Jul 19, 2006 05:45 PM
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"SACHIN FIT AND SELECTED FOR THE SRI LANKA TOUR"This was today's paper headlines. I found some connection with a movie review I just finished and which I am going to write now. I think that what I am going to write now will certainly anger a lot of die-hard sachin fans. But, I really don't think myself as a chicken to voice my opinion. Well, Sachin has always been an icon for Indian cricket. For a country of nearly 2 billion and being good in only one sport (come on, Sania doesn't even come close to acheiving greatness and we are diminishing in hockey, and football...please dont talk about that...) this game of cricket has seen many stalwarts like Vijay Merchant, Lala Amarnath, Pataudi, Gavaskar, Mohd. Azharuddin (he is still the most successful captain), Saurav Ganguly, and the immortal Sachin Tendulkar. But, like all good things have to end, when is this dream run going to end?
I accept with deepest earnesty that Sachin has acheived greatness which noone can dare to touch. There have always been reviews and critics who have said that Sachin is not the best player the game has seen. We can argue endlessly about his greatness by showing statistics and figures. But, let's put one things straight. That guy has started his game at a very early stage in comparison to his compatriots. So, that explains most of his great figures like most number of runs, centuries, most number of matches, etc. the list goes endless. Ricky Ponting is already coming very close to breaking his most number of Test centuries record and he surely will considering the prolific rate at which he is making runs. And, so will the rest of his records slowly vanish..... but, certainly his greatness wouldn't....
Sachin has just celebrated his 33rd birthday few months back. I certainly believe that the time has come for him to depart in glory from the game of cricket.He is just being carried away in the cricket team, till the day he decides that he should quit. But, I feel that a cricketer who took his country to greatness i.e. Steve Waugh was even forced to quit from the One-Day arena and then he departed in great style and glory on his home ground on the able shoulders of the team he had created. Well, can Sachin boast of such great departure? Nowadays, most of the time he is spending off-field treating his shoulder, elbow, thighs, knees, or god knows what all..... And what is giving him all this? The game which he always believed in and has such a tremendous passion in.
I have always marvelled at this little genius and beginning to wonder abt the saying "SIZE DOES MATTER". I watched him take Inzy cleanly on the boundary and providing the vital breakthrough, and his mammoth attack of 98 runs against Pakistan in Worldcup (who can forget the big six over third man in the first over) and his googly against Moin Khan on last delivery of a test match and his running atheltism putting even the youngest on field to shame...etc. History is full of glimpses of the spectacular wizardry of the little master.
I think that Sachin stands in between the Indian team and a promising future for the team. Even Srinath who was one of the best fast bowlers the country ever produced decided to retire one day and that was when we discovered Irfan. When Irfan went out of the picture, chance was given to Munaf and Sreesanth and didnt they perform? I think the time has come for him to play a role like what Steve Waugh played of developing a cricket team like Australia from the recent young team. The team is ripe and full of energy and promising stars. Sachin should play a role as a sculptor to mould this team.
I can understand what does this mean. AN INDIAN TEAM WITHOUT SACHIN. This means we have only one senior player i.e. Dravid on field. This means we have only one man on field with much cricketing experience. This means we would have no experience in one-day for the opening slot. This means that sooner or later Dravid would have to come again at the opener's slot. Also, this would mean lack of morale for the Indian cricket team as there would be an absence of the most dedicated player the game has even seen.This means that we wouldn't have a much-needed fifth bowler to provide us the vital breakthrough when there is a partnership developing. We wont have a bowler with so much variety like googlies, flippers, straight ones, etc. This means we wouldnt have an individual who is proudly referred to when said "IF CRICKET IS RELIGION, THEN SACHIN IS GOD."
So, ultimately, I want to ask only one question to everyone..... Sachin is great, but till when would he last? Are we prepared for someone else to take his position? Frankly speaking, we dont have anyone right now.. but the only reason for this is we never gave anyone chance, did we? Even Sehwag who has hit a mammoth triple ton is considered not close to Sachin. I seriously believe that the time has come for the officials to think over it and decide to develop a team which this great team can mould so that when he finally departs, we can proudly see him on shoulders of an able team who can take over the world. This seriously calls for some action and what could be better than relieving the genius of expectations. Even Waugh used to come 3 down or at time 5 down when he was the captain. A similar role should be played by Sachin. If he requires to play a role, then he will..... Then we will surely win another world cup. Promote an opener who grooms under Sachin and plays alongside Sehwag. Try to incorporate the cricketing brain in Sachin as a bowler. Tell Yuvrajs and Kaifs of the Indian team and now Raina to learn the fielding tactics from Sachin.
Just dont put all the pressure on him. I believe that if we do this, then the chances of him getting injured will also reduce and simulataneously, we will find an able aide for the team. Let's not create a fuss over what I have written and seriously consider the aftermaths of a Sachin retirement from the game of cricket and whether we are really prepared for it........
