The Man and his moment

Photo courtesy:Cricinfo

21 years at the helm of International cricket and counting (comprehensive 9 months lead over my age). This is the span for which SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR has been playing international cricket, with not only ‘longevity’ being the amazing part but the ‘quality’ of his cricket and the determination in his face that continues to attract my attention.

The face might have started to crumple with wrinkles; the gray hair might have found their way in black sea of hair but the passion and focus remains the same. They say – Statistics don’t lie. The man owns almost every single batting record. 200 in ODI, most centuries, most runs-you name it, he has it! Still there’s a humble look in the man’s face that says I am not done. The hunger to perform never satiates. There is a sense of perfection in the shots that leave his bat, as if a magician is weaving his magic and all you got to do is watch and admire!

Yet in his cupboard, what eluded for all these years was a coveted trophy that INDIA bagged yester night. Like a  fairytale, the scene  setup in the background of that historic win was Wankhede in Mumbai. Mumbai, was the very same place when an ‘out of form’ Sachin was booed at his home ground after a series of flop scores. In 2007, Greg Chappell had asked Sachin to step down. Cricket experts had predicted the end of his career. He was scathingly criticized of having lost all his ‘steam’. But every time the fingers have been raised, he has silenced the critics with his majestic innings. At an age of 38, he is the most consistent Indian batsmen in last two years. He might have lost the aggressive young flair of 1996 but he’s still the linchpin of whole Indian batting line-up. Time and again, he has implemented the old cliché of ‘Actions speak louder than words’. On 2nd April 2011, when he laid his hands on the trophy-HE DIDN’T PROVE A POINT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T NEED TO. Even if he had failed in the world cup, that would have needed no justification. But being the champion player he is, he rose to the occasion!

In the coming time, Sachin might hang his boots. The meticulous duty he has done for Indian cricket will always be remembered by people all over the world. The word SACHIN will always remain associated with the word CRICKET. But the void that he’ll leave in international cricket will be never filled...

Hats off to the man who’s made INDIA proud.

PS: Proud to have watched him play once!