Can we leave Sachin alone, please?
The head sat perfectly inside the blue helmet as the Little Master walked serenely to the centre to take guard in pursuit of what was to be his 100th international hundred. For Sachin, it was not just those 30 odd runs that had to knocked off, but the fact that this century had to be off his back before the treacherous tour of Australia comes up in a couple of weeks.
From the receptionist at the hotel where the Indian team is housed in Mumbai, to the person who would be serving him lunch or dinner or breakfast, everyone would have given Sachin enough hints on the task that awaited him in the coming days and weeks.
It is often said that in India, there are a billion coaches, each having their own method of reaching landmarks and crossing milestones. To live amongst such a partisan crowd and to keep performing the way Sachin has done for the last 22 years is an achievement in itself. No amount of awards or adulations can match the pressure that is handled by Sachin.
Whenever Sachin is off the field, he is seen wearing those gigantic headphones to keep his attention away from the common man who wants a hundred everytime he walks to the centre.
For a champion who has scripted past the 100th run in international cricket 99 times before, Sachin does know how to get past that mark.
Yes, the wait for the millions will be painful and interminable. Those rasping drives and upper cuts kept the sell-out crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday on their feet, only for him to depart, six short of what would have yet another classic century.
For the media barons, the pages that were cast, statistics that were kept ready for the occasion, designers who had to step in early to the office to churn out the ‘Sachin Special’ page, will have an anxious wait. Just a little more, perhaps.
Even as he sits in the dressing room pondering over his dismissal, it will be important for Sachin and for the Indian team to realise that the topic of his 100th ton will be brought up again and again and….again. Better for the Little Master to get the thing done in the upcoming ODIs against the West Indies.
But, do you really think the analysts will breathe easy? Nay!
If Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar hits a century in the ODIs, it will be his 49th in that format. Did I hear someone say that we should then channelise our thought processes towards his 50th ODI ton?
OMG! Can we leave Sachin alone, please?
