Sachin Tendulkar - The man who gave joy to millions for over two decades

Finally the curtains came down on one of the greatest cricketers as I watch the game today in a truly post-Tendulkar era. Wanted to write after we watched Sachin’s farewell speech that made all 3 of us tear up, but the weekend turned out to be full. So when my 12 year old wrote about Sachin yesterday (here is his tribute: http://ajbookcritique.blogspot.com/2013/11/thank-you-sachin.html), I could not resist anymore, especially after pondering on what Sachin meant for my generation, and to many others of past and future generations.

I stayed awake along with my 12yr old during the last test for one last look at the great man play. Did not have any expectations, but just as a small tribute for all the joys (and some sorrows) provided by the great man to the millions over the past 24 years. To admit that it was his best knock in the past 2 years and it included some of the classical Sachin trademark shots, including the straight drive off the seamers that is more of a push/block, than a drive for other mortals playing the game. Still remember the‘89 series vs Pakistan under Srikanth’s captaincy, and the baptism by fire at the hands of the two W’s, including a bloody nose from Waqar. We did not have a TV at home then, and remember watching it at a neighbor’s place with friends, those were the daysJ. Till that time, cheering for the Indian team was based out of hope that someone might score, but since Sachin’s arrival the hope switched to a confidence that Sachin was there and the rest could play around him. I am sure many would have felt the same too, and soon enough the expectations of a billion was thrust on the little man’s shoulders. I am not the biggest of Sachin fans, as I used to be Dravid fan, but cannot take away the fact that Sachin was on a different level, in many ways.

What Sachin has given the nation is a lot of hope and cheer for millions. It was at a time when the country was not the same, V.P.Singh was the Prime Minister (seems like a different age) when Sachin played his first test, and there was no liberalization yet and the economy was stuttering at its best and hence life for most was not gung-ho as it is now. Making people happy can have a lot of positive effects, including making them feel good and thereby to do positive things in their life. It can give hope and keep one going in spite of the tough times. Not everyone might be able to relate to such thoughts, but I can tell that it does matter, especially when one is feeling down. It was also a time when my family was going through our own struggles and I for one did feed of on sports for hope and cheer. We mortals cannot give joy and hope to even a handful of people, and think of what Sachin has done to hundreds of millions. How many celebrities can stake that claim? He started at a time when the money in the sport was nothing like it is now, and if he has earned a few millions so be it, he deserved it. Sachin was a great role model for all upcoming cricket players and for the youth in general, and it was not just about cricket. Success never got to Sachin’s head and he always kept a low profile. This was true with Dravid too, but Sachin is larger than life and hence has more impact. Aggression on the field for Sachin was for his bat to do the talking, and not with the mouth or hand gestures like some of the present generation stars do.

Sachin’s career can be broken down into 4 phases. The first phase was from 1989-95 when he was the only quality batsman in the team, and the team itself was average at best. The best Sachin could do during that stage was to take the battle on his own, and there were many memorable innings of his during that phase. The second phase started with the arrival of great company, with Dada and Dravid in 96 and VVS the following year. It heralded the beginning of the great Indian middle order, and the pressure on Sachin was reduced as the others were legends in their own right and could win and save matches on their own too. He surely blossomed during this time and played his most memorable knocks. The standout performance was the brutal assault on Warne while the Aussies toured India in ‘98. The 3rd phase was from 2006 to 2011 when the team was more powerful and starting winning abroad as well and Sachin was no longer the destroyer, but became the accumulator with the likes of Sehwag and Dhoni to take the destroyer mantle. It culminated in the great world cup win with Sachin being India’s highest run-getter with 2 centuries and a match winning knock against Pakistan in the semi-finals. The final phase was 2011 and beyond, a phase which could have been avoided. This was when the weight of the 100th century buried him and it was painful to see him struggle. No great knocks during this phase.

There are so many memorable knocks from the man and one cannot list them all, but if I have to pick the 5 that I can recollect the most from what I have seen of him, here they are:

1. 136 vs. Pakistan in Chennai (1999): What a knock, though in a losing cause. A great and gripping test match, it was a match between the wonderful Indian batting side (with Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman and Azhharuddin) vs the terrific Pakistan bowling (with Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain). Turned out to be Sachin vs the Pakistan bowlers with the other batting stalwarts folding for 10 or under. Sachin with a painful back took India so close to victory batting with Mongia and the tail, but finally fell to Saqlain’s guise with India 13 runs short. A painful, but wonderful memory.

2. 169 vs. South Africa in Cape Town (1997): Wonderful exhibition of high class batting, though it was once again in a losing cause. Sachin and Azhar decided that attack is the best form of defense and everyone was treated to the best batting partnership I have seen, each matching the other on the quality of the strokes, that too against a high class seam bowling with Donald, Pollock, McMillan and Klusener. Sachin scored 26 boundaries in all and only an extra special catch by Adam Bacher could cut him short.

3. 143 vs. Australia, Sharjah (1998): The desert storm. Tendulkar single-handedly takes India to the finals, and then scores a century to give India the cup. This was a better knock than the one in the finals as it was a do or die game, and he did not have any kind of support at the other end. This knock completely demoralized the Aussies that it set the tone for the finals. This was Tendulkar at his aggressive best.

4. 114 vs. Australia, Perth (1992): This knock in a way signaled the arrival of Tendulkar on the test arena and have everyone take notice. Though it was his 2nd century, it was more difficult than the first given the bouncy WACA pitch and the Aussie pace armory. Sachin adapted well to the bouncy track and played some gorgeous drives along the way, and scored 114 out of India’s total of 272, with Srikanth’s 34 being the next highest score from the top order batsmen.

5. 98 vs. Pakistan, Centurion (2003): Key match at the world-cup against Pakistan, who set up a challenging total, more so given their terrific bowling. Tendulkar comes out firing on all cylinders and settles the game with his assault on Shoaib and Waqar right at the start of the innings, even Akram was not spared. Cannot forget the uppercut of Shoaib for six. Finishes with 98 of 75 balls against top quality pace bowling on a seamer friendly track.

Felt that he should have retired right after the world cup win when he was still at the top of his game, and I was disappointed that he was still hanging around istead of passing the baton to the younger generation, but then he is human enough to not realize the waning process that is so typical of most great sportsmen, including Federer. There are exceptions like a Gavaskar, whose last test innings was arguably one of his best. Watched all the above knocks (and more) on YouTube with my son over the past week, and enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks to the internet, Sachin’s knocks will be there to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Have been fortunate to see him bat live at the Eden Gardens, and then at close quarters at the hotel, and one last time at Kent. Have followed the game through all those 24 years, the sleepless nights, the early mornings, the missed classes, and the sheer joy that came with watching him play.

THANK YOU SACHIN for all that you have given!!!

-Ramanuja Iyer