Sachin Tendulkars feat
in lasting 20 years at the top of
international cricket is unprecedented in modern-day sport.
The intense scrutiny from the media,
the massive pressure of expectations from
Indias huge fan base and the wear and tear
on both body and mind over the last two decades
makes Tendulkars achievements
one of the marvels of this era or any other.
With cricket
now a round-the-year business
” nearly a quarter of all Test matches since 1877
have been played in this decade alone ”
one match tends to blur into another
and one series into another seemingly
in the blink of an eye.
Yet,
Tendulkar
still retains his hold on the nations
collective psyche as he demonstrated only
last week at Hyderabad during his
brilliant innings of 175.
now a round-the-year business
” nearly a quarter of all Test matches since 1877
have been played in this decade alone ”
one match tends to blur into another
and one series into another seemingly
in the blink of an eye.
Yet,
Tendulkar
still retains his hold on the nations
collective psyche as he demonstrated only
last week at Hyderabad during his
brilliant innings of 175.
It seemed that evening as if the
whole of India had ground to a halt
to follow his dazzling batting on TV.
That even now in the twilight of his career
the whole teams fortunes seemingly rest
on his shoulders is both something to marvel
at and to be alarmed over.
whole of India had ground to a halt
to follow his dazzling batting on TV.
That even now in the twilight of his career
the whole teams fortunes seemingly rest
on his shoulders is both something to marvel
at and to be alarmed over.
Yet this toxic cloud of doubt has
over the years hovered over
Tendulkars phenomenal record
” can he be classified as a match-winner?
Yes,
in ODIs 32 of his 45 centuries have resulted
in victory for India as against 12 defeats and one
˜No Result.
But
in Test matches ”
still the true barometer of a cricketers greatness
” only on one occasion
(last year against England at Chennai)
has he scored a century in a successful
fourth-innings run chase
when the pressure is at its peak.
In Test matches certainly it takes bowlers
to win matches and save for a couple of
splendid exceptions,
Indian cricket has been poorly served in this
department over the last two decades.
The one black hole in Tendulkars
otherwise glittering career is his two
brief stints at captaincy.
over the years hovered over
Tendulkars phenomenal record
” can he be classified as a match-winner?
Yes,
in ODIs 32 of his 45 centuries have resulted
in victory for India as against 12 defeats and one
˜No Result.
But
in Test matches ”
still the true barometer of a cricketers greatness
” only on one occasion
(last year against England at Chennai)
has he scored a century in a successful
fourth-innings run chase
when the pressure is at its peak.
In Test matches certainly it takes bowlers
to win matches and save for a couple of
splendid exceptions,
Indian cricket has been poorly served in this
department over the last two decades.
The one black hole in Tendulkars
otherwise glittering career is his two
brief stints at captaincy.
But
Tendulkar in this period
was also a victim of intrigue and skulduggery.
It left a bitter aftertaste and his
vow after quitting the second time
over in 2000 never to lead again was a wise one.
His everlasting legacy though should not
just be his achievements on the field,
but
the dignified manner in which
he has carried himself in the public gaze,
completely free of scandal and a role model for all.
That is the true mark of the man for
which the nation salutes
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Tendulkar in this period
was also a victim of intrigue and skulduggery.
It left a bitter aftertaste and his
vow after quitting the second time
over in 2000 never to lead again was a wise one.
His everlasting legacy though should not
just be his achievements on the field,
but
the dignified manner in which
he has carried himself in the public gaze,
completely free of scandal and a role model for all.
That is the true mark of the man for
which the nation salutes
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
