Sachin: A Billion Dreams – 5 unknown facts about Tendulkar revealed

Last Friday, one of the most anticipated films of the year, “Sachin: A Billion Dreams” hit the screens. The docu-drama, directed by James Erskine revolves around the life of India’s greatest cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar. The movie is a glowing portrait of a sports star and takes us through a journey of his lifetime, whose fortunes are connected to a billion dreams, hopes, and aspirations of a cricket-frenzy India.

The biopic, which gives a fulsome tribute to the maestro, reveals certain facts over the course of the movie which no one knew about. We take a look at 5 such revelations that left even Sachin’s die-hard fans surprised.

Sachin’s first bat was gifted by his sister

The Kashmiri willow, that Sachin was known to use was gifted by his sister Savita. Also, it was Savita who had gifted the Master Blaster his first ever cricket bat.

Producer of the film, Ravi Bhagchandka was quoted as saying, “A cricketer’s first bat is always extremely precious and special, as it marks the beginning of a journey. Sachin till date remembers that his first bat was gifted to him by his sister, Savita.”

Sachin refused captaincy for the second time

After leading the Indian team for the first time in 1996, Tendulkar was offered the role once again post 1999 World Cup but the Mumbaikar refused the role asking the board to seek a better man for the job.

Sachin complained to BCCI regarding Greg Chappell’s nuisance

The biggest culprit of Indian cricket, Greg Chappell’s feud with then captain Sourav Ganguly is no secret. The movie reveals that ahead of the 2007 World Cup, Sachin made a stand for Ganguly and also raised a complaint to BCCI to remove Chappel as coach.

Sachin met his wife Anjali for the first time at an airport in 1990

Sachin met his wife Anjali Mehta for the first time aged just 17 while returning from his first Test series in New Zealand. Anjali Mehta, a doctor by profession was there to receive her mother at the airport and was accompanied by her friend. It was her friend Aparna who revealed to Anjali that the cute guy she spotted was none other than Sachin Tendulkar, the then youngest batsman to score a Test hundred.

‘Yaad Aa Raha Hai Tera Pyaar’ is Sachin’s go-to song for emotional control

The movie discloses, whenever Sachin feels stressed or is trying to calm his emotions, he resorts to listening music director and singer Bappi Lahiri’s yesteryear popular number ‘Yaad Aa Raha Hai Tera Pyaar’, to get things back in control.