Widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time, Sachin Tendulkar recently shared a fascinating anecdote from the 2007 home series against Pakistan.

In one of the games, speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s delivery cracked Sachin Tendulkar’s ribs. As soon as he took the blow, the Indian batting legend realised his ribcage was broken.

Tendulkar’s opening partner Sourav Ganguly also felt the same and the latter walked up to him and said: “Tu toh champion hai rey, you won’t go back to dressing room!” Sachin said at the Infosys event.

Detailing further about the episode, Tendulkar said the pain was such that he couldn’t speak but he was in no mood to go back to the dressing room.

“Dr Ganguly was at the non-strikers’ end! He heard it (sound of ball crashing into the ribs) obviously. I told Ganguly chup! (Keep quiet, I can’t talk!). And I am not leaving this place, don’t worry. It was a serious blow; like someone punching you at 95 miles per hour.”

“I said I will play on. I knew there was some drastically wrong. The first thing I felt was the sensation of throwing up. I had to control that. I didn’t want to show the bowler that I am injured. It’s about controlling what you want to show and what you don’t want to the bowler. It’s about mind games as well.

“Dada (Ganguly) was I think the captain and was worried that I would go to the dressing room. So, I told him don’t worry, I am going to continue batting,” he narrated.

In fact, Sachin Tendulkar didn’t only bat in that game but he also toured Australia with the same injury.

“I couldn’t sleep for long time or even cough. I couldn’t lie on my back. I couldn’t even laugh. There were some characters in the dressing room; so I had to choose my evening partners carefully!” he stated.

After the culmination of the Australia tour, Tendulkar went for a check up for some other injury and that’s when his broken ribcage was detected.

“That’s when the doctor did a scan and hotspot showed my ribcage. He said you have broken your ribcage! I knew that but couldn’t share it with any body. It’s not just me, there are number of athletes who play with broken parts all over the body. Playing for India is a huge honour and nothing can replace that.”

When the host asked when he chose cricket or cricket chose him, Tendulkar replied, “I chose cricket. I was passionate. A beautiful journey began; I had some amazing moments. I have been always wanted to get better. We have been brought up at home and by coach that never think you are bigger than sport … you can’t get bigger than sport. No individual can get bigger than a profession. From there you can only fall down. That was the simple rule at home. When something good happens to me, we will offer sweets to god.”

(The Indian Express Inputs)