckon this was more authoritative and decisive. This innings had everything for a Tendulkar devotee - a big score to chase, India in a must-win-situation, Sachin in good form, chance to shut up critics who says he fails to score during big games and run chases.

Well! the GOD answered his fans through a purposeful and fluent innings. He was like an artist at work and a Lion after its prey, smashing the bowlers and trespassing the fielders with disdain. Though most of us (including the virtuoso himself) were disappointed for getting out in the nineties again, he has equaled Inzamam's record of 83 half centuries. Another record!

Though he has been scoring tons of runs every years, his detractors are always there at the slightest slump in his form. Columnists bark for replacements and some former players advise him to bid adieu to the game. Uh! Taciturn Tendulkar has always talked with his bat.

I think he has got to a stage where only playing for and contributing as much as to the team matters him.

PROUD TO BE A SACHIN TENDULKAR FAN