Just in case you’ve not noticed yet, I am an ardent Sachin
Tendulkar fan. This unconditional admiration comes from years of watching Sachin
as well as watching cricket in general. Reasons are several, but the most
prominent and matter of fact ones are the amount of runs & centuries he has
scored for the country at the average he has scored; the balance & beauty
of his batting style; and the dignity and poise at which he has conducted
himself both on and off the field for two and a half decades. I’ve been accused
of insanity and blind devotion by the same people who often swear by my
rationality and pragmatism. But how can one not be devoted to someone who, as
an individual has taught me about ‘challenges’, ‘meeting expectations’, ‘hard work’,
‘perseverance’, ‘greatness’ and most importantly about ‘balance’. If a teacher
like that is not akin to God, then there is something wrong with, “Guru Brahma,
Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara; Guru Saakshaat Para Barhma, Tasmai Shri
Gruve Namah” (Guru is verily the
representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and
destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru).
Not many, including those who consider Sachin as God view him from this perspective. At this point in time, I encounter various schools of thoughts. Worth mentioning are two groups. There is a group which thinks that his cricketing contribution is not big enough, there are better players than him. And then there is a group that says his cricketing contribution is more than enough to call him a God of cricket. With the former group, I’ve debated so many times with stats and figures to win the argument that I’ve lost the interest in doing so anymore. Frankly, it doesn’t seem important to me now to argue with them because I’ve realized that no amount of data and numbers will ever defeat a cynic – after all, “shaq ka ilaaj to hakeem Lukmaan ke pass bhi nahi tha” (even the best doctor does not have a cure for a doubtful person).
The latter group, however, the one that views Sachin as God for his Centuries and Runs, is the one I’m worried about the most. Not about what will happen to them when Sachin fails to deliver on their expectations, but what they will do to Sachin once he stops meeting their expectations. I was recently told by a friend, philosopher and quide – a great teacher himself – that “something that is more spectacular than watching a God being made, is watching a God fall.” It is foolhardy to expect that Sachin Tendulkar will never stop performing. That is an inevitable. The time between when he stops performing and finally decides to hang his boots will be the time when these people will switch fences shamelessly and come back at Sachin with a vengeance. Sadly, I think that time has come.
Last few of his international innings have shown that his age is catching up. Barring a few shots, his timing is not the same. This impacts his ability to play on the up and across the line. The innovator and a master of paddle sweep, the tormentor of Shane Warne when he was in his prime is finding it difficult to negotiate a turning ball. His second inning dismissal in Mumbai test against England, where he compensated his first inning clean bowled by taking an off-stump guard and eventually getting out LBW, shows that he is not able to put the bat on to that ball. Reflexes are like hair on your head, they leave you with the age. I feel Sachin, more than anyone else realises that and have expressed it to the selectors in a subtle manner, “I’m not making runs, do you think I can continue?” In heart of his hearts he knows that he is not the same little master (or a 'little champion' that Sunny Gavaskar refers to him in defiance, since 'little master' is a title Sunny felt has been taken away from him).
Sachin will probably play few more matches and if he is lucky he’ll score a century or two from here, but it is time for me to finally say that he and India is ready for him to make way for younger talent. For me there was a life to cricket before Sachin and I am pretty certain that there would be life to cricket after Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar as well. But an enigma called Sachin Tendulkar will always find a special place in my heart and soul. I am a bit worried, because as much as I admire Sachin as a cricketer and as a teacher, I know there are a lot of people who are Unforgiving to the God, especially at the time when God falls!!!
© Shailesh Nigam, Varun Khanna (for respective articles)
Not many, including those who consider Sachin as God view him from this perspective. At this point in time, I encounter various schools of thoughts. Worth mentioning are two groups. There is a group which thinks that his cricketing contribution is not big enough, there are better players than him. And then there is a group that says his cricketing contribution is more than enough to call him a God of cricket. With the former group, I’ve debated so many times with stats and figures to win the argument that I’ve lost the interest in doing so anymore. Frankly, it doesn’t seem important to me now to argue with them because I’ve realized that no amount of data and numbers will ever defeat a cynic – after all, “shaq ka ilaaj to hakeem Lukmaan ke pass bhi nahi tha” (even the best doctor does not have a cure for a doubtful person).
The latter group, however, the one that views Sachin as God for his Centuries and Runs, is the one I’m worried about the most. Not about what will happen to them when Sachin fails to deliver on their expectations, but what they will do to Sachin once he stops meeting their expectations. I was recently told by a friend, philosopher and quide – a great teacher himself – that “something that is more spectacular than watching a God being made, is watching a God fall.” It is foolhardy to expect that Sachin Tendulkar will never stop performing. That is an inevitable. The time between when he stops performing and finally decides to hang his boots will be the time when these people will switch fences shamelessly and come back at Sachin with a vengeance. Sadly, I think that time has come.
Last few of his international innings have shown that his age is catching up. Barring a few shots, his timing is not the same. This impacts his ability to play on the up and across the line. The innovator and a master of paddle sweep, the tormentor of Shane Warne when he was in his prime is finding it difficult to negotiate a turning ball. His second inning dismissal in Mumbai test against England, where he compensated his first inning clean bowled by taking an off-stump guard and eventually getting out LBW, shows that he is not able to put the bat on to that ball. Reflexes are like hair on your head, they leave you with the age. I feel Sachin, more than anyone else realises that and have expressed it to the selectors in a subtle manner, “I’m not making runs, do you think I can continue?” In heart of his hearts he knows that he is not the same little master (or a 'little champion' that Sunny Gavaskar refers to him in defiance, since 'little master' is a title Sunny felt has been taken away from him).
Sachin will probably play few more matches and if he is lucky he’ll score a century or two from here, but it is time for me to finally say that he and India is ready for him to make way for younger talent. For me there was a life to cricket before Sachin and I am pretty certain that there would be life to cricket after Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar as well. But an enigma called Sachin Tendulkar will always find a special place in my heart and soul. I am a bit worried, because as much as I admire Sachin as a cricketer and as a teacher, I know there are a lot of people who are Unforgiving to the God, especially at the time when God falls!!!
© Shailesh Nigam, Varun Khanna (for respective articles)
