East-West brothers

At the highest peak of fame, often two conquerors find themselves envying each other. While climbing up, they will forget about the sportsman spirit, and would do everything possible to out-do the other fellow. But when the peak has been scaled but a gutsy and a hostile wind threaten to being them down, then the two men, join hands and face it out. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are those to conquerors, who have stood by each other whenever external forces have threatened to bring them down.
"Those people are mad who questions Sachin's ability," remarked Sourav in a supporting gesture, when chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar unleashed an attack on seniors. That was two days before the Chandigarh ODI. On the match day, Sourav again displayed the elder-brotherly gestures while opening the innings with Sachin.
Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken had made Tendulkar's life miserable as they were literally talking with the ball. The Master Blaster was beaten, bruised and for once his eyes spoke the language of a tired man. Sourav read that. After every ball that Tendulkar failed to hit, Sourav went up to him and told him that it is just the passing phase. From the other end, Sourav himself launched a measured attack and in a bid to take pressure off Tendulkar he perished. Perhaps, he had done justice to his role for the match which was assigned to him by none but himself. As an experienced campaigner who has learnt to overcome adversities through grit, Sourav simply inspired Sachin to live and fight for another day.
As an opening duo, Sachin-Sourav has emerged as the best in modern day cricket. But it is not just the numbers that speak for them, but it is the understanding of each other's strength and weaknesses that makes them a wonderful partnership. Quite often the Mumbaikar has realized that Bengal tiger is not getting the ball in his sweet spot, and has tormented the attack all by himself.
The ability of both individuals to give other one the leeway and breathing space in the heat of an international match is simply unmatchable, by any other opening duo who lived in international cricket. Perhaps, that is the precise reason why all the century partnerships that Sachin-Sourav would see a 75-25 percent or vice-versa contribution. Reading the form of one another on a day-to-day basis in ODIs demands compassion and respect, and both of them have an abundance of that. This will see them notching more partnership records and also see India winning more ODIs.