It was easily the worst year in Sachin Tendulkar’s career. First came the slump, the injuries and then that shocking number — a one-day batting average of 27.45. And while a cricket nation kept its fingers crossed, Tendulkar kept quiet, confident that he would be back.

Last month, he was back — and how. His 148-ball 141 (13x4, 5x6) against West Indies was followed by run-a-ball scores of 65, 139 and 61 as the Tendulkar shadow loomed over the Malaysia tri-series first and the Challenger Trophy in Chennai later. Only the sycophant would have lauded Tendulkar in 2005, only the stubborn wouldn’t change their opinion now.

Now if you trace Tendulkar’s footsteps during his injury-forced six-month hiatus, one can understand the mind of a man who was desperate to change opinions. But before that you have to understand his plight during the forgettable 2005. Early last year, when India were touring Pakistan, Moin Khan, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, said, “Tendulkar is not the best anymore. His body has tired, the hand-eye coordination is gone, he’s not fit, he cannot face pace, he’s done.’’ Things at home, too, weren’t what they used to be. For the first time in 20 years, Tendulkar was booed at the Wankhede stadium during the Test against England.

That was easily the worst moment in Tendulkar’s career. Then the injuries piled up — after barely recovering from that tennis elbow, he fell prey to a shoulder injury that required immediate surgery. But many believe it was a small conversation with Indian coach Greg Chappell that saw something inside Tendulkar click. Just before the tour of West Indies this May, Chappell reportedly had a straight chat with Tendulkar. The crux of that conversation was this: “You have to be fit in time, youngsters are catching up.” With the tri-series in Malaysia showing that Tendulkar was still good enough for that 1990s tag of ‘one-man army’ and the Challenger Trophy reasserting that, Chappell, like Moin and several others, have had to change their opinion.

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