People in India, I admire the most - Sachin Tendulkar

“Commit all your crimes when HE is playing. Because even God is watching.”

 

I would probably commit an injustice to myself if I had not begun to this series without God. Every new and good things are to be started with the name of God is what we follow as a ritual here in India. Less of a ritual and more of a respect here. Yes, God here means Sachin Tendulkar.

 

I am not going to write in something extra-ordinary or something which is special or unknown to anyone. Because He is a kind of genre which is known by almost everyone in India, and why in India itself, over the entire world (well at least the cricket playing nations). Having completed 20 years in International Cricket, He is no doubt a legend to all of us. People’s love knows no bounds when it comes to Him, such is His aura.

 

Ever heard of Tendulkar fixed in news except the Ferrari incident? NO. And BTW Ferrari incident was something which was not His fault.

Ever heard of Tendulkar being banned or disqualified for matches due to indecent behavior? NO.

You name a negative thing and Tendulkar won’t be even besides it. Extremely clean and charismatic character, a boy with King Midas feature. He turned every moment in cricket into gold for His fans. We Indians are so sensitive about cricket, it being our religion. Even if we know at the bottom of our hearts that India is going to lose a match for sure, we have this unprecedented ray of hope shining from nowhere beneath us just because God is still on crease. He might not make India win it, but then too we have faith in His magic. Such is his caliber. Much like the ‘jadoo ka chirag’. And how many us switch off their TVs when He is no more on the ground? I do that. Personally I prefer football over cricket (50 overs), but when Sachin is batting, I can shed anything to see Him bat.

 

A short heighted man with ruffled hairstyle, extremely calm and composed body language, guided with pads and helmet and an MRF run scoring machine in His hands -  He is totally a disaster for the opponents. After 20 years of playing world class cricket, almost all the top notch bowlers know His weakness in batting and can articulate a strategy to get His wicket in the initial overs of the match. But then too, no one dare to under-look or ignore His stature. They have got to get a strategy even if He is ill or injured. He is that feared a batsmen. Extremely talented, playing almost every shot in the definition of cricket dictionary and not only playing, mastering it even, this little (I mean only the height) guy is a bazooka. If He grooves well, He is unstoppable by any force or means. The beauty of cricket and batting can be seen with His style of batting. He gives cricket that earning edge over all games. He is the sole to Indian cricket era.

 

I wonder what would happen to matches after Tendulkar retires. I know, I am being a lot more sentimental as there are many guys like MSD, YS, RS, ZK, etc. But Sachin is Sachin. No one can blend the taste of cricket so beautifully as done by the God. No controversies, no counter verbal acts. He makes every other person respect Him just with the help of his bat.

 

To coin in a great incident over here, sometime last year, during Challenger’s trophy, in some practice match, Sreesanth was bowling to Sachin. After 3 balls from him which Sachin could not play, he got air off his head. So he walked towards Tendulkar after the 3^rd ball and patted His butt in arrogance. To this, very obviously Sachin did not utter even a word. On the 4^th ball He hit him for a huge six like a slap on a face, approached him and said, ‘Don’t ever come near to me’. After this, Sreesanth got embedded on his mind for ever that he messed up with the wrong guy. He makes others respect him just with his bat. No words, no gestures, no dialogs, no complaints, it is just His bat and one tight slap on the bowler’s face.

 

How can we forget about Sharjah Cup 1998. He tormented the Aussie attack and Warne commented that he dreamt of Tendulkar every night hitting him huge over the ropes. Sachin is extremely polite as a person. He is dreadly only when he bats. He is unstoppable. And better not to mess with Him. He is a kind of player to hit you big by calling for it. It’s not a gamble my friend. Its serious business.

 

There are plenty of occasions when Sachin has scored a century and India has lost the matches. Infact, according to the statistics more than half of the time India has lost the matches while Sachin scoring a ton. And there are plenty of occasions when he wasn’t in a good form to the delight of the opponents. And then I would say

 

“Form is temporary, but class is permanent.”

 

BBC once quoted on Him, “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 TV sets and switch off their lives”

 

Glenn McGrath on Sachin, “The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual”

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sachin, “India me aap Prime Minister ko ek Baar Katghare me khada kar sakte ho.. Par Sachin Tendulkar par Ungli tak nahi utha Sakte..”

And this one is the best: Matthew Hayden on Sachin, “I HAVE SEEN GOD, HE BATS AT NO.4 FOR INDIA”

With almost every record to his name, countless fans, boundless runs, great achievements, success at his doorstep, the only thing I dream about is that, India should win this world cup with Sachin playing in it. Even Sachin has commented desires on the same; He has never won a world cup for India. This would be the best possible end to and awesome era of cricket and the highest mark on his career.

 

We wish you all the best and we all love you Sachin.