Even though his life has been an open book cricket wise, the book actually brings out many of his personal moments, his feelings at different occasions (what exactly was he going thru when his 100th hundred was not coming along so easily while the media craze was affecting him physiologically), his childhood – how hard he practiced – all days, his time when he lived at Aunt’s place because travelling from his parents place was taking up all the time, the times when he had only one pair of clothes which he used to wash everyday and dry before wearing it again – mostly the pockets would not dry off!, the times when he used to sleep only on dinning table so that he could play again quickly. And much much more insightful information from the God himself.
This book will also enlighten you on amount of torture a sportsman’s body goes thru. Sachin talks about all the injections he took, at various parts of his body, medicines, operations and surgeries that his body part has gone thru. In one such occasion when he was going thru a surgery, he actually woke up in the middle of operation to confirm that they are not cutting him wrongly so that his grip for batting does not get altered! Now that’s what I call passion.
Sachin never talks ill about anyone and has been the most humble sportsman ever. In this book he has spoken frankly about few people in the Cricketing world and justifies exactly why he is doing so. I like frankness.
The book is full of stories from inside the dressing room, funny ones indeed. Also, a lot about superstitions – people who know any professional cricketing person would know that all players are very passionate about continuing doing what they are doing while things are going well for the team. For eg, when someone is playing well, people in the dressing room do not move, they do not even got to the loo! Many such incidents have been described in the book. Also, Anjali (Sachin’s wife) hardly came to watch him play, she used to sit in a particular place at home and watch him play, praying.
Sachin’s love story is also very interesting, you got to read it to believe it. The first time Anjali came to Sachin’s home, he told his family that she is a journalist coming to interview him! Cute 🙂
His love for food has come out very upright in the book, he describes the dishes he had at various places, the favourite restaurants and the places where he went repeatedly and sat at the same table and ordered the same dishes when he was doing well in a particular test match. Phew! 🙂
And who can forget his farewell speech, very very emotional. You can read and watch the full thing – click here
Have a good read. Book is available on Amazon and Flipkart