THE BEST THERE WAS.. THERE IS.. THERE WILL BE...
- AN ODE TO THE MASTER.
This may just be the beginning of the end; A player trying to eke out a career; Now just a comic book hero... the so called pundits and experts had just written him off..
Where would we be if he had listened to these wizened fools, we may never know. But if Sachin Tendulkar had indeed retired a few years back, cricket would definitely have been gloomier- is an understatement.
Even his own turned against him during those dark times. The plethora of “fans” who called for his retirement after the “2007 World Cup Debacle” really made one wonder if the little big man of world cricket would succumb to the pressure and give in.
After going through a dark lean patch , The little master began the spirited journey a la Rizwan Khan that has seen him re-establish his credentials even among the most firm anti-Tendulkars(strange to hear people loathing him!). It was clear that people had quite under estimated the belief and self confidence that oozes from this demi-god.
The pro- Australian Ian Chappel had written an article on Tendulkar, doubting his abilities and commitment, but time has its own way of making people eat their own words and this became evident when Ian Chappel had rated The Master's epic 175 against Australia as the best of 2009. This is an phenomenal example of the batting legend bending the mortals to his will.
While many expected that to be his swan song, it is now turning out to be just the starting drop of a mighty ocean the little champion is creating.
His last four centuries have included three scores of over 150, and the smallest of those, 138 against Sri Lanka, came in a tournament final- and all have been against giant opponents boasting the likes of Shane Bond, Dale Steyn etc. and not against the minnows, mind it.
It is not just the ODI arena that Tendulkar has ruled; he is currently on a run of four back to back Test matches in which he has surpasses the magical three figure mark- just two short of equalling The Don's record. All this has catapulted Tendulkar's status back to what it was well before the 2007 World Cup.
Now that he has attained the highest score ever scored in limited overs cricket is not necessarily a surprise. He had long been touted to claim the record and even came close on three previous occasions. The fact that two of those instances have come in the last year indeed is worth raising one's eyebrow over.
But what is the most surprising is the fact that while the second One Day International at Gwalior will go down as a historic match, it may be no more than a footnote in Tendulkar's career.
Indeed, he may very well admit that he would find greater satisfaction in a Test innings of the same magnitude. But that would just be Tendulkar being Tendulkar. Not many people will give credit to a big score to the whole team when they have accounted for exactly half of it. In fact, I can't think of a single modern day batsman capable of getting two hundred who would acknowledge the likes of Pathan, who contribute less than a fifth of Tendulkar's score in the innings, for a total of 401.
While his batting prowess, long thought to be on the “wane” by bickering television “analysts,” has been proven to be intact, probably more enhanced than in his youth, his humility and sense of team seem to be growing seamlessly by the minute.
Like stated earlier, the biggest thing to come out of "Gwaliorton" is the fact that an innings as stunning as this, better than any played in the field by any other batsman, will probably not even be in Tendulkar's own top three. His famous Desert Storm innings of 143, his 98 against Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup, and even his 175 of barely a few months ago, may all very well topple his 200 in his very own eyes for various reasons. That in itself is a show of just how much this man has achieved.
Could he play till 40? He very well could. A 100 centuries? Hell yes!.. Bradman's tally of six consecutive hundreds? Another possibility, but one that may prove to be the greatest challenge. A triple century? This one, not even Tendulkar could answer. Long believed to be India's only hope of a triple century, it's perplexing to note that his biggest Test innings have come when he has changed his style to be more dogged and watchful. May be the visiting Australians might feel his wrath (again) and yield him a first three-tonner. If he doesn't get one ever in his career, it would make an iota of a difference to a splendid career.
Now comes the million dollar question- is Sachin greater than Sir Don and Sir Viv?? I definitely say he is. But can anyone better the little master?? now thats a question worth debating about!
- AN ODE TO THE MASTER.
This may just be the beginning of the end; A player trying to eke out a career; Now just a comic book hero... the so called pundits and experts had just written him off..
Where would we be if he had listened to these wizened fools, we may never know. But if Sachin Tendulkar had indeed retired a few years back, cricket would definitely have been gloomier- is an understatement.
Even his own turned against him during those dark times. The plethora of “fans” who called for his retirement after the “2007 World Cup Debacle” really made one wonder if the little big man of world cricket would succumb to the pressure and give in.
After going through a dark lean patch , The little master began the spirited journey a la Rizwan Khan that has seen him re-establish his credentials even among the most firm anti-Tendulkars(strange to hear people loathing him!). It was clear that people had quite under estimated the belief and self confidence that oozes from this demi-god.
The pro- Australian Ian Chappel had written an article on Tendulkar, doubting his abilities and commitment, but time has its own way of making people eat their own words and this became evident when Ian Chappel had rated The Master's epic 175 against Australia as the best of 2009. This is an phenomenal example of the batting legend bending the mortals to his will.
While many expected that to be his swan song, it is now turning out to be just the starting drop of a mighty ocean the little champion is creating.
His last four centuries have included three scores of over 150, and the smallest of those, 138 against Sri Lanka, came in a tournament final- and all have been against giant opponents boasting the likes of Shane Bond, Dale Steyn etc. and not against the minnows, mind it.
It is not just the ODI arena that Tendulkar has ruled; he is currently on a run of four back to back Test matches in which he has surpasses the magical three figure mark- just two short of equalling The Don's record. All this has catapulted Tendulkar's status back to what it was well before the 2007 World Cup.
Now that he has attained the highest score ever scored in limited overs cricket is not necessarily a surprise. He had long been touted to claim the record and even came close on three previous occasions. The fact that two of those instances have come in the last year indeed is worth raising one's eyebrow over.
But what is the most surprising is the fact that while the second One Day International at Gwalior will go down as a historic match, it may be no more than a footnote in Tendulkar's career.
Indeed, he may very well admit that he would find greater satisfaction in a Test innings of the same magnitude. But that would just be Tendulkar being Tendulkar. Not many people will give credit to a big score to the whole team when they have accounted for exactly half of it. In fact, I can't think of a single modern day batsman capable of getting two hundred who would acknowledge the likes of Pathan, who contribute less than a fifth of Tendulkar's score in the innings, for a total of 401.
While his batting prowess, long thought to be on the “wane” by bickering television “analysts,” has been proven to be intact, probably more enhanced than in his youth, his humility and sense of team seem to be growing seamlessly by the minute.
Like stated earlier, the biggest thing to come out of "Gwaliorton" is the fact that an innings as stunning as this, better than any played in the field by any other batsman, will probably not even be in Tendulkar's own top three. His famous Desert Storm innings of 143, his 98 against Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup, and even his 175 of barely a few months ago, may all very well topple his 200 in his very own eyes for various reasons. That in itself is a show of just how much this man has achieved.
Could he play till 40? He very well could. A 100 centuries? Hell yes!.. Bradman's tally of six consecutive hundreds? Another possibility, but one that may prove to be the greatest challenge. A triple century? This one, not even Tendulkar could answer. Long believed to be India's only hope of a triple century, it's perplexing to note that his biggest Test innings have come when he has changed his style to be more dogged and watchful. May be the visiting Australians might feel his wrath (again) and yield him a first three-tonner. If he doesn't get one ever in his career, it would make an iota of a difference to a splendid career.
Now comes the million dollar question- is Sachin greater than Sir Don and Sir Viv?? I definitely say he is. But can anyone better the little master?? now thats a question worth debating about!
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