My entry to SCIT Graffiti13
I still remember when I was a kid, whenever my dad used to watch India’s match on television, my first question to him used to be what’s Sachin’s score?. Yes, that was his impact on me and millions of fans across the globe. Sachin meant cricket to me. Infact I started following the game because of this little genius. It won’t be wrong if I say this little master was responsible to a very large extend in bringing India to the global limelight.
He redefined the history of cricket. You think of a record and Sachin has got that against his name. Whether it be Test cricket or ODIs he dominated the game. Not only his teammates but players of the opposite team also sang his adulations. Still remember Mathew Haydon’s famous words “I have seen God, He bats at number 4 for India.” Shane Warne started having nightmares of Sachin.
There have been innumerable instances when Sachin single handedly won matches for India. Who can forget Sachin’s Sharjah sandstorm where he single handedly won matches for India that too against strong countries. For a very long time it was assumed if Sachin plays well, India will win otherwise there is no hope.
His commitment towards the game has always been unmatchable.Who can forget that he came down to play the world cup days after his father’s demise. He has been a role model for so many youngsters.
Speaking of his fan following, I have hardly met people who are not his fans. Forget the cricketers, even Michael Schumacher was mesmerized by him. Hollywood actor Daniel Radcliffe waited for hours to get Sachin’s autograph. I can never forget India’s match against South Africa in Gwalior where Sachin hammered the first double century in the history of one day cricket. I was in office that day and unfortunately was not able to witness the live match. We all were checking the score in cricinfo. Only thing I could hear from the cubicles was “what’s Sachin’s score?” “How many runs left for the double century? The entire office had come to a standstill when Sachin was approaching the magical figure. As soon as he scored the double century, everyone on our floor stood up and started clapping. They erupted with unbridled joy. I had never witnessed such euphoria ever. That was d magic of Sachin Tendulkar.
He is one such player who has played alongside players from different generations. Players came and players retired but there was one person who was always there and that was “Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar” India’s cricketing God wearing jersey No. 10.
But this morning was little different. Amidst the news on Delhi rape victim, suddenly I saw a small banner at the bottom saying breaking news “Sachin Tendulkar announces his retirement from ODIs.” I was blank for few moments. Did not know how to react. I knew this day would come but I was not expecting it this way. I always thought that Sachin will have a grand exit. He will be carried on the shoulders of fellow team mates and will have the last victory lap on the ground with the crowd giving him a final bow. He deserved it. His diehard fans deserved it. But nothing of that sort happened. He quietly sent a letter to the BCCI just before a series. And this is how Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar bid adieu to ODIs.
Public opinion was again divided. There were few who wanted him to stay, wanted him to play more matches, wanted him to win matches for India. Then there were those who thought he should have hung his boots long back just after the world cup and given chance to youngsters. There were people who were going gaga over his achievements and then there were those who were saying that Sachin used to play for records.
Nevertheless the fact is Sachin has retired from ODIs. We are no longer going to love or hate that guy in jersey no 10. His decision might have been right in hanging up his boots because off late he was not contributing much. He was just occupying a place in team which could have been a golden opportunity for a youngster to become the next Sachin Tendulkar.
But again his contribution to Indian cricket in unmatched. There will always be a void in the team. As some people say he might have played for personal records but the truth is no matter what, his contribution to Indian cricket cannot be matched for ages. The fact is he was a genius and a cricketing God. Indian cricket team will find it difficult to find someone who fills that void because cricketers like Tendulkar are born once in a millennium.
There is no doubt that we all will miss Sachin and his historic. But as the saying goes the show must go on. I think rather than dwelling on the fact that Sachin has retired, we should spend our efforts in filling the void created by Sachin’s exit. As the saying goes “Every beginning has an end and every end a beginning”, we should take this as a new beginning for Indian cricket team.
As far as Sachin goes, he might have retired but he will always stay in our hearts. Every time Indian cricket will be mentioned, his name will automatically come to our mind because he has become immortal in the world of cricket.
PS: This is not just an entry for graffiti 13 rather a small tribute from my end to the cricketing legend.
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