A story titled 'Sachin Tendulkar'

Not a long ago, we were told that the world would end on the 21st of December 2012. Fortunately or unfortunately, it didn’t. But on 16th November 2013, it did for millions of Sachin aficionados.

Everyone has a love story, likewise, everyone in this country has a Sachin Story too.

It was the last year of the millennium and the first test match of the series between cricket’s arch rivals. India and Pakistan. Kashmir and Kargil was safe then. We had an antique Videocon television with only one channel, Doordarshan. Doordarshan had this very annoying cricket schedule. Test matches were broadcasted from 9 am to 10:30 am, then they resumed at 3:30 in the afternoon. Radio served the purpose interim.

It was the first India vs Pakistan test, since my birth. Pakistan had set a target of 271 of 1080 odd balls. Those were the days when Laxman used to open the innings. Dravid at three, Sachin at four, followed by Azhar and Ganguly. It was also the first test match for S.Ramesh. At the end of the third day of the test, India had lost their openers.I had just turned 9 that year. Every Sunday morning I played cricket in my patio, with my friends. And this time we played with the running commentary. Placing the radio on the compound wall, its antenna erect, pointing towards the sky. Volume tuned to the limits. Holding the MRF bat in one hand, walking down the pitch (patio that is), hitting the concrete floor three four times, just like Tendulkar or any other international player. I never knew, why I did. But I had seen him doing. The radio commentary as exhilarating as ever. The commentator used to shriek and howl at times that pumped our adrenaline. The raucous voice of the commentator was definitely not for the faint hearted.

India was slowly galloping towards the destiny. Soon after lunch, wickets trembled. We, surrounded the radio, bat and ball, now lying like an orphan in the patio. India was 5 down for 82. Tendulkar and Mongya were at the crease. A thought crossed my mind and I shared it with on of my friend who owned a bicycle, Hercules MTB. He was a Sachin purist, hence he acknowledged. We wanted to watch Sachin bat and the television with a dish connection was 7kms away, at my grannys.

We peddled our way, through the scorching Sun. It was my first visit to the grannys on my bicycle. We tuned to ESPN and the duo were still bat-tling. We watched without exchanging words, the vestibule was silent except for the rattling of the obsolescent cast iron ceiling fan. Sachin had entered the 90s. Inadvertent Moin Khan, missed a stumping opportunity when Sachin was at 91. We didn’t clap. The moment he crossed the hundred mark, the moment he removed his helmet to gaze at the sky, we clapped till our white palms turned red. Sachin looked in complete control. His shots, Touchwood.

Nayan Mongia gave up as the score board reached 218. India was 53 runs away with six wickets in hand and the number of balls to be bowled was more than 500. Sachin changed the gears and pushed the accelerator, played some skirmish drives on the off side and some crafty glances on the other side of the wicket. But later, we saw him limp. He walked towards the non striker, Sunil Joshi (who was already on pins and needles)every now and then to have a chat, the wince of pain was now palpable. India was 246/7, my intuition said that we’d win this test match on the 4th day itself. The blend of defense and attack had molded one of Sachin’s greatest test innings. He hit two consecutive boundaries of Pakistan’s go to bowler, Saqlain Mushtaq. India, now hopping towards the target, victory was in the vicinity. But sometimes, all that goes well doesn’t End well. After that back to back boundaries, he played a lofted shot, ball as high as a kite, but the range of the ball betrayed the master. He was caught at mid off by Wasim Akram. Commentator, Harsha Bhogle ran out of words and the crowd went mum. I heard my friend’s exasperated gush of words. He stole the remote from my hand only to press the power button. The batsmens to follow were the top bowlers, all from my state.

Albeit, we peddled a lot to reach there, we didn’t give a second thought and left the grannys house. A part of me knew that Saqlain Mushtaq had already pulled the plug. “Sachin Goes, India Go”, that was the mindset. We didn’t speak much on the ride back but my friend used the word “unnecessary shot” every time he spoke.

When I reached home, Doordarshan was airing the presentation ceremony. India lost by 12 runs. Later I heard that Sachin cried in the dressing room. After laboring for almost 7 hours, single handedly schlepping the team towards the finish line and the last 3 batsmens mange to gather only 4 runs, why wouldn’t he cry ?. I felt sad, I didn’t cry.I felt sad when Sachin got out for McGrath in the World Cup finals 4 years later, but I didn’t cry. I felt sorry when Sachin got out in the Wankhade, for one final time. I held my tears. But when Sachin gave that “Last Lecture“, wearing a kiddish cap, standing under the hot sun, reliving his past, our past, the crowd going berserk humming “Sachiiin, Sachin” in unison, the one final hurrah, that one final walk towards the middle of the turf after his speech, where he literally caressed the 22 yards and walked the longest mile of his life towards the pavilion, if anyone said that they didn’t shed a tear, they’re Lying.

The sun has set, a 24 year long movie has ended, the credits have rolled, curtains drawn, one of the greatest sons of the country has kept his willow aside. Lets share the epic tale of this short man who stood tall every time he went there to work between the 22 yards. Let us remember him, not for the number of Runs he has scored, not for the number of centuries he has hit, but for the number of people he has inspired. The records dont define Tendulkar, it may only justify. When someone asks, “What did Sachin give to this nation? “, you must proudly say,”Sachin gave us the Pujaras, The Rohits, the Rahanes,the Dhonis, the Kohlis, the Yuvrajs, the Sehwags, the Gambhirs, the ……… The series is infinite.

And as far as “The Next Sachin” is concerned, it’s never going to happen. Because, the game itself has changed and no mother in future would command her son saying,“Sachin is out, now go study”