The beginnings of a magical connection
It was way back in 1997 that the connection between the Little Master and his ‘little’ Master was forged. It happened via another little master and cricketing legend, Sunil Gavaskar. Sachin considers Sunil Gavaskar as his mentor and guide in ways more than one and it almost seemed like a play of destiny that Gavaskar brought Sachin to his Lord and Master, Sri Sathya Sai. The way Sunil Gavaskar became a staunch devotee and follower of Baba is an altogether different story, with its own thrilling narrative. It would suffice here to say that Sunil Gavaskar, by then, was convinced that Swami was the Lord of his life and he felt that the least service he could do to his favourite cricketer was to get him also to Swami and let him experience divinity.
The magical meeting and connection happened towards the end of 1997 when, out of the blue, Swami told two champion cricketer-devotees, Sunil Gavaskar and Erapalli Prasanna, to arrange an international cricket match in Puttaparthi! What seemed as a nearly impossible proposition indeed, happened on the 27th of December when the Indian XI led by Sachin Tendulkar took on the World XI led by Arjuna Ranatunga in the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup match. In the organising committee were EAS Prasanna, Sunil Gavaskar, Alvin Kallicharan, Clive Lloyd and Zaheer Abbas while a plethora of international stars participated.
Sachin had his first meeting with his Swami. I remember seeing him stride into the Sai Kulwant hall in a white T-shirt and blue jeans a day before the match. Swami wanted to ensure that the players are happy with the pitch. He set out in His car with Sachin in the front seat next to the driver and Ranatunga and Gavaskar on His either sides in the back seat! They say that God chooses the perfect time and perfect situation to enter a devotee’s heart. Sachin’s heart was blessed to become a home for Swami on that blessed day.
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