Mid-Day Anniversary Special: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar reminisces about his first-ever print interview

Sachin Tendulkar, Cricketer

Just over a year ago, I visited Light of Bharat restaurant. I was in Shivaji Park and did so for some childhood nostalgia. I was told the owner of the Irani restaurant had placed the mid-day clipping of Sachin Tendulkar’s ostensibly first print interview under the glass top of every table. 

Now, not only have the clippings disappeared from the restaurant, but I also doubt if the restaurant can still be categorised as a pure Irani joint. I didn’t ask why they have stopped drawing mileage from the ‘historic Tendulkar interview’ on my visit though. 

I did not know of the milestone then, but learnt  a casual conversation with a run-machine schoolboy in 1988 would be termed as a ‘first’ with the print media through Sachin’s elder brother Ajit in his book ‘The Making Of A Cricketer’. 

Sunil Warrier at Light of Bharat nearly four decades later. Pic/Satej Shinde

Recently, yours truly and Sachin Tendulkar exchanged perspectives about that first print interview. Sachin said,  “My family and I were ecstatic about the interview where things were written about me and how the future could be if I continue performing like this. For any athlete appreciation and encouragement acts as a tonic. The journey from there on was magnificent, but there is no feeling to beat how I felt on being covered so extensively for the first time.”  

As he was scoring a deluge of runs, Sachin’s name appeared regularly in the morning papers which reported on Giles and Harris Shield matches. The late Sharad Kotnis, then veteran journalist, was I think the first to write about Sachin in what we term today a ‘table-top’ piece, which was a compilation of all his recent scores, in mid-day’s rival afternoon paper. 

In mid-day we were groomed to write differently, especially from the morning papers, to avoid repetition and give readers a new perspective. The only way to achieve that was to speak to Sachin, hopefully get some good quotes and then construct the story. Easy job, isn’t it? On the surface that might seem so, but try coaxing some words from an extremely shy teen who knew only how to make his bat talk and you will realise the futility. He was distinctly overawed and nervous, and answers were in monosyllables. 

Sachin said about his diffidence then,  “I was shy and nervous because it was the first time in my life that I was giving an interview. I didn’t know what to expect. That was my nature. If I did not know someone, it would take me time to open up.” 

On my part, after wrapping up the afternoon edition and preparing for the next day, I planned to reach Shivaji Park during the lunch break of Shardashram’s match. It went to plan and I caught Sachin’s attention as he was walking back from one of the pitches close to the Maharashtra Rajya Scouts and Guides building.  

I recall asking him, ‘Hello, I’m from mid-day. We want to interview you. Can I talk to you after the day’s play?’ I strained my ear to hear the “hmm” which I assumed was a responsive affirmation. ‘Ok, then, see you in the evening’. 

Since Sachin was not batting as Shardashram team were fielding, I chose to have an extended siesta at my grandparent’s house which is on the periphery of the park. Returning just prior to umpire’s calling end of day’s play, I realised the presence of his brother, Ajit. Apparently, a nervous Sachin had called Ajit and asked him to come in time for the chat.  

Sachin recalled his brother’s presence, “Ajit was present for my initial three to four matches when I did not score many runs. We then felt that his presence was making me slightly conscious and my focus was where he would be standing. He then decided to watch me play hidden from my view, sometimes behind a tree. Initially, he would travel with me simultaneously making me understand train and bus journeys in Mumbai. Soon, I would go with school friends.” 

We decided on conducting the interview with ‘bun-maska’ washed down by chai at Light of Bharat, which was the closest restaurant which fitted into my budget. I clearly remember that it was Ajit who answered questions on Sachin’s behalf as we occupied a corner table.  

Sachin remembered recently in an email interview, “I think part of the interview was conducted at Bharat Cricket Ground. Of course, I remember having Irani tea and bun-maska. I would love to do that again there. It will remind me of all those days.”  

 Today, if people get a chance to read the mid-day piece, one realises that all his answers are summarised in the last four paragraphs. ‘Who is your favourite cricketer? Which are your favourite shots? Which other sports do you like?’  

Then, I remember admonishing Sachin, gently, on not being confident while answering in English. Didn’t his family try to make him smarter? Today, I squirm at this very thought that I had even dared to do so.  

Sachin said, “At home I was never judged, the environment was very supportive. Nobody said, ‘why aren’t you doing this?’ The message was conveyed to me, but in a positive way. We were focused on finding solutions. I was understood. And the understanding was what can be done on the field. Not many were doing what I did in my school days. And my father understood that. ‘Whatever you are doing, don’t take shortcuts,’ he would tell me.”  

It was pure happen-stance that it was I who conducted Sachin’s first interview. When friends and relatives gloat in borrowed pride, I say tongue-firmly-in-cheek that had it not been for me giving him the exposure at an early age, Sachin would not have gone on to score tons of runs. 

Light of Bharat and I are merely insignificant cairns in the celebrated life and times of Sachin Tendulkar. 

The maestro who was monosyllabic has the last word. He said,  “I’m not surprised that my first interview still holds eyeballs. Whenever I think about it, it brings a smile on my face. It’s like scoring the first 100, one never forgets that.”  

1988
Year of Sachin Tendulkar’s first ever print interview