Sachin's Swang Song

Warning: This is a very emotional post. It comes from a die-hard Sachin Fan.

Dear Sachin,

I got up this morning and like every morning the first thing I did was to open my laptop and go to Cricinfo. Today I was taken aback as I saw the headlines as 'Sachin Tendulkar retires from ODI cricket'. It took me a few seconds to believe what has actually happened.

Sachin, Thanks a lot for all that you have provided for us. Now that you have decided not to play the limited over format, it makes me sad.  It is hard to imagine how a full-strength Indian team would look, without the name 'Sachin Tendulkar' on it. And, so I am never going to see you play that exquisite straight-drive in coloured clothing. Never again would I see you open the batting for India. Never again would I be so nervous when India starts batting in an ODI. Never again, would I sit on the same chair and ask my mates not to move while the game is going on.

I knew it was coming but did not expect it this way. There were no warnings -- no farewell match - nothing. You just quietly moved away. I knew it had to happen some day - but when it has actually happened, it is not sinking in. I was so eagerly waiting for the Pakistan series to watch you bat in ODIs. But as the adage goes - All good things have to come to an end. I truly consider myself blessed to have been born in the same era as you have played your cricket.

Sachin, I thank you not for the runs you scored or the boundaries you hit. I thank you because even the gloomy days of Indian cricket you were the reason we smiled. You brought a smile to my face even when India lost; especially those days in the 90s. I still remember that disastrous tour of Australia we had in 99. I used to get early in the morning to watch the match, despite knowing that India had no chance in the game. But, I knew that I would not be disappointed as you were batting.

So, what were my favourite knocks of yours? I love the 175 you scored at Hyderabad. We lost that game by a whisker. But you played one of the most outstanding knocks I had ever seen. Then the 98 you scored against Pakistan - 2003 WC. I love that knock because I feel you enjoyed it the most. Then the desert-storm at Sharjah. I was too young to understand the game when you played it, but I have seen it over and over again on YouTube. Of course the 200* against South Africa. We had a huge celebration in our hostel rooms when you became the first person to break the 200 - barrier.

But Sachin, numbers will tell their story themselves. I do not need to say anything. 49 hundreds, 18,426 runs at an astounding average and strike-rate may never be matched again. The entire India is grateful to you, not because you were the greatest batsman of your era but for the amount of joy that you gave. There was a time when India slept well when you played well. If you had a bad day, I am certain, the average happiness in India was low.  We treated your success as our personal success.

Sachin, wish you fantastic luck with the rest of you cricket career. I am sure, you have few more master-pieces left which you would unveil soon.

Wishing you great success ahead,
A TRUE FAN

India and Test Cricket?

I have been a supporter of the T20 revolution. I have always welcomed the IPL with open arms. I am not the one who says, "T20 is not cricket". I do believe playing Twenty 20 does require a completely different set of skills which are worth appreciating.

Recent developments in Indian cricket worry me. Are we disrespecting the purest form of the game? It is not just the 8-0 away defeats that really bother me. I am also not particularly concerned about the fact that two English spinners were able to run through an Indian batting line up. I do understand that in sport, such things do happen. Did we not bowl out South Africa for 80 odd on a green top a few years back. Then, did we not win against South Africa in Durban on another green top? And the WACA win? Playing on extreme conditions have backfired for so many other teams (while playing against us). So, the Mumbai loss is not a concern for me. Even as we stand at the brink of losing another test at Kolkata, it is not the result that really concerns me.

What bothers me is no one in our cricket administration seems to be really concerned about the away loses. There seems to be no preparation for our next away tournament in South Africa. What is the batting line up we would have? Would a Sehwag - Gambhir opening combination still work? Despite the failure in 8 matches, would we persist with the same combination? Who will bat at number 6. And at number 4? Is Sachin going to South Africa? If he is not going to South Africa, isn't it better that a youngster gets chance to bat in home conditions before heads to South Africa? What about our bowling attack? Would Zaheer go there? If he is not going, would it not be better to give a young pacer a go, before an important overseas tour? There are so many such questions to which our administrators seem to have no answers.

It almost seems to me that India is not giving enough respect to Test cricket ; in fact we have stared disrespecting the purest form of the game, which is really sad. I am not calling for sacking Dhoni, but no question marks on a captain's place even after losing 8 away games is unheard off in any cricketing administration. India's nonchalance towards this entire issue shows that we are really not concerned about doing well in Tests. 

Let me get one thing quite straight, I rarely whine about the Indian team losing. I honestly do not mind it. I understand that in sport sometimes things just do not work. But, I get irritated when the team is not sad about doing so poorly. I get a feeling that the only people bothered about India doing well in Test match cricket are fans like me, the commentators and columnists.  

I am not a fan who wants India to win all the time. I know it is not possible. And by that I am actually asking for too much. All I want is an honest effort every time they take the field. I want to see in the intensity. The rush of the blood because they are playing for India. It is that intensity that has driven me to watch the game. But now, that seems to have gone. I have become quite nonchalant with the results; because I get the feeling I am the only one who cares.

I know there is a lot of talent in India. We can still surprise everyone and win in South Africa. But for that something has to change - The Attitude. If that requires to drop MS, so be it.

Well as an Indian fan my line up for the first Australia Test is:

Unmukt Chand, Abhinav Mukund, Cheteshwar Pujara (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manoj Tiwary, Wridhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Ravi Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha.  Ravindra Jadeja (12th Man)