As Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his birthday on April 24, 2025, we revisit a special moment from a DP World event where the cricket legend revealed the unique childhood story behind his legendary straight drive. Sachin shared how playing cricket between tall buildings, with strict rules about hitting boundaries only through the main gate, shaped his technique and made the straight drive his signature shot. He explained that practicing to hit straight, avoiding the buildings, and aiming for the gate helped him develop precision and timing—qualities that later made his straight drive famous worldwide. WATCH.
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00:00Somebody asked me what is the straight drive behind the straight drive and I couldn't think of any answer.
00:07But I remember my childhood days where you know there were tall buildings on both sides of our pitch.
00:13And the main gate was possibly further than where these chairs are, maybe 20 yards further.
00:21And we scored a boundary only if the ball crossed the main gate and it was only straight.
00:27Anywhere else one had to run and score runs.
00:30But straight drive would give you a boundary without running.
00:35And if the ball, if you hit the ball in the air, both buildings, if the ball hit top of the first floor then the batter was out.
00:44So I practiced hitting straight without touching the building.
00:48And somehow that became a habit which indeed worked well for me because I remember number of senior players including my coach.
00:56Telling me that there is one spot where there is no fielder which is right behind the bowler.
01:02Hit the ball behind the bowler and we'll score runs.
01:04Hit the mark for runs.
01:06Hit the ball and we'll score runs.
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