Today is Sachin Tendulkar’s 40th birthday. Over these forty fruitful years, a lad of 16 in 1989 when he occupied the crease is now a legend, an icon, a colossus and a great achiever. He has made every Indian proud by his sterling performance against all the cricketing nations. He is beyond statistics, ever a fresh flower with his sweet child-like smiles and confident look.
 
Between the wickets he ran just 22 yards, but the distance is today measured in ‘light years’. On his happy birthday today let us wish him all the very best and many happy returns of this auspicious day.
 
The secret of his success according to him is, ‘I don’t think there is any substitute to discipline and hard work.’ Single-minded devotion, hard work and discipline have taken Sachin to great heights, heights that many may dream to reach. Sachin is our pride, and during this quarter century he has inspired many. To sum up his greatness Mathew Hayden, the brutal Australian opener, said, ‘When Sachin quits test cricket will die.’ Sachin and cricket are synonymous.
 
While wishing him a very happy birthday, let us pray for his good health and fitness to display his magic for a long period.