BBC special on Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
To many followers of international cricket he is simply the best there is.
India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has illuminated the sport since he burst onto the Test scene at the age of 16 in 1989.
With more than 5,000 Test runs to his name and an average in the mid-50s, he is well set to become the most prolific player of all time.
And in the one-day game he is just as powerful, despite recently being knocked off the top of the world rankings by Australia's Michael Bevan.
But with the Cricket World Cup seemingly at his mercy, Tendulkar's billing as one of the stars of the tournament is no longer as assured as it once was.
Back problem
Indeed, the 26-year-old's participation in the World Cup was itself in doubt just weeks before the start of the competition.
Tendulkar's awesome shot selection has put strain on his back
A serious back complaint had threatened to sideline Tendulkar while his team-mates headed for England.
Thankfully for his millions of fans, he has been passed fit to play - but questions remain over his physical condition.
Tendulkar first suffered the back spasms in the opening match of the historic Asian Test championship against Pakistan.
Even when the problem recurred against Sri Lanka he was still able to compile a century.
But the worrying fact for India is that this free-scoring assassin had to take care to keep his spine straight as much as possible and avoid shots that might aggravate his injury.
Transcontinental treatment
So serious had the problem become that he travelled to London in March to consult renowned specialist Dr Ken Kennedy, who has treated Ian and Greg Chappell and Rodney Marsh in the past.
The expert's verdict was that one side of his back muscles was more developed than the other.
Child prodigy: Tendulkar tours England with India in 1990
Tendulkar is reported to have rejected suggestions that he should switch from his preferred heavyweight bat to a lighter model.
But Dr Kennedy's primary theory was that the problem was being exacerbated by the hectic schedule in international cricket.
"The human body can only take a certain amount of physical stress," he said.
However, there seems little prospect of India resting their best player for the biggest event in international cricket.
Tendulkar simply means too much to his team's cause.
As his captain Mohammad Azharuddin enthuses: "He is Viv Richards, Mark Waugh and Brian Lara all rolled into one.
"Tendulkar is a virtual one-man army. He'll score a century, give him the ball and he'll take wickets, and he is one of the finest fielders in the team.
"We are lucky he belongs to India."
Low-key approach
His performances in the last World Cup, when he smashed a tournament record 523 runs in seven matches on the Indian Sub-Continent, have created a mouthwatering sense of expectation.
In 1996 he averaged an astonishing 87.17, with two centuries, plus further scores of 70, 90 and 65.
His 523 runs made him one of the genuine stars of the World Cup
This time around he will be aiming to do even better - although Tendulkar, a thoroughly modest man, is approaching the event in typically low-key fashion.
"I have my goals for the World Cup, but they are very personal," he said.
"The important thing is that India must win."
Lara, Waugh, Aravinda de Silva, Jonty Rhodes, even England's Graeme Hick - this World Cup is full of crowd-pleasing batsmen.
But none of them has quite the intoxicating mix of awesome power and sublime touch that Tendulkar displays.
India - and all of cricket - will have their fingers crossed that his back can hold up under the rigours of World Cup '99 and that he can take his place on centre stage.
To many followers of international cricket he is simply the best there is.
India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has illuminated the sport since he burst onto the Test scene at the age of 16 in 1989.
With more than 5,000 Test runs to his name and an average in the mid-50s, he is well set to become the most prolific player of all time.
And in the one-day game he is just as powerful, despite recently being knocked off the top of the world rankings by Australia's Michael Bevan.
But with the Cricket World Cup seemingly at his mercy, Tendulkar's billing as one of the stars of the tournament is no longer as assured as it once was.
Back problem
Indeed, the 26-year-old's participation in the World Cup was itself in doubt just weeks before the start of the competition.
Tendulkar's awesome shot selection has put strain on his back
A serious back complaint had threatened to sideline Tendulkar while his team-mates headed for England.
Thankfully for his millions of fans, he has been passed fit to play - but questions remain over his physical condition.
Tendulkar first suffered the back spasms in the opening match of the historic Asian Test championship against Pakistan.
Even when the problem recurred against Sri Lanka he was still able to compile a century.
But the worrying fact for India is that this free-scoring assassin had to take care to keep his spine straight as much as possible and avoid shots that might aggravate his injury.
Transcontinental treatment
So serious had the problem become that he travelled to London in March to consult renowned specialist Dr Ken Kennedy, who has treated Ian and Greg Chappell and Rodney Marsh in the past.
The expert's verdict was that one side of his back muscles was more developed than the other.
Child prodigy: Tendulkar tours England with India in 1990
Tendulkar is reported to have rejected suggestions that he should switch from his preferred heavyweight bat to a lighter model.
But Dr Kennedy's primary theory was that the problem was being exacerbated by the hectic schedule in international cricket.
"The human body can only take a certain amount of physical stress," he said.
However, there seems little prospect of India resting their best player for the biggest event in international cricket.
Tendulkar simply means too much to his team's cause.
As his captain Mohammad Azharuddin enthuses: "He is Viv Richards, Mark Waugh and Brian Lara all rolled into one.
"Tendulkar is a virtual one-man army. He'll score a century, give him the ball and he'll take wickets, and he is one of the finest fielders in the team.
"We are lucky he belongs to India."
Low-key approach
His performances in the last World Cup, when he smashed a tournament record 523 runs in seven matches on the Indian Sub-Continent, have created a mouthwatering sense of expectation.
In 1996 he averaged an astonishing 87.17, with two centuries, plus further scores of 70, 90 and 65.
His 523 runs made him one of the genuine stars of the World Cup
This time around he will be aiming to do even better - although Tendulkar, a thoroughly modest man, is approaching the event in typically low-key fashion.
"I have my goals for the World Cup, but they are very personal," he said.
"The important thing is that India must win."
Lara, Waugh, Aravinda de Silva, Jonty Rhodes, even England's Graeme Hick - this World Cup is full of crowd-pleasing batsmen.
But none of them has quite the intoxicating mix of awesome power and sublime touch that Tendulkar displays.
India - and all of cricket - will have their fingers crossed that his back can hold up under the rigours of World Cup '99 and that he can take his place on centre stage.
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