Ones upon a time in Sharja 1998 when Sachin Tendulkar himself said in the Interview that he was not able to sleep for 36 hrs as to take the revenge against zimbabwe Fast Bowler Henry Olonga but before going further lets understand who was Henry Olonga he was Born on July 3, 1976, in Lusaka, Zambia, became the first Black cricketer and the youngest player to represent Zimbabwe cricket team at the international level.
A right-arm fast bowler who did the debut in Test cricket in January 1995 against Pakistan and played 30 Tests and 50 ODIs between 1995 and 2003. He was known for his raw pace and was part of Zimbabwe’s golden generation in the late 1990s and early 2000s but as we said 1995 was the day when first time black person was going to play Cricket in Zimbabwe Team who grow up watching a big bowling legends like Malcom Marshal and Allan Donald but due to his faulty bowling action he was told to take training but question in his mind was that in which country to take the training as Zimbabwe board offered him many countries but he selected India ,MRF pace foundation in Chennai and then again after the training he joined back Zimbabwe Cricket Team.
But the real part of the revenge story of Sachin Tendulkar vs Henry Olonga starts in the year 1998 Sharja Cup but this was a League Match between India vs Zimbabwe as both teams were already qualified into the finals and in this match Henry Olonga did great Start by taking the wicket of Saurav Ganguly ,Rahul Dravid and then the great Sachin Tendulkar and at this situation India’s three Top Order Batsman where in the Pavilion but the point was after the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar the way Henry Olonga reacted with the rude celebration watching Sachin in his eyes insulting manner and this is the story behind that 36 Hours sleepless night and this is where the story begins to take the Revenge of Henry Olonga.
Sachin Tendulkar The Storm Before the Silence – Tendulkar vs Olonga, Sharjah 1998″
It was a sunburnt day in Sharjah. April 1998. The desert air was thick with anticipation, and only cricket lovers from 1990’s know this too well. The Match India versus Zimbabwe not a contest many would mark in their calendars, but this was different which has almost blown up the career of the youngster called Henry Olonga.
Henry Olonga raw pace, untamed energy, and a heart that beat to prove a point. He was young. Hungry and on fire. When Henry bowled to Sachin Tendulkar, he wasn’t just bowling to a batsman. He was trying to knock over a legend.
So let’s understand first why this situation was actually created lets analysis in the year 1990’s and specially in 1998 Sachin scored many Records and this decade India was mostly dependent on Sachin and therefore after taking the wicket of the great Legend ,as we said above Henry Olonga lost his control he looked into the eyes of Sachin Rudely and celebrated which insulted the legend and then it was the 36 Hours sachin was desperately waiting for the Revenge and with non stop Practice for this 36 Hour and next match was Final 1998 Sharja Cup India vs Zimbabwe and because it was final it was high pressure match.
After that League Sachin did non Stop Net Practice he saw many videos of Henry Olonga bowling and than came on field with the same confidence as he always does but on the other side Henry Olonga was in previous match Overconfidence thinking that he can regain the fluke magic like previous match but this time it was different Sachin in front of him this was it was Same players but this time, there was fire in those calm Tendulkar eyes same bowlers but different attitude.
And when Olonga returned to bowl in the finals Tendulkar showed what class batsman he is didn’t just bated well but he also responded with the boundaries and sixes to Olonga all over the Ground and this time it was completely different confidence altogether he made 124 in just 92 Ball and India Won the cup very easily and the revenge was taken.
This give clear message to Henry Olonga because legends like Sachin they don’t need to shout. Their silence is louder than any roar and Henry Olonga later said that he learned a lesson that day. About greatness about humility about the power of calm.
In the desert heat of Sharjah, cricket wasn’t just played. It taught a lesson to Henry Olonga and on the other side Sachin Tendulkar didn’t just won the match for India he won the respect Silently.
Great article