In the inaugural edition of The Sportstar Trophy in 1987, a 15-year-old Sachin Tendulkar guided his team, Dattu Phadkar XI, to victory. His all-round performance also helped him claim the Player of the Tournament award.
Years later, during the silver jubilee of The Sportstar Trophy in 2010, Tendulkar said: “We looked forward to playing this tournament. I still remember when we used to play, a lot of former Test cricketers used to come and watch us to assess talent at the junior level. The Sportstar Trophy provides competitive opportunities to Mumbai youngsters.”
On Tendulkar’s birthday, here is the report from the inaugural The Sportstar Trophy, which was published in The Sportstar on November 7, 1987.
Tendulkar thrills all
For 15-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, it was great moments to cherish in the six-day THE SPORTSTAR trophy tournament conducted for the under-17 age group. The Shradashram school boy gave an all-round display in all the three league matches against Khandu Rangnekar XI, Vijay Manjrekar XI and THE SPORTSTAR XI to help his team, Dattu Phadkar claim the honours in the inaugural year of the championship.
Rated as a selection grade tournament by the Bombay Cricket Association to choose its team for the West Zone Vijay Hazare trophy, there was over 300 boys for the selection trials. The BCA junior selection committee picked up 60 to form four teams.
Sachin Tendulkar scored a brilliant 158 against Vijay Manjrekar in the opening two-day league tie and followed it with another 97 and 75 against THE SPORTSTAR XI and Khandu Rangnekar XI. He was also among wickets, taking five for 45 against "THE SPORTSTAR" XI. He was given the "Player of the Tournament" award, a full cricket kit. In the first two matches, he won the "Man of the Match" awards.
THE SPORTSTAR XI which had lost to Dattu Phadkar XI and Rangnekar XI recorded it first win, with Rajesh Sanghi scoring a fine 119. Manjrekar XI, Rangnekar XI and THE SPORTSTAR XI tied with three points each, but the Thane team was declared the runner-up on superior quotient.
National selector, Mr. Raj Singh Dungarpur, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution function, said the tournament would provide opportunities for the youth in Bombay to show their talent.
"Man of the Match" awards: First round: Sachin Tendulkar and Mayur Kadrekar; Second round: Sachin Tendulkar and Mahesh Gadgil; Third round: Rajesh Sanghi and Rahul Ghanpule.
"Man of the Tournament": Sachin Tendulkar. — G. Viswanath
Read more from Sportstar archive
Into the heart of a teen sensation
Sachin Tendulkar on Sportstar Cover: 1989 to 2000
Sachin Tendulkar on Sportstar Cover: 2001 to 2013
Sachin Tendulkar's Sportstar Posters
Sachin's life on the fast lanes
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