Sachin Tendulkar: A legacy, fast getting ruined

DISCLAIMER: The views stated in this article are the author’s alone and not necessarily those of Sportskeeda.

A cruel fact of life is that we tend to remember people by their last acts. Particularly sportsmen. And we’re a fickle lot, choosing to turn a blind eye to achievements, and focus on the negatives. When we think Vinod Kambli, we do not remember his consecutive double centuries; instead we choose to recall him crying in the 1996 WC semi-final. Hansie Cronje’s brilliant captaincy and Mohammad Azharuddin’s sublime strokeplay are both forgotten due to the match-fixing allegations.

And soon too, Sachin Tendulkar runs the risk of being remembered as the man who wouldn’t go unless shoved. The most hardcore Tendulkar fan wouldn’t find a positive moment in his last two years; and quite honestly, his presence in the team has been an albatross-around-the-neck for India and the Mumbai Indians. Bowlers don’t celebrate his wicket anymore.

It’s one thing if we say he was out of form; but clearly age is catching up, as is reflected in his methods of dismissal and slower reflexes. I’m afraid he’s really past his use-by date.

Now, while that might sound harsh, and I might incite the wrath of his legions of fanatical following – consider the fact that I say this in his best interest. Had he retired immediately after the 2011 World Cup, his legacy would have been unmatched and he’d have still continued to be God for many (remember Imran Khan in 1992?). Instead, he chose to battle on, and while that was an inspiring tale of perseverance, it just made him seem more human. This is not the Sachin we knew and loved. He was not just fallible but looked totally embarrassing and out-of-place at times.

Proponents of Sachin’s continued presence in the team usually have two arguments – the fact that he is still good, and the fact that there’s nobody better. A quick look through his statistics over the last two years will take care of the former. As for the latter – Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Abhinav Mukund, and many other (some would say even Rohit Sharma!) – are being denied a rightful place in the Test side. I’m afraid people who want to keep Sachin in the side have no footing. Here’s a legend whose faculties have finally caught up with him, as they do with all human beings eventually. And now he must step aside, while people still remember his good deeds, before a larger proportion of people start openly believing that he is more liability than inspiration. The last resort of hardcore Sachin fans – “He is a legend and you have no right to drop him” – is quite meaningless. You wouldn’t keep your old Nokia 1100, even though it was a stellar performer at one point of time, if it takes 5 minutes to switch on. We need to take a lesson from Australia here – who were ruthless in terms of dropping legends. Ian Healy was denied a final match at his home ground which led to Adam Gilchrist being booed! Steve Waugh, too, was in danger of being shoved out; but thankfully he read the signs and chose his own way out. There’s a reason why such brave decisions have led to that team not only being the best team in the 1995-2005 era, but also having an impressive bench strength. As much as I earn money making Rohit Sharma jokes, I wish the lad would get a chance out there in the middle.

The selectors will probably be too cowardly to take this step – dropping Sachin might mean mobs, stone-throwing, effigy-burning and petitions. It’s Sachin himself who must realize this, and step away from the game. I sympathise with the fact that he doesn’t know how to do anything else apart from the game – but who said he needs to stay away? There’s a dearth of quality coaching in the country. How fantastic would it be if Sachin gave back to Shivaji Park, and followed in Ramakant Achrekar’s footsteps, grooming the next generation of Indian willow wielders? There’s a wealth of cricketing information and insight in that brain, and now is the time to pass it on to the generation that’s going to be battling it out over the next couple of decades. When he still is remembered as a legend. Not when he’s remembered as the man who wouldn’t go and ruined his own average and legacy.

Now into his 40^th year, here’s hoping Sachin takes the right decision. For Indian cricket.

DISCLAIMER: The views stated in this article are the author’s alone and not necessarily those of Sportskeeda.