The Sachin Experience

Some time in the future, neuroscientists will perhaps have the answer. But right now it is impossible to say why there are distinctly different kinds of emotional reactions among Indian cricket fans while watching

a) Sachin Tendulkar and, b) Other players.

The effect produced by a Sachin masterpiece - such as the against-all-odds 175 against Australia at Hyderabad recently - appears to be unique.

This is equally true of a Sachin failure. He doesn't just botch paddle-scoops, he plunges an entire nation of a billion-plus people into a prolonged spell of mourning. As Roger Federer said of himself, Sachin has "created a monster."

Moulding our moods

It is almost as if, as a people, we believe that we are as successful or unsuccessful as Sachin is. We owe him our ecstasy; equally, he is the cause of our despair. It is quite possible that the maestro activates a reward/punishment system in the cricket fan's brain that might be inaccessible to the lesser mortals of Indian cricket.

If you believe that this is a lot of mumbo jumbo, then take time off from watching Sachin and, instead, watch people watch him on television or in the stands. It won't take long for you to see the truth.

A well-mannered, focussed legend

Australian great Steve Waugh has referred to the Indian maestro as the `(Don) Bradman of our times'.

Some of the world’s greatest cricketers have heaped praise on Sachin Tendulkar as he reaches another milestone in his career with former Australian skipper Steve Waugh paying him the ultimate tribute by calling him the “Bradman of our times“.

A day before completing 20 years of international cricket, Tendulkar’s peers doffed their hats to the batting genius, recalling their association with him.

“The last time I watched Sachin was last week when he was on his way to a spectacular 175 and once again I felt that I was watching a player who comes but once in a century. It can be said that he is the Bradman of our times and I do feel privileged to have played a lot of cricket against him,” Waugh said in his tribute.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to be used against Maoists

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be used for the first time to detect Naxal hideouts in dense forests and hilly terrains and monitor the movement of ultras to help ground forces carry out precision attacks.

The UAVs, with in-built camera, well-equipped data link and video link, will gather and record information which will be shared among the security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations, specially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

The trials of the UAVs, developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), have recently been conducted in Hissar and Delhi while more trials will be conducted in jungles of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand soon.

“We are satisfied with the UAV trials in Hissar and Delhi. If we are satisfied with next stage of trials, we will take the help of UAVs in our operations against Naxals,” a Home Ministry official said.

Security experts also want to see which of the UAV variants will be useful in forests and hills as most of the Maoist bases are located there only.

The UAVs also provide flexible surveillance and reconnaissance capability with external payload, including weapons capability.

“Since Maoists keep changing their movements, deployment of UAVs will certainly be an advantage for security forces,” the official said.

Muralitharan wants to end his last tour abroad with win

Sri Lankan spin-legend Muttiah Muralitharan on Saturday said he would like to complete his possibly last assignment abroad by beating India in their den, which his team has never done before.

The three-Test series between India and Sri Lanka will start on Monday here.

“I have played enough cricket over the years. This could be my last tour overseas. Sri Lanka has not won a Test series in India, so it would be great if my team won the series this time,” Muralitharan, the highest wicket taker in the world told reporters here.

The legendary off-spinner’s comments indicate that sooner than later he would announce his retirement from international cricket.

Tendulkar's career has been saga of sacrifice

Maestro Sachin Tendulkar will complete 20 years in international cricket on Sunday. The 36-year-old batting legend will be the first Indian cricketer to achieve the feat.

Tendulkar made his debut as an immensely talented 16-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi on November 15, 1989.

"You only get to see one Tendulkar in a life-time. In the next 100 years, you will not witness another Tendulkar. He is once-in-century-player," said international cricket's most successful bowler Muttiah Muralitharan here on Saturday while interacting with the media.

India meets Sri Lanka in the first Test of the three-match series at Motera from Monday.

And Muralitharan will be up against a cricketer who is only 39 runs short of a mind-boggling 30,000 runs in international cricket.

Tendulkar has most runs in Tests (12773 runs in 159 matches at 54.58) and ODIs (17178 runs in 436 matches at 44.50). His 42 Test hundreds and 45 ODI centuries are more than anybody else in the game.