Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives.
- BBC Sports, on Sachin Tendulkar
When I first started following cricket, little did I know that it’ll become a way of life, for me, just like the millions of others like me in my nation. There is something very beautiful about this game, the sheer concentration that a batsman requires to make that illicit figure of a hundred runs, or the brilliance of tactics followed by a spinner, like a spider which spins a web around it’s prey, to hunt down the batsman, or even the toil of a work-horse, the pacer who runs down yards to generate that perfect delivery, quick-accurate with a hint of late deviation in the air or off the pitch. A dream for every cricket lover in the world, a sunny day of test match cricket at either the Mecca Lord’s, the ground that cheers a good shot, unbiased, weather from the bat of an English, an Indian or an Australian or even at the noisy Eden Gardens, where 60K people oooh and awww in unison to give that special reverb, the one that sends a chill down every players’ spine.
This game, my word, this game is nothing short of a phenom…
And a country of two billion fanatics who live, eat, and dream the sport know exactly what I am talking about. A country which stands still whenever their team is on the center-stage, a country that spends more money than any country on one sport and prays, not for their personal success, but for the success of their cricketing heroes.
There’s cricket, then there’s
A lot has been said and written about this genius, his technique, his concentration, his love for the game, his all an all gentlemanly ways. I am just too small to say anything when it comes to his batting. The enticement that he holds over the cricket-loving fanatics is nothing short of miraculous. Last evening I saw him in his devastating best, mutilating the South African bowling attack (one of the best in the world), to all parts of Gwalior’s Captain Roop Singh Stadium, reaching the pinnacle of ODI cricket, scoring a much talked about double century.
What I noticed the most was, at the end of the knock, Sachin had a different grin on his face. Now I, along with billions of others are accustomed to the century celebrations that we have been a witness to for over 20 years and more than 120+ instances, his bat, raised in the air in his right hand, and his helmet in the other, kissing the Indian flag resting proudly on the helmet and a thanking look towards the heavens. The historic image that has been immortalized by Madame Tussauds.
Along with all this, Sachin carries that formidable grin on his face, the mark of a confidant man, the conqueror who has beaten all odds, proved himself fit of all the adoration and love. The alpha-male who has made minced-meat of the best bowlers in the world, and I daresay, destroyed many careers. But what that grin also signifies is the respect, the tough morale, the humility and the grace of a near-perfect sportsman.
But last evening, the grin was different.
As soon as Sachin removed his helmet to that run off the second delivery of the final over, the whole world came to a pause (I had Goosebumps). The double whammy was lauded and again came the very similar response by the master, but there was something strangely acute about this time, the grin that Sachin posed for his historic innings was the grin of saying a thousand words. Some of those, which I am able to decipher, are:
- There goes another one (read: record)
- You tried your best didn’t you Jacq (Jacques Kallis)
- Wait a second, lets get to 400 and then celebrate (team score)
- This excitement won’t let me sleep all night! (What he doesn’t know is that it won’t let any Indian Cricket Fan sleep all night!)
Hah, basically, I am just too meager to think what the little master (little puhleeze!) could be thinking. Much was said before the Malaysian tri-series, the one that marked Sachin’s second coming after an excruciating injury, when the so called cricketing pundits predicted Sachin’s end, and Ponting’s rise as the next king of Bat! I would love to hear them now, eating a humble pie (along with their words of course).
And for the Marathi Maanoos (yes, here they come, my favorite punching bag!), Sachin still plays for the country, and if just once, the marathi manoos (the real marathi who loves being an Indian first) realizes what their idol preaches, these crazy nymphs will have nowhere to run!
I wonder how he would react to Sachin’s comment at the presentation ceremony!
Bal Thackrey- “No, this innings is not dedicated to the people of
For the world, Sachin is a sportsperson who has exceeded all norms of excellence and performed beyond par, but for us Indians, he is and will always remain GOD.
Congratulations Sachin, Congratulations
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