India has played most of its recent cricket in sub-continent pitches and that too largely the shorter version of the game, where India-NextGen batting is quite intimidating. Will we miss Sachin all the more, will unravel over the next 9 test matches to be played on foreign soil. (Not that his test stats were any great in the last couple of years). Still the swansong of Sachin did bring few lumps in the throat and years rolled back as I listened to his farewell speech. Why Tendulkar means so much to us:
1. Baptism by fire - A dramatic narration by Sidhu and a rare footage of that wicked delivery from Waqar is all that remains to the moment when he was initiated into the rigours of international cricket. One would never know if he would become the player, if he had decided to walk back to the pavilion after being hit
2. Unbridled Joy - Backfoot cover drive, straight drive and the slash over the slips/gully were an absolute treat, and what set apart most of his shots were the minimal follow-through, unlike some of his great contemporaries.
3. Nauseating Tension - In the period 1992-2005, it felt like all was lost when Sachin departed. The first few overs when he was at the crease, determined if our day was going to be a gloomy or a day to rejoice.
4. Statesmanship and humility - 24 years in full media glare, public adoration, and money can screw the heads of many half-cooked souls, but not that of the little master; the biggest lesson his deeds would impart to the new generation of cricketers would be to maintain level-headedness.
5. Stats - 664 matches in all is also score he notched up with Vinod Kambli in their world famous harris shield partnership. Its quite incredulous to note that his lone T20 appearance helped him to reach that figure of 664 international matches. His ODI centuries might be remotely reachable, but the test appearances appear to be a in a rarefied zone.
On the flip side, many have questioned his longevity in the game, including his own former-team mates and many of his fans. Cricket is a profession and who would not like to prolong their professional career if left to them (unless compelled for personal reasons), so why single him out. If anything, it should have been the selectors who should have called time on his career.
The more you look at those footages on youtube of his yesteryear innings and even his last two test centuries in South Africa, one really wonders if there would be another Indian to match his skill, temperament, focus and determination to score runs. A true legend and probably the greatest of them all.
1. Baptism by fire - A dramatic narration by Sidhu and a rare footage of that wicked delivery from Waqar is all that remains to the moment when he was initiated into the rigours of international cricket. One would never know if he would become the player, if he had decided to walk back to the pavilion after being hit2. Unbridled Joy - Backfoot cover drive, straight drive and the slash over the slips/gully were an absolute treat, and what set apart most of his shots were the minimal follow-through, unlike some of his great contemporaries.
3. Nauseating Tension - In the period 1992-2005, it felt like all was lost when Sachin departed. The first few overs when he was at the crease, determined if our day was going to be a gloomy or a day to rejoice.
4. Statesmanship and humility - 24 years in full media glare, public adoration, and money can screw the heads of many half-cooked souls, but not that of the little master; the biggest lesson his deeds would impart to the new generation of cricketers would be to maintain level-headedness.
5. Stats - 664 matches in all is also score he notched up with Vinod Kambli in their world famous harris shield partnership. Its quite incredulous to note that his lone T20 appearance helped him to reach that figure of 664 international matches. His ODI centuries might be remotely reachable, but the test appearances appear to be a in a rarefied zone.
The more you look at those footages on youtube of his yesteryear innings and even his last two test centuries in South Africa, one really wonders if there would be another Indian to match his skill, temperament, focus and determination to score runs. A true legend and probably the greatest of them all.
