Coping with speech and memory problems, Ramakant Achrekar, the Little Master’s first coach, still watches all of Sachin’s matches, says daughter Kalpana Murkar, who oversees Achrekar’s academy.
In inter-school matches, Sachin’s game was always good, which made Achrekar believe in him, Kalpana recalls. “In net sessions, Sachin used to bat on all the eight nets. And my father used to challenge bowlers that if they hit Sachin’s stump, they’ll get a coin, else, it will go to Sachin.”
This belief in Sachin’s capabilities has now developed into a tremendous bond between the guru and the shishya. “Sachin is like family. Before every tour, he visits us to take blessings. My mother used to perform aarti when she was alive; now its my responsibility,” Kalpana says.
Sachin admires his master and even now seeks Achrekar’s advice. Says Kalpana: “He comes home and shares his practice experiences for hours. Anjali, his wife, also visits sometimes. When public opinion was against him, daddy told him not to worry but concentrate on his game.”
Sachin has been with his coach through thick and thin. “Once, when daddy was ill, Sachin got him to a centre near Pune for a month.” When Achrekar received the Dronacharya award in 1990, Sachin, who was on an international tour, called him up. “Daddy was overwhelmed,” recalls Kalpana, “but advised him to focus on the game.”
