The last word | In praise of... Sachin Tendulkar
He owns the record for the most matches, the most runs and the most centuries in Tests and ODIs, but he probably wasn't the game's best batsman (Bradman), the most destructive (Richards) or even the most elegant (take your pick). He never scaled the peaks set by his peers such as Lara, Ponting and Dravid. His Test average finished lower than other prolific contemporaries, Sangakarra and Kallis. He never scored enough match-winning knocks in ODI finals, or third/fourth-innings of Tests as even his own teammate VVS Laxman. He never scored more than 250 in a first-class innings, let alone a triple-century. The list could go on, but it would serve little point. For Sachin Tendulkar's greatness transcended his achievements.
It's a classic tale of boy meets bat, yet unlike the oldest plot device, there were few twists and turns in this love story. A journey that began nearly thirty years ago, has finally reached its destination. An epoch ends, yet the show must and will go on.
The retirement was overdue, the series was yet another example of BCCI autocracy, and the biggest losers were the South African paying public who deserved better. But setting all that aside for a moment, could anyone really begrudge Indian cricket's greatest servant, one final wish to hang up his boots in front of an adoring home crowd? I challenge the naysayers to remain so even after witnessing the emotional carnage of the last few days. We will nary see the likes of it ever again.
What set him apart was his consistency. He was successful at every format and barring the last couple years of his Test career, remained successful at every format throughout the twenty-five years of senior cricket. Dravid and Laxman may have won more Test matches, particularly abroad, and the likes of Dhoni and Kohli have probably won more pressure-cooker matches in the shorter formats. But no other Indian cricketer satisfied the masses as the Little Master. He may have set and played for milestones, but few could deny his commitment to the Indian cause. Yet for all his godlike stature, cricketing prowess and humility, he was not without his faults or free of controversy. But what point would it serve to list it all out? For Sachin Tendulkar's moments of weakness were rare and fleeting aberrations, the exception rather than the norm. Besides, this is a time of celebration, of the career of India's most successful sportsman. There will be time for criticism later.
As the dust settles & the reality of a Sachin-less era sinks in, the abiding memory of my greatest sports hero, will be his calm yet bold demeanour, as the weight of mad expectation reigned around him, in the cauldron of our beloved cricket arena.
This entry was originally posted at http://mcgillianaire.dreamwidth.org/2218168.html.
It's a classic tale of boy meets bat, yet unlike the oldest plot device, there were few twists and turns in this love story. A journey that began nearly thirty years ago, has finally reached its destination. An epoch ends, yet the show must and will go on.
The retirement was overdue, the series was yet another example of BCCI autocracy, and the biggest losers were the South African paying public who deserved better. But setting all that aside for a moment, could anyone really begrudge Indian cricket's greatest servant, one final wish to hang up his boots in front of an adoring home crowd? I challenge the naysayers to remain so even after witnessing the emotional carnage of the last few days. We will nary see the likes of it ever again.
What set him apart was his consistency. He was successful at every format and barring the last couple years of his Test career, remained successful at every format throughout the twenty-five years of senior cricket. Dravid and Laxman may have won more Test matches, particularly abroad, and the likes of Dhoni and Kohli have probably won more pressure-cooker matches in the shorter formats. But no other Indian cricketer satisfied the masses as the Little Master. He may have set and played for milestones, but few could deny his commitment to the Indian cause. Yet for all his godlike stature, cricketing prowess and humility, he was not without his faults or free of controversy. But what point would it serve to list it all out? For Sachin Tendulkar's moments of weakness were rare and fleeting aberrations, the exception rather than the norm. Besides, this is a time of celebration, of the career of India's most successful sportsman. There will be time for criticism later.
As the dust settles & the reality of a Sachin-less era sinks in, the abiding memory of my greatest sports hero, will be his calm yet bold demeanour, as the weight of mad expectation reigned around him, in the cauldron of our beloved cricket arena.
This entry was originally posted at http://mcgillianaire.dreamwidth.org/2218168.html.