Even as the world of cricket is beginning to wonder when Sachin Tendulkar's 'century of centuries' will arrive, another legend lent a reassuring note in the midst of the gathering doubts.
"It's only a matter of time now. He's a legend and just too good not to get it," Brian Lara responded to the obvious question while on a visit to the city on Tuesday.
"Ricky Ponting hadn't scored a century in two years till he got one at Sydney the other day. Such things happen even to the best and Sachin will get to his 100th hundred sooner than later," added Lara, not forgetting to mention that he, too, had had to endure "bad times" during his career.
"Most of the milestones Sachin is creating now will be beyond others. No one will be able to touch them," he reminded, as if to put things in perspective. Lara, who is here as brand ambassador for Trinidad & Tobago, agreed that the burden of expectations may be getting to Tendulkar.
"There will be a certain amount of anxiety, some his own and some from expectations of fans and people around him." Tendulkar has now gone 18 innings without a Test century.
Asked about Australia skipper Michael Clarke declaring the innings when he was on 329 during the Sydney Test against India, Lara joked: "Maybe he is a big fan of me."
On a more serious note, the man who has the highest score in a Test innings (400 not out) added: "I think it was out of respect for Bradman (who has the highest Test score of 334)."
On Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy, Lara, while agreeing that he has been more successful in ODIs than Tests, was not about to judge him on that.
"It's too early to judge him on that," the 42-year-old said. Lara, like most, feels Twenty20 cricket is affecting the way players bat in Tests ("the technique has taken a beating") but he doesn't feel Team India will be as seriously compromised as people make it out to be when Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid hang their boots at last. "I think the youngsters coming up can hold their own though the transition will take some time," he said.
© TOI
