Book Review: Playing It My Way - An uncharacteristic Sachin Tendulkar innings
“What can be written new about a man whose life is a public book?”
This was the primary challenge for Boria Majumdar, co-author of Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography – Playing It My Way. Every little thing that Sachin does is news and there are scores of articles spread all over the internet.
We know it all, don’t we? How naughty he was as a child; his days at Shivaji Park; how he met Archrekar sir; his love for food; and his game which has been analyzed for 24 years. No sportsperson has ever been subjected to so much scrutiny.
So, what is new in this voluminous book that we don’t know? The answer is ‘very little’.
Most of the things mentioned in the book have been well documented over the years. The book starts with his childhood; his naughtiness; how he was introduced to cricket; the hardships he had to face, the hours he spent under the sweltering Mumbai sun honing his forward defense; numerous practice matches he played week after week; and his tutelage under Archrekar sir.
The book also reiterates the importance of hardwork. Talent doesn’t guarantee hundred hundreds! The romantic story of love at first sight between Sachin and Anjali could have been beautiful but for some uninspiring writing.
The narrative
Although many of his international matches are written in detail, the reader will feel someone has developed article after article from match scorecards.
For instance, when talking about Andrew Flintoff’s contribution in India – England match of the 2003 World Cup, the writer says, “He conceded just 15 off his ten overs and picked up two wickets. He caught and bowled Sehwag for 23 and then had me caught by Collingwood at point for 50.” The reader is bound to get bored when he turns page after page with something of this sort moving at a languid pace.
The autobiography has shown Sachin Tendulkar in a different dimension. The normally subdued Sachin has spoken on various things. The strong criticism of Greg Chappell, which was all over the news even before the book launch, throws light on the mentality of the players during his reign as a coach.
Sachin hits a sixer with his reply to Ian Chappell when he confronts him in 2010, explaining how latter’s opinion has changed with his form. He has let the world know his views on unsportsmanlike conduct of some of the Australian players during the Sydney Test and ‘monkeygate’.
Sachin has not held back his feelings on the Multan declaration and the Indian fans will find it odd that Dravid, the man who always sacrificed for the team, decided to carry on a little longer on the crucial fourth day evening in the final Test match at Sydney in 2003-04 series down under.
Taking losses so personally was never a good thing to do as a captain and that affected his captaincy. He could have fared much better as a captain with his astute cricket brain if the selectors hadn’t played petty politics and if he had found a way to maintain balance.
In some places, Sachin has been the Tendulkar of the old. Snippets of how Sachin countered a particular tactic by a bowler – countering Warne in India, Caddick at the World Cup, mastering Dale Steyn – will be enjoyable to read. However, there is no mention of why his attacking instincts were curbed in the later part of his career and the thought process behind it.
Some of the umpiring howlers to which he had been at the receiving end have been talked about, but there is only one paragraph on his views on DRS. His love for cars also finds a mention but there is nothing on the red Ferrari issue. He has not dwelled much on the match-fixing saga since he needed to be 100% sure before talking on such sensitive matter.
The emotional ride
A shiver runs down our spine when he talks about the injuries that he had sustained and the gory details of it. He has played with a broken finger, or a broken toe, or with groin problems. Many beautiful innings that put smiles on our faces were executed by Sachin in excruciating pain. He has pushed himself to the limits to do the best for the nation. He has endured the pain to achieve the impossible. Lesser men would have succumbed.
The reader will also understand how he felt when the people and media question his commitment. It must be hurting so much for a man who has flown to many parts of the world to get his injury treated so that he could play the next game.
For the most part of his career, Sachin has successfully shut himself from the outside world. However, he isn’t a saint and the scathing criticism on him when he fails has affected him sometimes.
He has contemplated retirement during some of these trying times. One such instance was in 2007 after the ‘Endulkar’ episode. Indian fans will be grateful to Viv Richards, Sachin’s hero, for providing some inspiration. In the period of 2008 to 2011, Sachin played some scintillating innings; India moved to Number One and won the World Cup on home soil.
Sachin admits to the pressure getting to him during the quest for the 100th 100. Unwanted pressure from the media has made it impossible for him not to think of anything else. The last few chapters take the reader through an emotional ride.
When Virat Kohli comes to tie a special thread on his hand during his last Test, you will find a lump in your throat. The emotional sendoff by his team, his final speech, his last ‘talk’ with the 22 yards that became his life will all bring back memories of the emotional farewell that he bid to the game he dearly loved.
Underneath the Tendulkar aura, Sachin is a simple man who is like you and me. We all crave for a celebrity status that he enjoys but he yearns for a simple life that we take for granted.
At many places, he has spoken about his desire to do simple things like a long walk or enjoying street food but fully knowing it is impossible. In his own words, it’s a small price to pay for the affection and love of the nation. Despite the poor narrative, the book promises an enjoyable ride. With every page flipped, our mind conjurs up an image from our memory.
Sachin has handled expectations quite well. But the fans will always expect more!