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Posts Tagged ‘Sachin Tendulkar’
Sat, November 1, 2008 6:49 am By James Coolridge  Printer friendly version
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 The Caribbean batsman Brian Lara, who currently holds the record of maximum runs in test cricket, feels that it’s Ricky Ponting to hold the record now. For the past three years, the world was waiting for Sachin Tendulkar to break Lara’s record. But now Lara bats for Ponting, whom he foresees of rewriting the batting records in the near future. Lara justifies his feeling by quoting Ponting as a very special player who is consistent for the last 10 years. Ponting is seen to be scoring runs all the time. The faith in him became stronger after watching him hitting century in Bangalore in the latest Test against India. This is the 36th century in Ricky Ponting’s career.
Lara calls India a difficult place to score runs. He regrets of not scoring a century on Indian grounds. By this century, Ponting has taken an additional step towards the record. Brian Lara, the retired West Indies batting god, didn’t hide his feelings for Sachin Tendulkar. Lara is known to be close with Master Blaster. Lara feels that Sachin is a great player and a player should be judged for the performance, not for the wins.
Sachin Tendulkar is just 77 runs short of Lara’s world record. The 39-year-old Trinidadian said he is extremely happy to be among an elite group of cricketers, including Gavaskar, Border, and Sachin. While Lara is confident that Sachin will cross him in a few days but said that it is not sure how long he will be able to hold this record.
He recalls the innings at the Skydome in Canada between the Rest of the World and the then world champions Pakistan, where he played in partnership with Sachin. He remembers it as one of the best moments in his career. Lara even clarified that he is not a part of ICL, the rebel cricket anymore. He also will not be coming to India to attend the ICL series.
Tags : Cricket, India, Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar, Australia, Brian Lara, West Indies, Ricky Ponting, Canada, ICL, career, Rest of the World
Mon, October 20, 2008 8:13 am By James Coolridge
 Who was the first to call cricket as unofficial religion of India and Sachin a God? Whoever may be, but he is right. Cricket spins in a lot of wealth any other game. And India is the land, where cricket reaps maximum harvest. The business of cricket is spread beyond the ICC and the BCCI. The latest three year deal between Sachin Tendulkar and Iconix, a newly formed marketing arm of international advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi will bring an easy $40 million into Sachin’s account. His business venture of restaurant’s Tendulkar’s and Sachin’s do bright business in Mumbai. Thanks to master blaster’s brilliant knocks. He also is into a joint venture with the South India-based Manipal Group for healthcare and sports fitness products. Sachin is also about to negotiate with Virgin Comics, owned by Richard Branson. He list of sponsors include big names like Pepsi, Canon, MRF, Sunfeast, Pantaloons, Audemars Piguet and G Hanz.
Sachin Tendulkar is not the only player to taste the monetary success. Another star batsman and former captain Rahul Dravid, earns an approximate annual fee of $3.5 million from endorsement deals. He endorses Reebok, Britannia Tiger, Sansui, Bank of Baroda, Max New York Life, Hutch and a series of other products. His tie-up with Reebok began in 1998 and is still going strong. By endorsing big names including Hero Honda, Puma, TCL, Tata Indicom and Sahara, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly earns a whopping sum. He charges around $350,000 per endorsement, which is not a bad amount.
Well, the payment that the players receive per game is also not bad. The BCCI has pays eight top players an annual retainer of $115,000, while Grade B players get an $81,000 retainer and those in Grade C get a sum of $46,000. Apart from this, they also get a match fee of $5,800 per test match and $3,700 for ODI matches. Well, now you can start calculating that how much a player will be earning from his cricket career. So, as I said earlier, there is nothing wrong in calling the players Gods. They are truly millionaires by every inch.
Tags : Cricket, Rahul Dravid, ODI, test, Sachin Tendulkar, BCCI, Sourav Ganguly, Reebok, Coca- Cola, endorsements, Sahara, Canon, MRF, Sunfeast
Sun, October 19, 2008 7:57 am By James Coolridge
 Have you ever thought of the value of your every minute? Can you calculate it? Well I don’t know how much I earn a minute. But I do know how much some other celebrities earn in India. And when compared to them, I am nothing. Oh, now don’t ask me why I tended to compare myself with those giants. As per the latest calculation, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar earns some $30 a minute. India’s highest-paid CEO, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries comes just after him making $10, and celluloid superstar Amitabh Bachchan, $8. These figures show how much valuable they are in monetary aspect. Well compared to them, many national leaders are too small. Indian President Prathibha Patel and Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh earn mere 3 cents and 1 cent respectively. Ok, now we can just ignore these accounts calling it baseless. But can we deny the fact that Indian cricketer’s fall in the list of super rich? This makes it clear that how huge and thriving the business of cricket is.
But never get into a conclusion that cricket always was a super rich game. No, it was not so even 20 years back. The richest cricket control board, BCCI was in heavy loss and in debts in the beginning of nineties.
Don’t you remember that BCCI had a deficit of $150,000 in 1992? The International Cricket Council (ICC), the apex body for world cricket, wasn’t in the red, but it had just $25,000 to show for its 90-year history. But now things changed with time. Should be call it effective management? The ICC is has billions in its account, while the BCCI records show a hike from $1.11 million in its profits in 2004-05 to $7.64 million in 2005-06. Really amazing the statistics are. But it was the effective marketing strategy of the BCCI that helped the cricketing body to build up such a vast wealth. Proper strategic moves including joint ventures with big brands and innovative game plans helped a lot in it. The success story of BCCI obviously raises another question. Then why are out other sports boards unsuccessful in making a neat balance sheet? Do they lack strategy? Or are they in need of some excellent brain to work effectively? Just contact BCCI if you need anyone of these.
Tags : Cricket, ICC, Sports, India, Sachin Tendulkar, BCCI, history, Man Mohan Singh, Prathibha Patel, Mukesh Ambani, deficit, 1992
Wed, October 15, 2008 7:14 am By James Coolridge
 Adidas, the German sports goods manufacturing company had operations in India for long time. But it was only after its contract with Sachin Tendulkar, Adidas became a household name. Adidas as part of its expansion drive have signed deals with many celebrities and sports persons in Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S. But the company was missing the right track in India. It was then Adidas decided to approach the cricket icon. The strategy to globalise the use of its sports icons across relevant markets has been a big success in the rest of world and Adidas was confident of repeating the same in South Asia also. The signing of the deal between Sachin and Adidas was observed curiously by the market experts. With Sachin setting out to endorse Adidas, the marketing balance completely showed a change. The market share of Adidas shot up to new heights with in last three years. (It was in 2004, that Sachin signed the deal with Adidas).
The instant success in the Indian market has made Adidas to think seriously of using the master blaster in the international levels. As per the Adidas officials, the credit for the over whelming response goes to the India super star. Adidas is also seriously thinking of using David Beckham in Indian markets as soccer also has a wide fanfare in the nation. The Adidas regional headquarters in Hong Kong still feel that the association with cricketers is not exploited fully.
“Wait till August. We will unveil some exciting cricket-related initiatives then,” he said mysteriously.
Part of this branding exercise may include co-branded products with Sachin on the lines of the branding activity Adidas is doing with David Beckham.
The feeling in the Hong Kong regional headquarters is that Adidas India’s association with sporting icons has not been exploited fully. Apart from Sachin, Adidas also has Virendra Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra as brand ambassadors. The main rival Reebok on the other hand is effectively utilizing another Indian star player Rahul Dravid for the past ten years.
Tags : David Beckham, Rahul Dravid, Adidas, India, Sachin Tendulkar, Europe, Reebok, market, sports products, Ashish Nehra, Hong Kong
Sun, September 14, 2008 1:16 pm By James Coolridge
 The Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in likely to be added into the list of ICC awards. The ace wicket keeper cum batsman’s rising stature was officially endorsed on Monday, when he was nominated in the ODI Player of the Year and the Twenty20 Performance of the Year categories of the 2008 ICC Awards.
But India’s one-day and T20 skipper will have to cut through severe competition from his own team mates including Sachin Tendulkar with 1,310 runs stands in his way in the ODI category while deputy Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over will compete with Dhoni’s captaincy in T20.
Ishant Sharmastands the fourth Indian among 29 candidates in contention for the eight individual awards. The lanky Indian pacer has also found berth as one of the four Emerging Player of the Year nominations along with Ajantha Mendis, Stuart Broad and Morne Morkel.
India found no place in the Test Player of the Year, Women’s Cricketer or Cricketer of the Year categories, and the side’s name was expectedly missing from the Spirit of Cricket category after the Sydney Test row and subsequent pullout threats.
Mahela Jayawardene, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dale Steyn are among others who have been nominated for both Test Cricketer of the Year and Cricketer of the Year, joined by Jacques Kallis in the former and Graeme Smith in the latter category.
In the ceremony will held in Dubai on September 12, the world Test and ODI teams will also be named based on performances between August 9, 2007 and August 12, 2008.
Nominations
Cricketer of the Year: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mahela Jayawardene, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn; Test Player: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn; ODI Player: Nathan Bracken, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Yousuf; Emerging Player: Stuart Broad, Ajantha Mendis, Morne Morkel, Ishant Sharma; Associate Player: Ryan ten Doeschate, Alex Obanda, Niall O’Brien, Thomas Odoyo; Twenty20 Performance: Chris Gayle, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Brett Lee, Yuvraj Singh; Women’s Player: Nicola Browne, Charlotte Edwards, Lisa Sthalekar, Claire Taylor; Spirit of Cricket: Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies; Umpire: Mark Benson, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Rudi Koertzen, Simon Taufel
Tags : Cricket, ICC, Sydney., India, Dubai, MS Dhoni, test, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Ajantha Mendis, Stuart Broad, Morne Morkel, Mahela Jayawardene, Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Sun, August 17, 2008 7:20 am By James Coolridge
 Former India cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly will soon be seen in action in front of the camera in a one-hour twenty minute-long docu-feature that will showcase the ace cricketer’s journey from childhood.
Christened as The Warrior Prince, the docu-feature is being produced and directed by Mitali Ghosal, a sports journalist-turned-filmmaker. Ghosal got struck upon the idea of making the docu-feature on Ganguly after seeing his first century at the Eden Gardens in this year’s Pakistan’s tour of India.
“It will be a documentary-cum-feature… In the sense, it will not only feature Ganguly’s cricketing highs and lows with the facts and figures, but it will also include his personal life, with inputs from his wife (Dona), brother (Snehashish), father (Chandidas) and also friends,” says Ghosal when asked about the project. .
“Many things in Ganguly’s life are still unknown… How he became a cricketer… and a left-hander…” The docu-feature will show such small but interesting things. Like an incident in that famous England tour in 1996 when Ganguly made debut Test century. Ganguly was very upset over the statement by then skipper Mohammed Azharuddin who asked the left hander: ‘Have you done your shopping in England?” said Ghosal.
To be released in English and Bengali, the film will have small interviews of Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and Arjuna Ranatunga, among others, sharing their experiences with Ganguly.
“Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh have already given their consent for the small interviews. The suitable timings of these legends are getting fixed fr the documentary. We are also thinking of approaching Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee during their tour beginning October.
“We have already shot a few during the Sri Lanka tour. Now we are looking for some old footages of Ganguly…may be the Ranji days,” Ghosal added. The film is expected to get released in December this year
Tags : Cricket, England, India, Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Dona Ganguly, Lords, camera, Eden Gardens
Sat, August 16, 2008 7:09 am By James Coolridge
 The veteran Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar along with son Arjun took part in a promotional campaign in Mumbai where he played a fun-filled cricket matches with 15 parent-kid teams.
Tendulkar had to opt out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka lastst month after being ruled due to an injury in his left elbow.
Sachin has assured his fans that his injury woes are behind him and he is ready to wear pad for the Rest of India squad against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi in Vadodara, starting on September 24.
The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India has already indicated that all Test probable would have to play in the Irani Trophy game, the squad for which will be selected on Sunday.
“The selectors will be picking a virtual Test side, barring those belonging to Delhi, when selecting the Rest team,” says BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.
The season-opening domestic fixture has assumed importance following a poor showing of some senior batsmen on the just-concluded tour of Sri Lanka, which saw Indians giving up the Test series 1-2.
Tendulkar also has clarified that he would not be featuring in a Bollywood movie as was reported few months ago.
There was news that the ace Indian batsman would play himself in Vighnaharta Shri Siddhivinayak film about God Ganesha, who is sometimes referred to as Siddhivinayak.
“There was a misunderstanding about the film,” Tendulkar clarified. “I was told there was a documentary being made on Ganpati and I was told a few are sharing their views on the same.
“I was also told to do the same and I agreed to do it and reveal how much peace I get by visiting Siddhi Vinayak Temple. There was no more discussion on the same. If they want my views on Siddhi Vinayak, I am ready to do it.”
The master blaster took the opportunity to congratulate Beijing Olympic medal winners Abhinav Bhindra, Vijender Kumar and Sushil Kumar, saying it was a proud moment for our country.
“It is a proud thing for all Indians that we won medals. It was not only the medal winners but the entire team who spent years preparing for the Games, so I congratulate the entire Olympics team.
“The athletes are remembered only if they are successful, but everyone works hard in which some win and some lose. So we must congratulate everyone because I believe it was team work that did the trick.”
Sachin also advised the authorities to provide more facilities to other sportspersons so they could prepare well for the future Games.
“I am sure we will win more medals in the future but for that we need infrastructure. We heard from all sportspersons that we do not have proper facilities, so the associations must step in and give the required facilities. We must help them and give them proper conditions to prepare for the Games so they can perform at their best,” said the demi god of Indian cricket here.
Tendulkar also revealed how he ends up playing wresting with his son and not cricket.
“We watch WWE and we end up practicing those moves. I must say I cannot underestimate his strengths.”
Tags : Cricket, Sri Lanka, Sachin Tendulkar, Ranji trophy, Irani cup, BCCI, ODI series, Siddhi Vinayak
Fri, August 15, 2008 1:08 pm By James Coolridge
 New Delhi: India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has been fallen to the 23rd position as per the latest ICC rankings. Sachin, who began the Sri Lankan series with 13th position, was dropped to his lowest ranking in 15 years after the disappointing performance against Sri Lanka which concluded in Colombo on Monday.
Tendulkar ended up the series scoring 95 runs at 15.83. He drops six places after scores of six and 14 in the third and final Test which Sri Lanka won by eight wickets to clinch the series 2-1.
This is the lowest ranking of master blaster since late 1992 after spending over 15 years in the top 20 apart from a very brief spell at the end of 2006.
Sachin is just 76 runs short of Brian Lara, the Carribean striker, who enjoys the position of leading run taker in test cricket. Tendulkar’s drop is the only bad news for India batting as others have made good upward progress.
Virender Sehwag has become the highest-ranked Indian batsman after his come back to the top 10 for the first time since March 2006. Sehwag, who knocked an impressive 344 runs in the series, has lifted one place to 10th with Pakistan’s Younus Khan firmly within his sights.
VVS Laxman, with 25 and 61 not out in the series decider, has jumped up three places to 15th position while Rahul Dravid shares 16th place with England’s Alastair Cook. Dravid improves his position by two places after scores of 10 and 68 while Cook made a jump of four places following his contribution of 39 and 67 in The Oval Test.
Saurav Ganguly has shown a hike in ranking by one place and now sits in 25th position while opener Gautam Gambhir, who was the second leading run-getter for his side with 310 runs, is in 37th place after jumping 12 places.
Among Sri Lankan’s, Kumar Sangakkara has just missed out on reclaiming the top slot from the West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The 30-year-old from Matale, who was pushed down to fifth after the second Test in Galle, has jumped to second position after hitting a superlative 144 in Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 396. But a knock of just four in the second innings, when Sri Lanka were chasing 123 for victory, derided him the top slot.
Tags : Cricket, ICC, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virendar Sehwag, Brian Lara
Fri, July 18, 2008 9:11 am By James Coolridge
 CHENNAI: The Indian skipper Anil Kumble is quietly confident of his side’s chances in Sri Lanka. He was quiet clear of India’s victory in the three-Test cricket series. “As a Test team we have done exceptionally well in the last year or so,” said the Indian captain in Chennai. “Like always, this time too we will put up a good show and ensure a series win.”
Even though several members of the team had participated in a week-long camp in Bangalore, Monday marked the first time the 16-man squad came togther for training. After two sessions of stretching, parted by a game of competitive touch rugby, the players were later divided into three groups and got engaged in fielding drills. The squad worked on close catching and ground fielding for nearly 30 minutes before shifting to the ‘open’ nets. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag were the first pair to bat, which was followed by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, and V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.
Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel tried hands behind the wicket in the nets. Both keepers also spent time with fielding coach Robin Singh. India coach Gary Kirsten was also present at the moment closely monitored the training, clipboard in hand, when not throwing down spiteful bouncers from 16 yards. “We have had some criticism for not practising enough, but this team actually practises a huge amount,” says Kirsten.
Kirsten was excited about the seam-bowling talent India has while facing Sri Lanka. “It’s nice to have Zaheer back,” said Kirsten troubled Sehwag with in-duckers on Monday. Kumble was conscious of the importance of the bowling attack working in partnerships. “It is about team work, not just the spinners handling the load alone,” says the ace spinner. Kumble feels that as generally the team knows the wicket well, it becomes the responsibility of four or five bowlers to ensure a winning series in Sri Lanka.
Tags : Cricket, India, Sri Lanka, Anil Kumble, test, wicket, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman
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