A Sharjah-based Indian pediatrician has defied a Covid 19 attack to piece together a unique web museum that displays wondrous video footage of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s epic 22-yard fireworks.

Dr Mandar V. Bichu launched TendulkarCricket.Com on the little master’s 49th birthday — April 24, Khaleej Times reported.

The 400 videos on the site include one in which  a teenage Tendulkar showing his wondrous talent by hoisting Pakistan leg

spinner Abdul Qadir for four consecutive sixes in his career’s maiden international trip in Pakistan’s Peshawar.

Tendulkar’s exploits against the likes of legendary New Zealand pacer Richard Hadlee, West Indies quick Patrick Patterson, Australian leggie Shane Warne, South African speedster Dale Steyn as also Pakistan tearaway Shoaib Akhtar have also been brought to life on the website.

The willower’s fabled duels against Pakistan’s two deadly Ws — Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis – are also there for all to enjoy.

“Whenever I would go to YouTube to check out different innings and watch some of his past matches and innings that I had not seen earlier, I would realize that there’s such a wealth of material which has been posted by many cricket admirers,” said Mandar.

 “But since it’s not in one place, it doesn’t offer archival value. So that is why I wanted to put them all together in one place. And I have always believed, you know, in the importance of preserving history for the future generations.”

Even a severe Coronavirus infection earlier this year could not deter the Tendulkar fan.

“I was hospitalised in January and recovered after a one-and-a-half-month battle with the disease. So, this project brought back joy through these nostalgic Sachin moments during those bleak times,” he said.

The museum also features rare Tendulkar interviews as well as interviews with other players acknowledging the Indian genius.

“Listening to legendary players like Richard Hadlee and what they said about Sachin makes you realise his greatness even more,” shares Dr Mandar.

Dr Mandar is yet to meet his hero, though he was fortunate enough to watch from the galleries the masterly hundred Tendulkar scored in 1998 at Sharjah.

“I was fortunate to attend his ‘Desert Storm’ in 1998. I witnessed that magic at the Sharjah Stadium,” he said referring to Tendulkar’s stupendous 143 against Australia in a match briefly halted by a sandstorm.

(SAM)