Time is a worst enemy, It catches you when you are not ready. Its neither about the statistics nor about the records he broke and created. Its about the way Sachin Played cricket. Every time he walks into the field you can see that he is at war with the entire world, that is how he played his cricket. He gave his all, never held back even once. He compromised a lot for his career, he gave up his bowling because he wanted to continue batting. He compromised his strokes, he battled himself for his last few years.
Many say Lara was a greater player and Sachin was selfish, If you see Lara might have scored at a better average in matches West Indies Won. Lara never might have taken defeats into his mind or heart, He was more of a warrior fighting for his own cause but Sachin wasn’t like that. Every time when the team lost, you can see that look on Sachin’s face which will be identical to the kid who lost his first match of his life time. Wondering what he could have given more to end up on a winning side.
There was not as much pressure on Lara, Kallis or Ponting to go and deliver every time they went out on the field to bat. But for Sachin he was a God in the country where cricket was a religion. The followers can never see their God failing and didn’t accept that he was human. He was a Demi – God, he was above everyone else playing the game in all aspects, be it the commitment, dedication or the way he played the game.
There has been occasions where I have seen a match where India lost from comfortable position, I would have broken down into tears and would have sworn to God would never I will watch another match. But on the next match would have sat glued in-front of the Television, without even blinking the eye. Those heart breaks and tears were somewhat compensated when Sachin took revenge for us.
Most of the time he scored runs when it mattered and also scored runs when the team has lost. Its was not his fault, after all he was just a demigod had he had the powers to take 5 wickets and century every time he went into field he would have been completely GOD.
There has been occasions when he was batting the opposition was searching for cheat codes to disable God Mode. During the double century, that ball from Steyn which was full outside off stump was dispatched to the boundary on the leg side. The look on Steyn’s face said it all.
The back to back centuries in Sharjah against Aussies was the first time I was glued to the Television. There were loads of comments saying it was against a weak Australian attack which didn’t feature McGrath. Well then again don’t we remember Sachin taking on McGrath, He has taken on all the fast bowlers who threatened other batters. There were comments every time he went on to field, No one stone fruitless trees.
The look on Ponting’s at the last few minutes of CB series Final 1 and Final 2, were the proof of his potential. He might have faulted in many finals, many times when it mattered but when you see everyone under pressure, he has delivered it more often than others. Ponting on the fading days of his career with an ordinary team struggled more and would have felt how it was to meet the expectation to deliver every time when you get out on the field.
Kallis was on another league, he is little more than a Demigod as he can bowl and pick wickets too. That made him more accomplished and mentally stronger. Sachin might not have scored century in the world cup final like Ponting did but had made everything in his powers to push his team through. In 2003 World cup, he failed twice and with that went the countries dreams too.
The great thing about the guy was, not once he was arrogant. He played for a single cause and respected those who sledged him as well.
End of the day, after he has bowed out. When you see him play in the forth coming IPL or Tests all those who criticized him will feel. He could have continued for few more years.
Sachin had nothing to prove, nothing to conquer but he went on and on just to make sure that the can play as much cricket as possible. Its like the child’s mind on summer vacation where he wants to play as much as possible before the school begins.
He was the greatest servant of the game and served it better than anyone else could ever think of. He will play test cricket till the time he can. Every time something was thrown at him he let his bat speak on the ground.
The little man is at war with himself, He will conquer and will emerge victorious.
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