If Sachin Tendulkar never scores another Test century, it does not matter. His 41st, brought up with the decisive stroke of the game, transcended sport. Even the ground staff rushed on to the field to congratulate him and he did not push a single one away. You can add up all your Bollywood Bachchans and Khans and you will still not be able to match the affection or admiration with which Tendulkar is viewed across this vast nation.
For a country still reeling from the most heinous terror attacks it has seen, Tendulkar's moment in the Chennai sun was a time to forget, however briefly, those nights of pain. Such was his focus through the 317 minutes he spent at the crease that one sensed he knew just how significant an innings it had the potential to be.
"I looked at it as an attack on India and it should hurt every Indian, not only people from Mumbai," Tendulkar said later. "I would like to dedicate this hundred to all those people who have gone through such terrible times. In no way am I trying to say that this will make everyone forget what happened in Mumbai. I don't think by India winning or my scoring hundreds people who have lost their dear and loved ones would feel better. It's a terrible loss and our hearts are with them."
Tendulkar did not forget the others who had played their part in this magnificent match. "I'd like to thank England for coming back to play," he said. "It was a great gesture from them." The admiration is clearly mutual. Kevin Pietersen added: "Who can write Sachin Tendulkar's scripts any better? The man from Mumbai came in and scored a sensational hundred. He batted like a superstar."
Tendulkar could not resist a chuckle when asked about the flurry of Virender Sehwag strokes that left England reeling on the fourth evening. "We are quite used to that," he said. "You kind of expect something which is not expected. When Viru is batting it's always entertaining and full of surprises. He set it up brilliantly. How many players in the world can do that? Without any doubt it was Viru's contribution that mattered and we're extremely happy that he plays for India."
Sehwag may have been named man of the match but it will go down in history as the game that embellished the Tendulkar legend. "I would rate this hundred as one of the best," he said. "The win makes it even more special. I would put this one right up there given the circumstances and the surface, the weather and the target." It was far more than three numbers on a scoreboard, though. In the land of a million mutinies, as Sir VS Naipaul referred to India, Tendulkar brings people together.
