Sachin Tendulkar departs after scoring 74 runs
for India. Photo By: Bhaskar Paul
The magician called Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
today ensured that it was a farewell that each
and every Indian will remember for posterity
as the country's greatest sporting icon walked
into the sunset with a knock which exhibited
just why he is the greatest of this era.
In his 200th and last Test match, Tendulkar
showed how a genius can keep overwhelming
emotions under control as he scored a
majestic 74 in what will probably be his last
international innings.
The numbers mattered for the uninitiated but
for those who loved the man for the last 24
years, each and every stroke that came out
from that blade was a celebration. His 74 came
off 118 balls with 12 boundaries. A deft late
cut off Shane Shillingford, straight drive past
Tino Best, a shot off his hips off Shanon
Gabriel, it was India's most loved hero's way of
saying 'Thank You' as he completed 24 years in
international cricket today.
The cobwebs were off his mind, 40,000 odd at
the Wankhede and the millions in every nook
and corner of India may have felt the
pressure, but the man himself had a sage like
presence at the crease. Nothing mattered to
him apart from the bowler and the release of
his delivery.
Today's innings was a vintage Tendulkar, who
made everyone sit on a 'Time Machine' as he
rolled back those years. What no bowler has
done successfully in 24 years, Tino Best was
trying to do -- sledge Tendulkar. But
predictably, it didn't have an effect. Best tried
to intimidate Tendulkar with short-pitched
deliveries.
It hardly bothered him. He appealed fervently
for a caught behind but the umpire negated it.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's sigh of relief
was there for all to see. Best walked up to
Tendulkar on his follow through, asking why
doesn't he hook? The Master just smiled back.
But then Tendulkar showed that if the bowler
is 'Best', the maestro from Mumbai has always
been 'Better Than the Best'. the Indian's
answer was copybook bowler's backdrive that
took him past the half-century mark. The 50
came off 91 balls with nine boundaries.
As Tendulkar raised his bat to acknowledge the
applause from a packed Wankhede, wife Anjali
made a nervous gesture with her hands,
probably to say Just stay on. A few overs later,
Best had his hands on his knees, a signature of
surrendering to a genius.
As he walked past Best, Tendulkar just patted
his shoulders as if to say Come on young man.
You will have better days but it's my day
today. May be 40 years from now, a 70-year-
old Best will tell his grandchildren about his
duel with the Master as this will be the most
cherished moment of his career.
To prove a point, a backfoot cover drive off
Best was unleashed in his next over as
Tendulkar moved into the 60s.
Finally when Narsingh Deonarine induced an
edge, skipper Darren Sammy took a catch at
the slip. Anjali was on her feet, mother Rajni
was smiling, coach Ramakant Achrekar had a
tear in his eyes, brother Ajit was emotional and
one of the ball-boys standing at the boundary
line called Arjun Tendulkar was certainly
pleased at what he saw.
As Tendulkar acknowledged the standing
ovation, one didn't know whether he had a tear
in his eyes but there were moist eyes all
around as the revered Indian trudged his way
back to pavilion.
Saturday 16 November 2013
New
Sachin Tendulkar: The God of cricket will never retire!
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