Sachin Tendulkar loved eating the best bowlers for breakfast during his 24-year reign in international cricket. But alongside his penchant for scoring runs at will, leading him to the summit of 100 international centuries, the Master Blaster is also known for his love for experimenting with various culinary cuisines.
When in the City of Joy in Kolkata, there is one dish he devours and that is the Bengali delicacy called 'Golda Chingrir Malaikari' — a delicious and sweet curry of Jumbo Prawn which is prepared with coconut milk. And when in Kolkata before an important final, it was this dish that, reportedly, contributed to his century in an important tournament final in 1998.
The Shyambazar house of former Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary Samar Paul was a favourite address for the maestro whenever he played at the Eden Gardens, much before he played in India jersey at the iconic venue.
Before the tri-series final against Kenya in 1998, Tendulkar feasted on his favourite dish, prepared by Paul's wife Shukla, whose culinary skills have been lauded by a lot of Indian cricketers. And in the summer of 1998, Eden Gardens hosted the India-Kenya Triangular Series final in what was a Day-Night affair.
And, on the day of the match, Tendulkar insisted that he would like to have lunch at Paul's house before turning up for the final. At that time, the Pauls had moved to their residence in Salt Lake.
"It made me very tense," Paul, fondly recalls in an interaction with PTI.
"I told him that he has a match tomorrow, so it's better if he could come the next day after the match gets over. He (Sachin) disagreed, 'I would catch an early flight the next morning, so I would like to come today for lunch before the match'."
"I was really tense about his health and how his body would cope after having a wholesome meal... If he doesn't perform well, and something goes wrong, fingers would be pointed at me."
But Tendulkar kept his word and ate a hearty wholesome lunch that included his favourite chingri malai curry (jumbo tiger prawn cooked in coconut milk) and mutton do pyaza.
As it turned out, Tendulkar went on to smash an unbeaten 100 to steer India's nine-wicket chase with 15 overs to spare.
"It was business as usual for Sachin and he played a gem of an innings to steer India home," Paul recalled. "He smiled at me after the match and said, 'Dada bas thoda sa zyaada khaya, usme kya farak padhta hai (I just overate a bit, but it didn't make much of a difference)," he added.
Tendulkar later gifted the Pauls family a giant portrait of himself with a message that read, 'Keep Smiling'.
Paul got introduced to Tendulkar in 1987 before he made his Ranji debut through his then-captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who was a good friend of the CAB official. "One day, Vengsarkar brought Sachin to our Shyambazar residence to treat him to 'prawn curry'.
"That was the first time he tasted chingri malai curry in his life and he was so full that they stayed till midnight. Since then we have developed a cordial relationship with him. He may have gone on to become the cricketing icon but he has maintained a good relationship and makes it a point to call us once every month, or so."
The Pauls have planned to offer puja to their ancestral deity praying for his long life on his 50th birthday. "We pray that like he has spent his 50 years, he will reach similar heights in next 50 years, bring joy to the country men," he signed off.
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(With PTI Inputs)
