Published: Nov 14, 2013, 01:22 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 14, 2013, 01:22 PM (IST)
Sachin Tendulkar (centre) poses with journalists on Wednesday after practice session © IANS
By KR Guruprasad
Sachin Tendulkar and media
After his net session, Sachin Tendulkar spent a few minutes posing for pictures with the media contingent covering his final Test match. He was presented a memento for being the first to play 200 Tests. While senior journalist G Viswanath (The Hindu) recollected names of scribes who had covered the Master Blaster’s debut match 24 years ago, he forgot one. “I think (LP) Sahi was present,” quipped Tendulkar, naming the sports editor of The Telegraph. “Even I keep track of you people,” he added, inviting peals of laughter from the mediapersons.
Fair play
Well, it’s Tendulkar’s farewell Test alright. But wherever you look inside the Wankhede Stadium, it is Virat Kohli’s smiling face that greets you. It is the advertisement for a fairness cream that screams from every corner of the stands. Well, what could be a better place to publicise a fairness cream than a cricket ground where thousands brave the sun and earn a tan and players invite melanin explosion. Well, who are we to judge! All’s fair … , like they say.
Centuries galore
If you are going to be at the Wankhede, do have a look at the roof over the stands. It has been lined by hoardings listing Tendulkar’s 51 Test centuries, in chronological order. Each hoarding has a picture of the batsman with other players and different personalities associated with the game. In other words, it has nothing to do with that particular match. Also, try to ignore the fact that these hoardings alternate with advertisement boards. A few bucks extra never killed anyone.
(KR Guruprasad is Assistant Editor with DNA, Mumbai. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, he has been associated with the sports pages of newspapers for the past 10 years. He has also worked with the Indian Express and Hindustan Times. Guruprasad is learning to play classical guitar and loves to read. He has also authored the book “Going Places: India’s Small Town Cricket Heroes”. The above article appeared first in DNA)
