In a nation like ours where sporting legends are born with every century or a five-wicket hauls and buried once the
performance drops, Sachin Tendulkar has stood the sands of time, much like a red wine—-getting better with age.
As I sat dropped in my chair, watching the Master craft YET ANOTHER ton in Tests, I didn’t worry about the
statistics, I did not bother to have food even though the Great Man went and had one. All I wanted him was to bat,
bat and bat some more. There have been countless cricketers who would have caught the attention of the fans for a
few seasons but Sachin has managed to gain respectability that transcends age-groups.
Mind you, it is not about records that make you get goosebumps everytime you see him stride into the middle. The
crowd is always on its feet everytime he goes to bat and hits a boundary. If VVS is about style, Rahul Dravid about
solidity, Sir Vivian Richards about power, Sir Don Bradman about finesse, then Sachin is all the names rolled into
one.
The mundane Monday suddenly turned into an exciting one as Sachin reached yet another century. His feet were moving
quickly, the dependence on singles more than the boundaries showcased his intention to fight it out against a top-
class opposition. The Master still was able to judge the singles and bag those boundaries, a trait that most of the
batsmen of the modern era have failed and how. While Sehwag has been fluent on any day, grafting singles and
maintaining the momentum is something he will need to work upon. VVS Laxman is a god-gifted soul whose timing is
second to none. But running between the wickets is an area where he too falls short and so is Rahul Dravid. Running
between the wickets is not about technique, its about judgement. It is about knowing the opposition thoroughly
before setting off for a run. Sachin went from strength to strength and it appeared as though he was batting on
memory, knew the gaps, filled in with those shots that were hit with precision.
Tendulkar’s greatness comes from the mere fact that he was ready to play the waiting game. Again, like a well-oiled
machine, Tendulkar shift gears at will. He went from 93 to 105 on top gear, hitting shots that would fetch maximum
runs and then dropped gear.
It was an example for everyone (both cricket fans and non-cricket fans) who had a chance to watch the great man’s
knock on Monday. The love for anything (I mean it, everything) can lead you do some crazy things in life and how
can there ever be an example better than Tendulkar.
In one of the interviews, Tendulkar was asked–what he loved most in his life? The answer to it is something we all
know.
I can’t thank you enough Tendulkar. There are way too many instances you have given us to celebrate and frankly, don’t know how this country will pay obeisance to one of the greatest ambassadors of the game.
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