(This article I have written just after his retirement from ODI)
That day I like usually logged into my accounts of Orkut & Facebook . In one of the Sachin community of orkut, saw a thread , ‘Tendulkar retires from ODI ’ Firstly couldn’t believe that at all. These days we watch & read so much speculation about Sachin’s retirement from so called experts media cooked stories that do we believe anything on this ? So I too couldn’t. But in the same thread sad comment started appearing with Sachin’s statement. Then I became somewhat serious. Without wasting any time , quickly I visited some cricket web sites which I trust. And there too the same news appeared in bold letters. Shock & disbelief suddenly went through my heart. Though that was expected some day, not at this time, not at all ! Big Lump suddenly came into my throat . I quickly turned off my PC without reading full news. I consoled myself that keep these tears for his last ODI which he will play against Pakistan series. I of course expected he will play farewell series, because there was news day before that he is going to play Pak series. So, to know his retirement news descriptively I switched on news channels & suddenly there I came to know that he is not playing upcoming series either & Asia Cup match vs. Pak will be his last one , then I couldn’t control myself. Tears filled my eyes & memories of him facing likes of Mcgrath , Lee , Warne , Vas, Malinga , Murli , Akram, wakar , Shaoaib , Saklen, Donald , Steyn, Pollock ,Kallis , Walsh, Ambrose, etc. etc. were continuously coming . Can’t compare my that mental condition, pain & day with any other day in my life. After all, I grew with Sir Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar !
From my childhood to this day Sachin always laid his emphasis on me in many ways. What I learned from my parents or read or taught by teachers was happening live in front of me. From how to reach in a top position from common kid , importance of practice & hard work & dedication in life, how to keep head cool in hardships & how to defeat those hardships both on the ground & off the ground. Being physically handicapped it was so important to me to keep me motivated in something. I still remember the day when I first saw him on T.V. May be it was 1993 . Before that cricket was just a sport to me . Rather boring. My grandpa was a cricket fan so he was watching the match whenever it was on TV. He told me what it was all about , rules & all. Being just 4 years old it was impossible to keep this in mind. Naturally it was boring to me all time. But on that day I saw Sachin Tendulkar first time. Though cricket was not known to me 80 % , still I could see difference between him & other batsmen. How easily he was hitting the ball, crossing the boundary & how easily & rapidly he was scoring runs in comparison of others. I curiously asked mom, “Who is he ?” She replied : “Sachin Tendulkar .” From that day I am the die hard fan of him till now !
Those days of course I was still not that much aware of cricket. But became fan of Sachin Tendulkar more than a blind fan. Whenever match was there I was interested in nothing more than just Sachin. Whenever he comes to bat I was ready with my bat in home. Imitating him playing everytime. Even I was considering myself him. So was playing the same shots Sachin played . For eg. If he played cover drive on TV I was doing same on my next delivery. Forcing others to bowl the same delivery Sachin faced. And even when he got out, I also used to do the same in same way. Sometimes when he already lost his wicket before my switching on T.V. It was the huge disappointment & cry for me. My 3-5 years passed like this. Whenever he was out , I used to be always in huge surprise why he got out ? What happened wrong? It was still clear if it was bowled & high catch. But other ways like caught behind, close catch, LBW , Stumped were not always clear for me.
And may be it was the same time after when I used to take interest in Cricket fully & also in other aspects of that . It was the beginning of 1995.
And that was the period of 94 – 95 , I started to take interest in cricket in a positive way & in each aspect of it. By understanding it I became Sachin fan & admired him even more. But this time it was very different thing. The blindness of following him was gone & it was real admiration by knowing what he is exactly doing. Before that he was angel, magician, superman type for me. But that time I really came to know who was he & why he was so important to cricket. He was not god for me like any other fan I openly say that. Or should I say when I grew old more & taken interest in cricket it all came me in more realistic way. May be because am more practical & rational. But then from god he was becoming most perfect batsman I have ever seen .
That process was not complete in 94-95. It fully completed & he became most perfect batsman for me in the great year 1998.
Meanwhile I was enjoying him in more realistic way and admiring him & his greatness day by day especially in ODI cricket. Started to understanding various shots in cricket & beauty. When I first read about some batsman that his some shot was beautiful, I wondered what so special & beautiful in hitting the ball? Yes , it is thrill but beauty? I understood the beauty in it when saw Sachin hitting drives all over & fielders running to get a ball. Many of his great innings I witnessed in that period. Test cricket was more difficult to understand because of more calculations, two inning total, lead , trail, follow on & all that. ODI was simple like ‘ team scoring more runs , wins’ also test cricket was time consuming. So because of schools couldn’t see it more like that of Test cricket. ODI cricket was simple, less time & still no less skillful cricket than test cricket. That because of legends in almost every team making opponents win very difficult. Only geniuses could overpower them . Tendulkar was of course greatest brand ambassador of ODI cricket.
And in this atmosphere came the ‘World Cup 1996’ in India.
It was the real treat for cricket fans like us. By this time I gained the much more knowledge of cricket at least in ODI . And I started to admire other legends in cricket also. In that decade of 90’s cricket saw more legends than any other decade. But still Sachin was hero & was king of cricket undoubtedly. Till this time I only watched India’s matches & teams against which India played. But this was the real chance to see the different legends & teams on same platform. And it was a wonderful experience for me. Again it was proved that Sachin is way ahead than any other. And it was the same time when I first saw India loosing even when Sachin performing. And it was the time when the whole world sensed how team India dependent rather totally on Sachin & leaving everything on him. In fact whole India including me expecting Sachin to win the world cup for India. Because he was totally on his peak of his career. ( Well, this man was in his peak form almost everytime. But those 10 years from 1993 -2003 really define him as Sachin Tendulkar) But all were forgetting team consist of 11 players. But this man was having no complaint whatsoever. In a game of Australlia I first witnessed how Indian batting is entirely dependent on Tendulkar. That was a real showcase match in Mumbai my hometown. All were interested in Sachin –Mcgrath, Sachin- Warne battle same like me. Aus scored 250 runs. And at that it was a match winning score like 300-320 of today. World class bowling attack in almost every team except India was the reason, And on those conditions two early wickets lost early. And then Sachin started raining in boundaries. He totally attacked mcgrath & started rain of shots everywhere. Took 25 + runs in first two overs of him. It is still considered horrible run rate in this time. That time it was tsunami + hurricane. Same he done with Warne. It was a trailer of Sachin – Warne epic battles in future. 250 runs were looking at a cakewalk for India. And after 90 + runs Sachin stumped on mark Waugh ball. His most rare form of getting out. I was frustrated & strongly felt “ Match geli” (Match slipped through India’s hands) same happened. Then came semi final of Sri-Lanka. The day of my b’day. India’s win & Sachin’s century could be a real gift for me. But on that day after toss India put Sri lanka bat. Though was not fully aware of reason , still cursed Azhar because batting first was not anytime good decision to put opponent in pressure. Later some years when I read about this match then I realized how biggest blunder that was because that was a turning track. Batting second on slow & turning pitch was suicidal. Still in this condition bowlers managed to pick jaysurya early & restrict Sl to 250. And then again Indian batsman started felling like house of cards. But as usual Sachin was raining runs & playing defensively whenever needed. Unaware of what is turning pitch I started to wonder what is happening to all batsmen & why only Sachin can play? Later when I read about turning track , respect for him increased 10 times because that defined the class of him . But on that day only Sachin could get 65 & after his wicket India was 8-120 & match given to sl because of spectators anger. Those memories I still can’t forget & in that w.cup. I learnt valuable lesson in life, whatever the situation is, may nobody help u , but true warrior should get going.
From that world cup, Sachin became close to my heart & somebody close rather than just my hero. Also pride of India & me. Sachin started to become inspiration in my life than just hero. I thought I can’t be a cricketer & can’t be him but I will be like him someday.
Again next years went the same. Tendulkar was still going strong. And the most fearsome & complete than any other day. He was impressed with match winning innings . And scene of he driving the ball beautifully straight & between covers and fielders running behind it , but it feels more like they are running with fear as if blast had happened somewhere. Same was his pulls & glances. Facing of him with bowling legends was delight to watch. Many batting legends were introduced & going strong. I enjoyed there batting too & respected them a lot. But no one can come near Sachin was became my opinion & of course still it is. Technology in cricket telecasting was also improved & they were showing wagon wheel , runs scored by a batsman etc. etc. Always it was thrilling to watch the graph of Tendulkar vs. other players. And it was many times clearly seen that Tendulkar vs. opponent team picture was most fruitful than even after adding 2-3 players other than him. As a Sachin fan it was always delightful to see those pictures especially vs. Aus to see how easily he dominated on them. I really can’t explain these experience in words. This will always be in my memories.
Meanwhile Azhar’s captaincy was started failing continuously & India was not doing well. We all wanted Sachin to captain India & so one day he became. I felt so happy that day. It was like I have recived some honor myself. But sadly it didn’t go well. He could not became as successful captain as he could be. He never performed poorly his avg. was very good & he was leading good . But he never got support from some other players. Slowly that pressure started to affect his performance & again Azhar renamed as captain. That was a sad day for me as I really wanted him to be a successful captain.
Then came that awesome innings of Sharjah, which is still considered as one of the greatest innings in ODI. That inning was really one of the perfect & finest innings of him. It was a very good innings against quality attack. Because Sachin alone played there outstandingly. I remember the every moment of both innings. First inning where it was difficult rather almost impossible to qualify for finals in those conditions. But because of his innings India not only qualified but came in the position to win. But after Sachin’s wicket couldn’t win that. Again in finals he scored & India won that tournament. I still remember most of both innings even with commentary like , “six , going going gone, what a player, what a player, the only player most closet to bradman’ then that sandstorm , even remember the straight drive which gone into non striker ganguly’s direction and he ducked & smiled back to him. Remember each & every bit of him . When he greeted with the bat, it was felt like he is showing that bat to me !
Then come 1999 world cup. Sachin played again played very well in that tournament. But more limelight & success were received by Rahul & Saurav. But there was a inning of Sachin in bristal that was greatest inning in that world cup easily. Before that inning Sachin lost his father and he went to home. But after one match absence he again came to play like a true warrior by keeping emotions aside. He played 140* against Kenya. Kenya was weak opponent , but under which circumstance he came & he played it was a real masterpiece. In Sachin’s absence India couldn’t even defeat Zimbabwe. And then he came like a soldier appearing on his duty. That time in our area recently a mall was opened. So we went to see it. I was confused because I was first seeing the mall in my life. We came into a restaurant. Indian inning was just started & Sachin came to batting. I felt relived. That was my familiar world. That was my comfort zone. And I watched the whole inning there & after the century all restaurant gave him a standing ovation. That was again a teaching moment for me a lesson of ‘Duty first’
Till 2003 again it was the same thing . He amazing all with his skills & shots & runs. Really like already said can’t write those things in words. Just unable to write these feelings into words. Those moments are precious & still alive in the memories. Period of his playing in 1993-2003 just out of this world!
Meanwhile again he became captain and started his journey with winning stroke. In this period there was so tough situation for him to face on the field. It was really high pressure period. From controversial match fixing topic to groupeizm in team. Also cheating from opponent team . In 1999 aus tour the umpiring was really at his worst. And they clearly favored Australia. Many times they gave him false out. But Sachin didn’t act rudely. That period as a captain he always had to speak a lot. But he never lost temper or criticized other players in the team. That time & every time he always remains humble in nature. Never behaves like I am the best batsman ever. This politeness & humbleness is always a very good lesson for me. Whenever I got award or received appreciation I always kept that thing in mind. When in those times match fixing topic was at it’s best. Many Indians & world cricket players were pointed in that. But for Sachin nobody could point finger on him. Because he gained that trust in all those years.
This time also he couldn’t be captain till long. He himself left the captaincy & I had to accept his decision with heavy hearts.
Saurav became the new captain. By that time match fixing was very much under control & those clouds got cleared from Indian cricket. Under Saurav & John wright Indian cricket was getting new height. Players like Jumbo, Rahul & VVS were developed outstandingly as match winners. New players like Veeru , Zaheer & Bhajji also contributed towards a great success. Sachin was always on top but burden was him reduced to some extent, unlike 90’s where team was totally dependent on him & his wicket means match gone. Now India became strong as a unit. And Sachin was contributing huge to team towards a great success.
In 2003 world cup India reached till finals after 20 years. And Sachin performed outstandingly superb with 673 runs on the whole. World witness one more greatest knock in ODI where Sachin scored 98 of just 75 balls against Pakistan. Pakistan batting first posted a huge total of 273 which was victorious for them having Wasim, Wakar & Shoaib . But Sachin from the first ball , where he took strike first time on first ball just to protect or guide Viru from Wasim’s bowling. That was again a proof of He thinks India more than himself. And he started attacking beautifully. Shoaib was too overconfident about his speed that day. And in his second over he hit beautiful six to him. Took 14 runs from his over & Shoaib refused to bowl next over ! That was enough to say Sachin was in a very different mood that day. Even with back to back wickets of Viru & Dada he kept his head cool & didn’t lost tempo of run rate. He got cramps in his legs & till the end it became very painful. But it was no need of running. Because in almost all over he was striking one or two glorious boundaries. But in the end he took runner but on very next delivery he got out of Shoaib’s ‘Throwed’ ball. Shoaib really threw the ball which became unplayable for him in that condition. He missed the century made match winning 98. But those 2 runs can’t take away greatness of that innings. Easliy one of the greatest ODI knock & my most favourite knock of him.
But in finals again when he got out, India lost. But of course there was a huge score to chase. He was committed to win the world cup. But we couldn’t do it in 2003. He got man of the tournament in that, but he said he is not happy with this award. Because he wanted the other trophy. Which again showed he values the team most than himself .
Meanwhile read many of his interviews where he spoke about his journey . His struggle for cricket , his hectic schedule of school & practice , after that practice on hanging ball in home his passion & concentration , wetting the ball & playing on it just to practice the uneven bounce. These were so important lessons in my life. And it became a guideline how to chase a dream which is your passion ! And then came the most hard phase in his life . Injury of tennis elbow!
That tennis elbow phase was the hardest phase in his life. First time in his career he didn’t played for almost a year.
And after then he faced a most huge badpatch in his career. He was not remained as a dominant batsman as he was before. He was not scoring runs that regularly that he was. And whenever he was scoring he wasn’t that Sachin Tendulkar whom all world knows. Many times gave wicket to less skilled bowlers. Talks of his retirement started and were always troubling him. Immense pressure started to fall on him. But still he was cool minded. And when he regained his form he always silenced critics with his bat. But that phase of 2005-2007 was a very difficult for me as a Sachinist. All were criticizing him & telling him to retire. I was surprised how can anyone be so rude to him to rule out the career of 15-16 year like that ? But was feeling like am alone Sachin fan left on this planet. And in the same period superstitions regarding him began :1. Watch his inning in full concentration & no disturbance 2. No surfing channels in break between overs 3. Either watch his inning start to end or not to watch at all (It is my experience that whenever I switched off during his batting he was out) 4.Switching of the mobiles completely & not to talk with anyone during that etc. etc.
About that injury he spoke later. That: “It was so tough like I was feeling like this is a end of my career. There was a phase when I couldn’t even lift a plastic bat.” But still how he kept his head cool & believed on himself. Those lines are always in my heart. Are always inspirational for me. Taught me how to remain positive in most difficult situation it helped me many ways. From difficult situations to illness. Even when I was ill & hospitalized in this October , negative thoughts were coming in mind continuously. But I always tried to kept myself positive by recollecting his lines.
After 2007 world cup again he improved tremendously. His bad patch was over & he came back to normal & continued thrashing bowlers as always. From 2009 he started to play lesser ODI’s to concentrate on test & to keep himself fit to play 2011 world cup. 2010 he had tremendous year in tests where he scored 7 centuries in that year against various teams. He played only one ODI that year. But who can forget that ?
Actually at that time it was my college exam in few days & I had to study hard for that because it was incomplete. When I switched on the T.V. for some time I saw Sachin in confident pose & in mood to thrash the bowlers. I switched of the T.V. as I had study plus I couldn’t watch it a second more because I knew I can’t watch his full inning because of study. The superstition of either watch him full or completely don’t was still fresh in mind. So deciding not to take risk I resumed my study. When he in his 150’s relative called me to say he scored 150 & still many overs are left. Now I couldn’t control myself immediately stopped studying & switched on T.V. Next 50 runs I was completely with him imagining scoring every run with him. I was so closed to him that when he touched that 200 I felt I have achieved something in my life. Even the commentary of that ball is still fresh in my mind. It was a perfect indicator that how ready he was for next world cup.
Sachin had climbed every record-mountain- from highest ODI run getter to highest Test run getter and from most number of international centuries in both formats to play most number of international matches, every run Tendulkar scores update the cricket record book on its own. Critics were saying that World Cup triumph still remains for the little master but I was knowing , cricket is a team game and winning World Cup is a team job. No one player can be accounted for winning or not winning a tournament like World Cup . But still with a career like of Tendulkar, even the smallest of doubt on his commitment disturbed me and like a five-year old kid who wants every toy he sees , I wanted him to win the World Cup this time and silence his critics for once & for all.
So then in 2011 W.C. he again gone strong & became India’s highest run scorer. He lead to many victories with Yuvi & Zaheer. But at final he again gone early like Veeru. I almost felt like crying. Felt this world cup is also gone. Memories of 2003 W.C. again came. But thankfully by Gauti & MSD’s brilliant knock we won ! That was the happiest moment for India cricket & of course for Sachin. His longest dream came true. When rest of the players carried him on their shoulders , I saluted him 100 times. Virat Kohli explained our emotions in correct manner : “ For the last 23 years , he carried nation’s burden on his shoulders. ” Those memories are again still fresh in my mind.
Then again came lean patch for him & also on India. Pressure of his 100th 100 becoming very strong day by day. And he wasn’t doing it. His average slowed down. His retirement talks again came . I was in huge disappointment & worry that what if he can’t do it ? Will he retire ? I wanted to complete his that century because I felt it was his right. And then He completed that in Asia Cup. Again joyful moment . shivering of hands , unable to speak a word. Again saluted him & his career 100*100 times. It was a pride for me that my Sachin achieved that stage.
During Asia cup movie ‘Kahani’ was released. I heard lot of appreciation of it & wanted to watch it. I got ticket of movie for the day of India vs. Pak match. But then I thought I will watch the highlights later , because that was a suspense movie friends could reveal the suspense & will spoil the fun ? Who knew that will be the last ODI match of him?
The pain of couldn’t watch him in his last innings will always remain in my heart. I wanted to give a proper farewell to him. And player like him deserves proper farewell more than anyone. I really felt sad on 23rd December when he declared his retirement without proper farewell.
I hope you are reading this master. Please, I request you please play in blue jersey of India one last time . You deserve the proper Farwell.
At last , What is Sachin to ODI cricket? I will say just one line : If ever 50 over format flourishes more, had glowed, became profitable , people understands cricket more easily or addicted to & tons & tons of kids coming to the cricket with a hope in their eyes, Thanks to this man !! Enough Said !!
