Sachin Tendulkar - The legend of the legendary

The question has been answered. A 5’5” figure worshipped as a demigod throughout the cricketing world has finally answered the question that had been bemusing statisticians, agonizing followers, and bamboozling fortune-tellers since the last two years. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has finally taken the call on his illustrious career.

Not that it wasn’t anticipated, for the pressure of hanging up the boots, albeit desperately latent, had been immense even on the man who has, almost effortlessly, carried the colossal burden of 1.2 billion hopes right through the last 24 years.

Tendulkar’s career has been a treat as much for the statisticians as for the viewers of the game. The Master has convincingly led his bat through numerous impossible victories, scaled unattainable peaks, overpowered insurmountable oppositions and scripted unprecedented history.

Yet he remains the lustrous embodiment of humility and modesty whose only moment of displaying emotions came after the 2011 World Cup triumph.

The legend of Sachin Tendulkar transcends far beyond the mere figures of statistical analysis. For a man who has tasted success in every possible flavour and who boasts of mind-boggling numbers and inconceivable landmarks, statistics is merely an acre of land in his vast empire.

The cynosure of Indian cricket claims the throne of the greatest for his sheer longevity. Cricket has evolved round the man who has been there all the while like one of those ancient pillars that silently radiate imperishable tradition and legacy.

Not a single day has passed in the last two decades when the Indian fan hasn’t worshiped this heavily padded figure. He has been their reason for optimism in the direst predicaments, their cause of celebration in moments of gloom, their reliable motivation in the face of obstruction.

Destiny’s favourite child has had his own share of success and failure, the former abundantly overwhelming the latter. Injuries to the elbow and the ankles could pose no hindrance to the accomplishments of the man on whom, it seemed, bias was showered from heaven. The saga of a man unchallenged and unanimously revered right though his entire career is no more likely to be drafted in future than it has been in the past.

Sachin Tendulkar has been a genius in his own right. He has exceeded expectations, surpassed predictions and excelled in a way only he could have. He has cliched the most bejeweled adjectives, redefined compliments and ascended above trivial definitions.

The humble elegance behind that push through the covers, the unassuming confidence behind that straight drive, the ostensibly ordinary charisma behind that lofted flick over the square leg fielder – everything about Tendulkar was strangely oxymoronic. His career has been an unspoken juxtaposition of luck and hard work fueled by talent and persistent effort.

If not for anything, Tendulkar will be remembered as the one who found sustained excellence. Paralleling Tendulkar is itself unfathomable, leave aside outshining him. His worst has been way better than many cricketers’ best; his nadir has been still higher than many players’ zenith.

It is almost inconceivable how the mere personality of a man inspired the whole country. The presence of the 5’5” figure in the crease calmed down billions even in the throes of defeat. As confessed by his teammates, the mere existence of Tendulkar inside the dressing room inspired them on the field even when the Master was not up to his best.

The authoritative influence that Tendulkar exercised makes him all the more irreplaceable. There will never be someone as diligent, gifted, charismatic and equally modest as the man who changed the face of the religion he had surrendered his life to. The god of cricket had already been born. Once and forever.

The legend of the legendary will never fade. A role model to thousands and inspiration to even many more, Tendulkar’s legend shall always remain unscathed like those handful myths that pass on from generation to generation in their purest form.

History has been printed in golden script. And the name of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has been immortalized in his trademark style – humble, yet everlasting.