Most of the people with whom Sachin has been constantly compared in his career, have been gifted. Vinod Kambli (in his teenage); Saeed Anwar, Mark Waugh and Brian Lara from 1996 to early 2000 ; Sanath Jayasurya and Steve Waugh for a brief period and now Ricky Ponting. But its not enough to be gifted alone - Kambli is a case in point. To enter stadia in blue colors for 20 years at a stretch requires dogged determination and above all - enormous passion for the game. 

After so many years of apprehensive admission, Sir Vivian Richards finally whole-heartedly admitted today that Tendulkar is better than Brian Lara. This is a comparison that has been beaten to death right from the days when I started watching cricket - 1996. Flair, grace and talent have their place in the scheme of things ; It is only consistent hard-work and passion that bring sustained success to a person. 

Sachin Tendulkar has that special ingredient which separates the 'Gifted and successful'  from the 'Gifted and Drifted' - Focus. For me, he is a perfect manifestation of the 'Hungry and Foolish'. He has stayed so all this while and I hope he stays the same way in the future too. It'd be great to see his final run tally show this- 

Congratulations Sachin!

You have been there(everywhere) and done that(everything).