Hysteria in Kolkata
We round up of the buzz from Kolkata, where it's Sachin, Sachin and more Sachin
06-Nov-2013
The man and his wax statue • ESPNcricinfo
"Passions are running riot in India," writes Tanya Aldred in the Telegraph:
Tendulkar, a notoriously private man, if serenely patient, is said to be unamused by all the fuss. But all this is nothing compared to the plans for the match itself - surely dreamt up by an official emerging from a hallucinogenic afternoon.
The Times of India lists the events that the Cricket Association of Bengal has lined up over the next five days:
The West Bengal government plans to set up 200 giant screens across the state.
More than 20 billboards have gone up across the city quoting cricketing legends like Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Kapil Dev and Barry Richards praising Tendulkar.
Match tickets have become a collector's items since they have sketches and photos of Tendulkar printed on them.
And Gideon Haigh lists more in his blog in the Australian.
The Gulf News' KR Nayar has more on the Sachinfest.
Tempers ran high as a journalist from a leading newspaper daily was prevented from entering the venue. A heated argument in chaste Bengali reached its crescendo when the police categorically noted that the gates will not be opened for the day. Screams from journalists saying that they had a job to do were ignored by policemen who retorted back that they were also doing their job and following instructions.
Officials from CAB too failed to convince the police to let the journalist in until they got clearance from the police headquarters. There was suspense as to whether Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would leave without addressing the press since the Indian team was nearing the end of their practice session. Finally the police men yielded and all journalists marched...something that resembled a procession.
Meanwhile Oliver Brett, writing in the Firstpost website, says Tendulkar made many British Asians fail the Tebbitt test.
He connected strongly with British Asians - mostly second or third generation immigrants - who came to cricket grounds in much greater numbers in the years that followed, to see him bat, and to chant his name. They watched satellite feeds of him scoring runs elsewhere across the globe. They compared his great deeds in online discussion forums.
Even their mums were besotted with him, because he was so well-mannered.
In the Hindu, Anil Kumble says he's happy Tendulkar didn't work more on his legspin bowling otherwise he would have found himself out of the team.
In the Hindustan Times, read about Tendulkar's childhood in Mumbai.