Salute to the Last Samurai: Sachin

A man who made his test debut on 15^th Nov 1989 , played international cricket for 24 years, achieved almost everything statistically possible for a batsman on a cricket field , decides to pad up for his Ranji Team, travels to a nondescript village in Haryana , in order to prepare himself for his final test series. That passion for the game, that ability to stay focused consistently, that unquenchable thirst to achieve perfection through hours of practice, the respect to treat the game bigger than him,  has transformed a man into a phenomenon.

A quarter of a century is a longtime in a life span and most sportsmen would require two to three rebirths to survive that long actively in an outdoor sport. And here we have a diminutive man carrying the hope of a nation, weight of a heavy cricket bat and surviving a tennis elbow, a broken toe, several blows on the body (starting from his 1^st international series against Pakistan), uncharitable criticism & innumerable scrutiny for twenty four long years.  To be born with extraordinary talent is one thing and to convert that into consistent performance through relentless practice and single minded devotion is another. Hence Sachin stands tall not only amidst his contemporaries but also has carved a niche in the pantheons of all time cricketing greats.

To understand the contribution of Sachin to Indian cricket it is imperative to explore the era when he walked into the Indian Team and almost single handedly laid the foundation of the edifice of Indian Cricket. Though with monumental statistics he has secured a place in the realm of history, his colossal impact on cricket lover’s psyche can only be explained by the generation that has seen him wielding his willow as a warrior while all around him wickets were tumbling like nine pins. Who can forget that epic innings played in January 1999 against Pakistan at Cheapuk. Walking in at 6 for 2, chasing 271, the master battled a day five pitch that was spitting venom, against Waqar & Wasim who were reversing the ball prodigiously, Saqlain who has added a new weapon “Doosra” into his armor and his own troubled back. He faced 273 balls, stood at the ground for 405 minutes to score 136, where the only other person to score more than 10 was Nayan Mongia. That India lost the match leaving Sachin and the nation crestfallen underlines the fact, he too is a human, which we forget regularly and unfairly expect him to do the impossible every time.

For most of the pre 1990 generation, Tendulkar is not just a name; it is synonymous with “Hope”. From the day in 1993 Hero Cup semifinal against South Africa when he snatched the ball from Azhar’s hand to give India almost an improbable win , that too as a bowler , Indian’s elevated him to a pedestal where expectations betrayed reality. 1998 Sharjah Desert storm innings vindicated that faith.  Rarely has one seen such impact of a single player in team sport, for almost three generation. That his contemporaries, who in their own right are great cricketers, treat him as their Idol, underlines the greatness of little master. Tormenting Shane Warne with his superlative performance in 1998 Border-Gavaskar trophy to playing that gem of an innings of 241 at SCG , each of his innings is a batting masterclass. I dare say , I don’t remember any batsman in the modern era who has faced more than 400 balls and did not hit his bread & butter shot , the cover drive, till he reached his double century. That innings can be shown in any class that teaches about mental strength & control.

Adaptability is key to survival. Though many didn’t like the way he remodeled his batting post tennis elbow, giving away flair for stability, the entire process of metamorphosis is a lesson for many. How many aggressive batmen have the audacity to change their approach in order to suit an aging body and changing need of the team? In a Team of Azhar, Shastri, Manjrekar , Prabhakar – Sachin had to play the aggressors role to give the team a flying start. In a team of Sehwag ,Dhoni, Yuvraj , Kohli, - Sachin’s role was to provide solidity , so that others  can score around him. Though I would have loved to watch him stepping down the track, hitting the bowler over the head, but in competitive sport one has to look at the body clock. The conviction to play a second fiddle to emerging youngsters, yet become so successful can happen only when one is secure with his own skill. To those who believe his effectiveness dwindled in the later part of his career, a look at the statistics gives a true picture. In a career spanning 24 years his average in ODI (minimum 12 ODI in a year) has gone below 34 only thrice (1993, 97, 2005). From 2007 his ODI strike rate has never gone below 80. In Tests (Minimum 10 innings in a year) his average has gone below 40 only twice (2006, 2012). Maintaining these yardsticks over such a long period of time requires herculean effort.

While Sachin , the batsman has been much celebrated , sometimes we miss out his wily skills with the cricket ball. 154 wickets in ODI (two 5 wicket haul) and 46* in Tests (including Hayden, Gilchrist & Warne in that summer of 2001 at Eden) is a testimony to his involvement with every aspect of the game. “The Boy with A Golden Arm” had been instrumental in breaking many crucial partnerships with his off spin, leg spin and seam up deliveries.

However what these mind boggling numbers don’t reveal is the influential impact he had on the generation of cricketers who followed him. Statistics doesn’t disclose how he instilled the winning spirit with his scintillating display not only among his team mates but also the “Can Do” effect rubbed onto the masses who watched him in stadiums and on TV. That he belonged to a middle class upbringing and started his journey from a modest Sahitya Sahawas Cooperative Society and could scale such heights, gave wings to the common men’s dreams. While the 1983 world cup win acted as a catalyst to make cricket popular, Sachin’s heroics took it to the masses and helped in its commercialization.

At the onset of twentieth century and with the emergence of high caliber players like Ganguly,Rahul, Sehwag ,Laxman, Kumble, Srinath, it was time for Sachin & Co to take team India to the next level. Overseas victory till then was rarity. This unit knew it was now or never. With this motto “The Paper Tigers” started their mission of conquering the world. They won matches in West Indies in 2002, though lost the series 2-1. The next stop was Micheal Vaughan’s England, where India drew 1-1 . Then it went on to drew in 2004 in Steve Waugh’s farewell series against Australia as well. From a team that used to jump like a cat on hot tin roof on bouncy pitches , suddenly India was evolving as a cricketing nation that can challenge any cricket playing country in their own den. And the contributions of these stalwarts were immense in transforming a meek team into world beaters. 

Generation next will marvel to look at the score card where Dravid, Tendulkar,Laxman, Ganguly occupied the No3 to No 6 position in a batting card. Blessed are us who watched them day in day out for more than a decade. For men may come and men may go , but watching cricketers of such high pedigree playing together , bringing laurel to the nation has been an exhilarating journey for many of us. While Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman walked into the sunset and Sehwag lost in the milieu of self discovery, it was Sachin Tendulkar who was the last man standing.

As you will walk into the park as a player for one final time on 18^th Nov 2013, feeling secure that the Indian Cricket is in the safe hands of an exciting bunch of Gen next Cricketers, Sachin, the whole nation will feel a lump in the throat reminiscing its 24 year old romance with you. From that cold winter morning of 15^th Nov 1989 to the evening of 18^th Nov 2013, millions have followed your career, feeling exalted when you succeeded and exasperated when you failed. For many of them a chapter of romance will come to an end. You know how tough it is to fall in love all over again after two decades. For some of us the name SACHIN stood for FOREVER. Even though the mind knew this odyssey will come to an end at some stage , but like an optimistic suitor, the heart never believed. 

While cricket will continue to be played, it will never be the same again. In the annals of cricketing history it will always be pre & post Sachin era. The eye will always look at the score card to look for its favorite No.4 batsman. Somewhere we will miss those scathing straight drives, thundering cover drives, cheeky paddle sweep and those breathtaking upper cuts. We will miss the Man & the enthusiastic child inside him. We will miss watching you run from mid off/ short extra cover to the bowler and advising him in your squeaky voice. We will be left with the memories of your magical batting. While the entire nation is in a festive mood arranging for your grand send off, come 18^th of November, it will be a day of moist eyes, somber mood and a collective sense of emptiness. As you walk off the park as the last Samurai we salute you Sachin for those hundred hopes, million memories and billion moments of bliss. This will be the end of an enigmatic era. You will be sorely missed little master.