Sachin Sachin has never made any secret of the fact that he idolises India's master batsman Sunil Gavaskar. And that it is to Gavaskar he turns, whenever loss of form or other cricketing problems upset his equilibrium. Not a recent phenomenon, this - as early as August 1987, when Sachin failed to win the Best Junior Cricketer award from the Bombay Cricket Association, it was Gavaskar who realised how upset the lad would be. And sent him this letter - which is, even today, one of Sachin's favourite talismans.

Easy, upright stance. Beautifully balanced, with the weight evenly spread on both feet. Head still. Eyes straight.... Sachin was 14, when this picture was taken at the Wankhede Stadium, Bombay. And he was there because he had just become the youngest ever player to be picked for the Bombay Ranji Trophy team - no mean feat, given that the Bombay side at that time boasted no less than six Test players.