Yesterday
my friend asked me why my blogs have dried up. The answer to that is, blogging
to me is an emotional thing. I cannot post something for anything unless I feel
for it. Well, here I am, sitting in front of my system, with a lump in my
throat and tears in my eyes – all emotional, barely responding to my dad
calling me because my voice is stuttering. All this because one man stopped
doing what he did best. That’s it. We won’t see Sachin playing professional cricket
again.
There
were 4 stages of my life as a fan of Sachin. Stage 1: really didn’t know much
about the game but used to love watching him bat because he was the baby face
of cricket, made me believe that if that kid can play for India any one can. Stage
2: learned to play the game, started playing the game and started believing
that if Sachin got out, India should declare because if he is not in the
middle, there is no hope whatsoever. Stage 3: started analyzing his game,
concentrated more on his flaws while he seemed cool and went around breaking
virtually every batting record in the history of the sport. Stage 4: started
criticizing him. Got really enraged when he slowed down after reaching his 90s,
frustrated with him getting bowled more often than not, wondered why he didn’t retire
and give other young guys a chance.
Someone
once told me, “Beware what you wish for!” This is the moment that I understood
the true meaning of those words. Like me, there were a lot of others who would
have criticized him for the way he played at the twilight of his career, asking
why he is not retiring. Now I know the reason. After him, there is this void
that neither Dhoni, nor Kohli, nor can anyone else fill. I understand that
because, I have transformed from a 7 year old to a 31 year old while he played
and played and played. Every nation has a person who is the face of that nation,
by which I mean when you talk about that country, you invariably talk about that
person. More often than not, it will be a sportsman. Like Argentina = Maradona,
Brazil = Pele, France = Zidane, Jamaica = Bolt and when it comes to India, it
was always Tendulkar. I know and I believe that Indian cricket will do well
without Tendulkar. We have the players. But the simple thing is cricket will
not. His wife Anjali today said that “I can imagine cricket without Sachin, but
I cannot imagine Sachin without cricket.” I guess that sums it all up. You eat,
pray, love and live a game for almost 3 quarters of your life. To realize that
you won’t be doing that again is heartbreaking and overwhelmingly depressing. I
only wish that he doesn’t go into depression.
I saw a
lot of posts saying Dravid, VVS, and a few others deserved a much better
farewell than what they actually got. Agree! No two doubts about that. But what
Sachin got today, he deserved. Let us not take it away from him. What if the
West Indies tour was needless! What if the venue was shifted from elsewhere to
Mumbai! So what! In a country where the biggest criminals and corrupted
politicians are given Z – class security and taxpayers’ money is spent on
maintaining their standard of living, doing something so little for someone who
has given so much for the country is just a small gesture, a small thank you. Sachin
deserves every iota of the affection he was shown today simply because he gave
India one big thing that it needed – Hope. People might say that India did not
do well although Sachin played well. Played well though, didn’t he? But in a
team sport like cricket, one person cannot make a difference (I am talking
about the time when T20 was not discovered). He always performed to the best of
his abilities. He was seldom or should I say never dropped from the side unless
he is injured. I have also heard that he will be the first one to be picked.
Also, I have never witnessed so much pressure on a single sportsman in my life
or read about it. We Indians are crazy and to carry our expectations on his
shoulders is nothing less than godly. In the current Team India, I don’t think
there is anyone who has taken that much pressure. Because we know that if Virat
dot out, we have Raina, or Dhoni or Jadeja. Back then it was only Sachin. If
Sachin got out, India was out.That is why he is worshipped.
I am at
a loss for words today because I am emotional like many of you out there. I saw
how my dad got crazy after he retired from his service. I can only imagine what
Sachin will feel when he wakes up tomorrow and realize that he won’t be playing
competitive cricket ever again. I hope he copes up well for that challenge.
WE LOVE
YOU SACHIN & WE WILL MISS YOU
SACHIIIIIIIIIIN…………..SACHIN
