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One evening, Sir called my father and put forward his suggestion. Ajit was in the room with my father at the time and they both accepted that it was necessary if cricket was to be my priority. My father sat me down and explained that while he did not have any objections to my changing schools, I should do so only if I was really serious about playing cricket. I assured him I was, and so it was agreed that I should move to Shardashram Vidhyamandir, where Achrekar Sir was the cricket coach. All my excess energies were getting channelled into cricket, which acted as a kind of safety valve. My father always said that all he wanted me to do was give it my best effort without worrying about the results.
In my first year at Shardashram, I played fifty five practice matches during the summer break of sixty days. My summer sessions used to start at 7.30 am and end at 4.30 pm. My evening session would start at 5 pm after only a thirty-minute break. During the break, Sir would often give me some money to go and have a vadapav (a popular Mumbai fast food).
Between 5 pm and 7 pm I’d have five more net sessions. Towards the last 15 minutes, Sir would place a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and if I managed to avoid getting out, the coin was mine. In this session every bowler in the camp would come and bowl to me, with some sixty to seventy boys fielding. It meant I had to hit every ball along the ground to survive those intense fifteen minutes. Winning the one–rupee coin used to give me immense satisfaction and taught me how to concentrate even when physically drained. At the end of it all., Sir would tell me to run two full circuits of Shivaji Park with my pads and gloves on.
Explanation:
Achrekar sir was keen on building Sachin's career, now that he had witnessed his potential for himself. But he also understands as a coach that external circumstances must not ruin one's chances of growing in the field. So he decided to address the issue and confront Sachin's father. It was draining Sachin out as he had to travel all the distance from his home to the camp, and he did not have any backup from his school. Achrekar wanted Sachin to be in his vicinity in order to keep an eye on his developments and also to train him efficiently. He, therefore, asks Sachin's father to transform him into the school where he worked as a coach. When a coach of his stature makes a request, one cannot deny it, and therefore, Sachin's father agrees, so does his brother Ajit.
Sachin's father was very particular that his efforts were not wasted and tells Sachin that the transfer of schools should not be futile and it had to be done only if he had any intention of taking cricket seriously, as the whole process happened only due to his love for cricket. Sachin, who was truly interested in the game, agreed and, true to his words, did not let him down. He, therefore, moved to Shardashram Vidhyamandir, where Achrekar Sir was the cricket coach. But his father never applied pressure saying that Sachin had to show results as he was transferred to the school as per his wish. He only wanted his son to do his best and put in all his effort instead of worrying about the outcome. Sachin, for his part, channelled all his saved up journey to the game.
Young boys practising cricket
His days at the new school was fully packed as it started from \(7.30\) am and lasted till \(4.30\) pm. He had to continue practising after a half an hour break and resume by 5 in the evening. He would eat vada pav in the break with the money given by the coach. He played fifty-five practice matches during the summer break of sixty days, which shows that he spent nearly all his time playing the game. The practice session went on till 7 in the evening. The coach was an experienced person and knew that motivation is the key to any person's success. Young children like to be gifted and recognised. He, therefore, had a routine for the last 15 minutes of the session, where he would place a one rupee coin on the wickets. Bowlers from the camp would bowl to Sachin, and he had to be careful not to get out, with around sixty to seventy boys fielding to take a catch. The motive was not to make the coin fall on the ground. If he was stumped and got out, then it means he would not get the one rupee. Sachin focussed more on the game with extreme concentration as he now had a specific motive. Apart from this, he would have to run two rounds around the ground for physical fitness with his pad and gloves on.
Ball hitting the stumps
Words with difficult meaning:
| S.No | Words | Meaning |
1 | Suggestion | An idea or plan put forward |
2 | Objection | Opposing an idea |
3 | Channelling | Direct towards something |
4 | Priority | Giving importance |
Reference:
State Council of Educational Research and Training 2019. Term 1 English Standard - 9. Learning the Game - Sachin Tendulkar (pp. 1 -17). Published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.
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