The year 2014 was one in which we were treated to three sporting tell-alls of the most explosive nature – those of Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane and Kevin Petersen – which makes it hard not to look back at Sachin Tendulkar’s memoir with a tinge of disappointment.
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No scathing remarks about irritating team-mates or nuisance opponents.
Rather a glossy reflection on the most remarkable careers in the sport.
But that should not render this 500-odd page hardback a disappointment under any circumstances.
As the world’s most exceptional strokemaker, and India’s most famous son, recalls the ups and downs of life on tour, his most memorable innings at the crease and the moments that he feels define his career you get nothing but Sachin back.
You can tell it is that Little Master, the quiet hero who went about his business in the most elegantly efficient manner, with outstanding results. The prose may not be his greatest achievement but the stories they convey remain insightful.
Gave the first copy of my book to my mother.Look of pride on her face was a priceless moment ! #PlayingItMyWayLaunch pic.twitter.com/tjU2bxN0sw
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 5, 2014
The most enlightening aspect of the book is Tendulkar’s biggest passion: his family.
The game’s highest run-scorer in Tests and ODIs is at his most comfortable when speaking of his love for his wife, Anjali, and two children Sara and Arjun.
For a man whose life was played out in front of billions, his private life remained exactly that. Hearing about the challenges of being away from them for months and the drive that they gave him to succeed is something you may expect but are likely to have heard before.
To this tune, the glossy photos that line the book further show a side to Sachin that you rarely see. It is far more humanised, more ‘normal’ compared to his machine-like feats with the bat that were anything but.
If there is one major disappointment, it is the Master Blaster’s failure to address match-fixing issues that occurred during his playing career.
The most notable, in 2000, came at a time that he was captaining India against South Africa and led to Hansie Cronje’s whistle-blowing and the bans of team-mates Mohammed Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Jadeja. The latter Tendulkar recalls being present when the news of his father’s death was broken to him whilst playing in England.
It may be a duty of loyalty that stopped Tendulkar from delving into this in any more depth, maybe it brings up too much pain or that he just doesn’t want to rock the boat.
Whatever the reason, you can’t help but be as respectful as you are infuriated by his silence.
VERDICT: 6/10
Not as explosive as Pietersen’s blast at the ECB or the tit-for-tat between Ferguson and Keane but an honest reflection on a hugely significant career which seems to reflect a truly humble, out-of-this-world sportsman. For the stat lovers, each chapter’s look back at Tendulkar’s form over that period of reflection is a treat.
WHERE TO BUY: All good bookstores, most bad ones and a whole load of places online.
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