Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian batting legend is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game. He is the only cricketer to have smashed as many as 100 centuries in international cricket.
However, the legendary cricketer has enjoyed his own share of ups and downs. Infact, the cricketer had to struggle a lot to achieve this remarkable feat as it took him more than a year to score his 100th century after having 99 tons to his name.
It was former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who got the golden opportunity to congratulate Sachin Tendulkar for his historic milestone, who in return described the mental state he was in when he brought his 100th century.
It was on May 16, 2012, when Sachin Tendulkar smashed his 100th century during the Asia Cup against Bangladesh. Sachin was involved in an 86-run partnership with Suresh Raina.
Recently, while speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Suresh Raina revealed the conversation he had with the maestro after the latter scored his much-awaited century. Raina reckoned that Sachin Tendulkar told him that his hair had grown grey while waiting for his iconic moment. Raina revealed that it was at that moment he realized the mental weight he was carrying on his shoulders. He revealed:
“After he took a single off Shakib [Al Hasan] to reach the milestone, I congratulated him saying, ‘Well done, paaji, it was due for so many months.’ He said, ‘My hair has turned grey waiting for this moment.’ That’s when I realized how much mental weight he was carrying all that while,”
Furthermore, during the interaction, Suresh Raina recalled all the fond memories he shared with the Master-Blaster on-field. Raina also labeled winning the 2011 World Cup as the most memorable moment of his career with Sachin Tendulkar. He said:
“I had many memorable moments with paaji once I started playing for India. The biggest one obviously is winning the 2011 World Cup, but apart from that, winning the CB series in Australia [in 2008], the ODI and Test series in New Zealand [in 2008-09] and becoming the No. 1 Test team. I was at the other end when paaji scored his 100th international hundred,”
