“Come Down To Earth”: Sachin Tendulkar’s Message To India Star Pacer Which Impacted His Performance

Many have been inspired by the cricketing great Sachin Tendukar, both on and off the cricket field. Meanwhile, the legend himself has always been supportive towards the players he played with. Recalling the encouraging words of Tendulkar, pacer Varun Aaron revealed how the cricket veteran boosted his morale and that “changed” his Test debut in 2011. Aaron was attempting to take his maiden Test wicket when India have been battling West Indies in their 1st match in the format at Wankhede. This is when Sachin motivated him to keep going.

The Wankhede Stadium was the venue for our game. It was a really flat wicket, and the West Indies were 500 something for four. And I was really down. I was twenty one years old and hadn’t bowled 21 overs without a wicket. While Sachin Tendulka was standing at mid-off, he squinted at me and inquired, “Why do you look so down?” I was like, you know what, Paaji, I’ve never bowled 21 overs for no wickets. Aaron told BCCI in a chat that he was surprised by this taking place on his first appearance.

“Come here, he (Sachin) says. We stopped mid-over and he said,’ Do you know I waited 22 years for my first World Cup Trophy? Not a problem in case you have to wait 21 overs prior to getting your 1st wicket. Please come down to earth and get bowling. I was like, Man, really, that makes so much sense. I caught Darren Bravo (166) behind the ball the following ball. Then got two other wickets – Carlton Baugh and Daren Sammy. And that just changed my debut.

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“Sachin Tendulkar: few words. I had also induced an edge off Marlon Samuels, but it was dropped. In my 26th over I was flat out, gas out and bowling. If I had gotten that wicket, you never know, I would’ve gotten one more over from MS Dhoni and may be a fifer as well. It was merely a powerful spell influenced by Sachin Tendulker. And it just shows you that these very small things can actually change careers, change a debut for somebody.”

Aaron played 9 Test matches for India and took 18 wickets. In February this year he ended his red-ball cricket playing days.