Just now
that appalling news punctured my ear drum. I was torn to the core. The “Clark
Kent” of cricket has hung his boots. That little man with super human
capabilities won’t be donning the blue jersey any further.
It was way
back in 1998 when I heard his name being spoken at every nook and cranny of my
small town. I started watching cricket because of him and fortunately when he
was at his prime. But I could understand this great man only that day when he
returned to Bristol after the funeral his father to serve his country against
Kenya during 1999 world cup. Putting the sad demise of his father to backburner
and concentrating on straight drives, tackling the googlies and then moving on to score a century is one of toughest
things to do and only a person out of this world can do this. Sometimes being
adulated and sometimes bearing the blunt, sometimes taken to seventh heaven and
sometimes booed at his home ground; but every time carrying the expectations of
over a billion people before reaching out to that 22 yard turf for twenty-three
long years is not all human. He is no human indeed, He is GOD.
I became
his ardent fan and followed cricket thereafter passionately. That sixer off
Caddick against England in 2003 world cup is one of my best. The inning followed an immaculate 98
against Pakistan. I still feel the goose bumps when I reminisce that sixer off
Shoaib Akhtar over point. He played like a true champion in that world cup and
ended up with what is world record as of now. 24th
February 2010 is still etched into my memory when the little master hit 200*
and became the first man on this planet to do so. I was in train coming to home
during Holi vacations. I overheard some people gossiping that Sachin is batting
on 173. My ears rose like a dog and my heart started beating faster. I
immediately called papa and asked him what he was doing. The answer was “watching
the match and waiting for Sachin to do the unprecedented”. My body went warm
with an adrenaline rush and throughout for next 30-45 I remained almost on
phone taking all the details from maa or papa. For the first time I was cursing
Dhoni for hitting sixes and fours and thus keeping him at bay from that magical
figure. In the last over when Sachin got the strike, I cut the phone and
started praying. And immediately I heard a huge noise and claps in the next
compartment. Probably I am not the only ardent fan of Sachin, he has around 1
billion like me. That's the aura Sachin creates.
Now that he
has retired from limited over cricket, I look back and ponder over my
relationship with him for past 14 years and feel blessed that I was born in his
era. I can tell my generations to come that I watched Sachin live and leave them
envied. But now I will definitely miss those superstitious sessions when I used
to remain unmoved, glued to TV even though my bladders were bursting just because even
a slight movement of mine would waver his concentration. I will miss those
silken leg glances, those thumping straight drives, those lofty pulls in deep, those
cuts over slip and many shots which cannot be named as only Sachin can play
those. He is a true legend of the game with almost all the records expected
from any batsman. An epitome of success, a paragon of excellence, a pantheon to cricket lovers and a true gentleman of this gentleman's game.
The adept
fingers of the weaver who wove gossamer tapestry on 22-yard patch finally
fatigued and calloused with clamour going round in media over his retirement.
But no matter what, Sachinism will stay and flourish in this heart forever. Thank You Master for
making me so privileged !!!