Inspired and mesmerised by the melodious composition of Sachin Dev Berman in Bollywood films, Late Shree Ramesh Tendulkar named his younger son as Sachin, but a very little he may have thought, that his son will transfix, entertain and inspire more fans than the maestro, and ultimately eclipse the inspiration of his name--thankfully in an another field. Amazingly, the second Sachin has not only matched, but has surpassed in composing more musical scores—and more entertaining vistas—although in another arena, on a number of fields, on a number of occasions, and with an another instrument—the willow. As the Bollywood is replete with the heart-touching scores of the former, so is cricket accentuated by the other. And both forced their fans dance to their tunes and erupt in exultation, overawed by the shear command of their respective instruments.
Your divine elegance, brilliance, class, nicety, humbleness, simplicity, exquisite shots, squeaky voice, divine smile, celestial eyes and the radiance which you exuded will come to an end --a much awaited one—when you will appear for the last time at Wankhede—your own orchard--and let the curtains down, on an awfully long and consistent career, studded with tremendous records and a terrific respect worldview.
The prodigy—the little master-- will remain live in the remembrances of the fans and the cricket-archives for ever, ever, and ever, with his inimitable style, vivid display of his genius a number of times, his gamut of exquisite shots, indomitable commitment and his unparalleled passion for the game and his country and his celestial 'century of centuries'.
Your divine elegance, brilliance, class, nicety, humbleness, simplicity, exquisite shots, squeaky voice, divine smile, celestial eyes and the radiance which you exuded will come to an end --a much awaited one—when you will appear for the last time at Wankhede—your own orchard--and let the curtains down, on an awfully long and consistent career, studded with tremendous records and a terrific respect worldview.
The prodigy—the little master-- will remain live in the remembrances of the fans and the cricket-archives for ever, ever, and ever, with his inimitable style, vivid display of his genius a number of times, his gamut of exquisite shots, indomitable commitment and his unparalleled passion for the game and his country and his celestial 'century of centuries'.
The phenomenon called Sachin Tendulkar and Ratan Tata happened to India at a time synced with India's partaking in the vibrant zone carved out by the ASEAN power houses with aplomb at the outset of 1990's in the name of economic liberalisation.
As the history reckons, Sachin made centuries against every cricket playing country, both in India and abroad--a unique feet which testifies his class and genius. Be it India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Down-under, the Caribbean or the Imperial England, he enthralled the viewers all-over and carved out vistas even out of the Arabian safari. There was no contemporary bowler who posed a threat to him, rather he is credited with making the cricketing lives short of many bowlers.
The moment his conversation with Rajeev Shukla(the BCCI official), on his wishes to retire from the last genre of cricket left to bid adieu--and the oldest form-- having already bade adieu to other formats--leaked on news channels, the sporting fraternity went frenzy along with the news channels world over. And it got a wider coverage in the world televisions--more widely than any tsunami or catastrophe to have wrecked havoc on earth recently.
Sachin, with you, millions of your fans—and of-course of your generation-- may say good bye to the live cricket, as the charisma changes hands and lands swiftly on the shoulders of Dhonis, Kohlis and other players of the world.
At the time when the television’s popularisation and the technology revolution at the advent of Internet was still nascent, you came, mesmerised, entertained and attenuated the pains of losing the prodigy—the other prolific little master— just a couple of years afore-- like a messiah. Away from being the stereotypes, or with the monotonicity of specialization in cricket, you brought with yourself, the amalgamation of Richards, Gavaskar and Boycott. The cricket took a defining shape after you burst on the screens of world cricket, and many of us still cherish the juvenile tearing the likes of Abdul Kadir , Imran Khan and Waquar Yunis episode way back in 1989. It was an ominous declaration to the world cricket that a new avatar has arrived.
As the history reckons, Sachin made centuries against every cricket playing country, both in India and abroad--a unique feet which testifies his class and genius. Be it India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Down-under, the Caribbean or the Imperial England, he enthralled the viewers all-over and carved out vistas even out of the Arabian safari. There was no contemporary bowler who posed a threat to him, rather he is credited with making the cricketing lives short of many bowlers.
The moment his conversation with Rajeev Shukla(the BCCI official), on his wishes to retire from the last genre of cricket left to bid adieu--and the oldest form-- having already bade adieu to other formats--leaked on news channels, the sporting fraternity went frenzy along with the news channels world over. And it got a wider coverage in the world televisions--more widely than any tsunami or catastrophe to have wrecked havoc on earth recently.
Sachin, with you, millions of your fans—and of-course of your generation-- may say good bye to the live cricket, as the charisma changes hands and lands swiftly on the shoulders of Dhonis, Kohlis and other players of the world.
At the time when the television’s popularisation and the technology revolution at the advent of Internet was still nascent, you came, mesmerised, entertained and attenuated the pains of losing the prodigy—the other prolific little master— just a couple of years afore-- like a messiah. Away from being the stereotypes, or with the monotonicity of specialization in cricket, you brought with yourself, the amalgamation of Richards, Gavaskar and Boycott. The cricket took a defining shape after you burst on the screens of world cricket, and many of us still cherish the juvenile tearing the likes of Abdul Kadir , Imran Khan and Waquar Yunis episode way back in 1989. It was an ominous declaration to the world cricket that a new avatar has arrived.
The ferocity with which you tore apart the quickies of your age, the coolness with which you handled the medium pacers and the master craftsmanship with which you handled and played the spinners—with all types of shots in the cricket books along with few ingenious ones(the scoop and paddles)--at his ease, is exemplary.
You not only withstood the several pressure cooker like situations, but also saw your team dancing to the tunes of samba or bhangra or whatever, on a number of occasions, after snatching a win from the jaws of defeat. Your dancing down the pitch in pelting and belting Shane Warne several times over the ropes, and the prolific leggie having dreaded dreams of his assault in the Arabian safari afterwards, is now history.
Very few batsmen in the world cricket have commanded the respect that you enjoyed, as in you every cricket playing country saw the glimpses of their past or present heroes. And still very few were able to scale the tedious heights፣ to reside in the citadel of excellence; you now proudly ensconce, and will reside there for ever.
With the colossal burden of ‘Great expectations’--every time you stepped into the field--of your fans, for nearly a quarter of a century--with a plethora of records to his name-- will remain unparalleled for years to come. And history will remain witness to his greatness, commitment, Integrity and allegiance to your nation for years and years to come.
In November, not only Tendulkar, but a generation will retire from the world cricket. It was your commitment, integrity, simplicity and an 'Steelium' image which not only created havoc in the opposition camp, but exuded confidence in your own camp and your followers as well. World will witness more players trying to mould themselves in your shoes in the coming years, but very few people will enjoy the warmth, and reverence you have earned over the years. Be it Michael Schumacher or Federar or McEnroe or Maradona or other greats of other sports, but the coming generation will hardly believe that such a sportsman, with such a huge respect in sporting fraternity has walked on earth.
Now, as the pundits will draw parallels between your cosiness with your son Arjun(Sachinda enjoyed the same cosiness with his son Rahul Dev Burman), I simply wish and say--Thank you Sachin!, for letting us believe in our dreams of winning, with your prolonged entertainment to all of us, and inspiring the newer generations for taking on this game in stride and excel. May God bestow you the best of health, to cherish the moments you have created and earned and for few more such requisite moments which have eluded you and your family for four and twenty years or so. But Sachin, you missed them to make your dreams come true and your stoic engagements in the game took away from you the other facets of life. And being an inspiration for several generations to come, is the reward for all your honest efforts--more important than the plethora of saga and records you have nicely composed with the blade--'the bat'-- and have carved a permanent niche in the citadel of cricket.
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