First step towards cricket

Tendulkar's sensational journey to cricket stardom sparked of when his brother Ajit made him meet Mr. R.
Achrekar ( Cricket Coach ). Sachin failed to perform in the first go which made him very nervous but his brother's
persuasion led Mr. Achrekar give him another chance. Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir (High School), where he began his cricketing
career under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Ramakant Achrekar. During his school days,
he attended the MRF Pace Foundation to train as a fast bowler, but the fast bowling trainer there,
Dennis Lillee, suggested to him to "just focus" on his batting.

When Tendulkar was young, he would practice for hours with his coach. He would often get bored
of practicing. So his coach would put a one-Rupee-coin on the top of the stumps.
The bowler who dismissed Sachin would get the coin. If Sachin passed the whole session without
getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Sachin says today that the
13 coins he won then are his most prized possessions.

Turning point in his career
It was his change of school to Shardashram Vidya Mandir in Dadar - close to Shivaji Park on his coach's advice
which marked a turn around in Sachin's career. He says," I use to bat in four nets at one strech. Whenever, I use
to get tired, Achrekar use to keep a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and say, "Anyone who gets him out will
take this coin. If no-one gets him, Sachin takes it." Tendulkar till date contributes this technique in being
instrumental for enhancing his concentration. He still treasures the 13 coins earned by him during the practice
sessions.

Naughty Duo
Sachin and his best pal Vinod Kambli hold the World Record of 664 runs stand for Shardashram School in
inter-school tournament in 1988. Tendulkar candidly admits that the total would have never assumed mammoth
proportion had he and Kambli not ignored the man waving from the boundary with the coach's message to
declare.

Tendulkar's Idol
Tendulkar's idol is the American Tennis superstar-John McEnore. During his young age, he argued and fought for
McEnore with his colony friends who supported Swedish Bjorn Borg. Sachin sported a head-band, sweat-band
and a tennis racquet showing his staunch loyalty towards his idol.

Family Quirks
Sachin's wife Anjali tends to become nervous while he bats, whereas his brother has become so superstitious
that he allows the family members to only watch the match recording.

His reactions to his dismissals
On pre-mature and early exits, Sachin likes to take out his anger somewhere. He prefers to be left alone, till he
cools down.