PUTTING Sachin Tendulkar's latest feat in a strictly cricketing context would not be fair to the sportsman. His achievements in the world of cricket need to be seen on a par with efforts in any field — science, art, literature, etc — to push the frontiers of human excellence. There is no doubt that scoring a half-century of centuries is a remarkable feat in itself. This achievement speaks volumes for the cricketer's temperament and his ability to adapt to changing times in the sports world. In fact, 20 years is a long time in the international sporting arena. Surviving for that long takes courage and determination. It is, as such, also about having enough passion for the game over that long a period to keep one's fitness level at the requisite level.

Sachin Tendulkar, needless to say, has all these attributes and more — class, for instance. It is no wonder that he has survived two decades, and has, in fact, ruled the cricketing world. His exploits even when he was less than halfway through his career caused people to draw comparisons with Donald Bradman, who is universally seen as the greatest cricketer ever. Tendulkar has established himself as the modern era's equivalent of the iconic Don. The many feathers in his cap appear to justify this perception. He has no more points to prove to anyone. For the cricketing world at large, it has been a privilege to watch Sachin Tendulkar demonstrate his remarkable skills. There is hardly anyone who would disagree with this, especially as his talent on the field has been observed for several years now. Today, it is just about celebrating a cricketing giant who goes by the name of Sachin Tendulkar.