An Ode to Sachin

A few Tragic Innings of Sachin’s life

When we see a victor in his last days, we tend to remember his trophies he snatched from the cruel hands of destiny, the surreal joys he brought us amidst our dreary existence. The tears, the pathos are often forgotten. For he who conquered must always be remembered for his achievements, and not for his pains. Yet the agony is as much a part of the ecstasy, as it is the route to it, which the conqueror alone knows in his heart.  Sachin’s immense achievements shall forever warm the hearts of the lovers of  ODIs (One Day Internationals); he almost single handedly elevated the game created for the sole purpose of entertainment to the levels of pure abstract beauty. So it would be a disservice to his memories if we are not to recall a few of his knocks that gave us hope as well as despair, a few knocks that were tragic whether for the circumstances, or the results, despite his best efforts. Here I list a few of his knocks that were heartbreakingly cruel, and yet poignantly poetic.

1)      65 runs, against Sri Lanka (World Cup Semifinal, 1996 ): He started off like a master, bringing hopes to the millions of fans. Sri Lanka’s total of 251 seemed comically small when he was in the field, thrashing the hapless bowlers around the park. His 9 boundaries were, as always, poetic yet brutal. India hoped to reach the finals of the Wills world cup easily, building on the superb start he gave. However, then came the innocuous Jayasuriya. His left arm spin tricked Sachin into one false shot, and he fell at a personal score of 65, with the scoreboard reading 98/2. The rest of Indian batsmen competed with each other in the race for self-destruction, and suddenly from 98/2 India crushed to 120/8 (in 34.1 overs). The spectators of Eden found it way too hard to accept the reality, and in a show more pitiful than the Indian batting, hurled missiles at the players. The play had to be stopped, and subsequently Sri Lanka was declared the winner. Sri Lanka went on to win the cup, a cup that almost seemed destined to be in the clutches of the great man, had he not fallen so tragically.

2)      140* against Kenya (World Cup 1999): This innings provided the classic example of triumph of mind over matter, and yet it was perhaps the most difficult innings of his life. Sachin’s dad, Ramesh Tendulkar had departed the world, leaving his son in utmost pain. Sachin flew back to India to pay his last tributes to his beloved father, and then returned to pay homage on the cricket field. Rarely had a cricket match seen such a display of pleasure and pain and then have them mixed together as happened in the 22 yards of Bristol. This was not an ordinary century, for it was essayed by the innermost agonies of a master. The opposition wasn’t Kenya, it was pain, and Sachin responded by scripting a beauty that transcended agony. As a human he couldn’t stop the death his life-giver; but as a symbol he could create a garland meant to be dedicated to his father. India won the match, and Sachin dedicated the century and his man of the match award to his dad.

3)      98 against Pakistan (2003 World Cup):  It was one of the most crucial matches in India’s amazing journey in the 2003 World Cup. Pakistan threatened to halt India’s winning streak by posting an imposing total of 273 on a green track at Centurion. Pakistan had great fast bowlers like Washim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoib Akhtar to try and expose India’s limitations. However, the audacious little master came out with his own plans. The fast men were disposed to the boundary with the contempt usually reserved for unworthy foes.  Make no mistake- this was perhaps the most potent fast bowling attack of the tournament, and yet Tendulkar’s genius made it look supremely easy. Till he neared his century that is. Waqar brought back Shoib Akhtar as Sachin was in his nineties. His pace hadn’t even troubled the master before, and yet now, with the nervousness of nineties perhaps playing a part, he induced a beauty that had Sachin caught off Younis Khan. He richly deserved a century, and deserved to hit the winning strokes. However, he had to leave with India precariously placed at 177/4 (27.4 overs). A former Indian outfit might have collapsed, but the new team India under Saurav Ganguly had the presence of mind to keep calm and reward Sachin’s efforts. India went on to win the match by six wickets. Sachin fans shall always remember this knock as a lesson in audacity, and yet a painful memory as he stopped so close to the 100 mark. 

4)      4 against Australia (World Cup 2003 Final): Ricky Ponting had already taken the game out of India’s hands by his superbly crafted 140*. India’s only hopes were that this man would essay a better innings. However the Clinical Glenn McGrath produced a mistimed pull from the little master early in the innings, and broke the hearts of all Indians. Sachin departed with a pain in his soul that would be too deep for words to describe. The warrior had fallen, India had no more hopes. India went on to fight a bit, but eventually lost to the superior team by a huge margin of 125 runs.

5)      175 against Australia (Australia’s tour of India, 2009): Only he could have the temerity to suggest that a massive 350 is achievable, that too against the best side of the world. In an innings filled with fireworks and innovation Sachin showed the world why he was still regarded as the world’s best bat. Hapless Australians were treated with disdain, as India breathlessly watched this clash of titans, hoping against hope that a miracle could happen. However, just like a classic Shakespeare tragedy, the hero fell agonizingly close to the mark. Sachin tried one of his innovations- the paddle sweep, only to top edge it to the safe hands of Nathan Hauritz. The crowd gave him a standing ovation for his heavenly knock, the brilliance of which would leave us dazzled forever. The scoreboard stood at 332/7 (47.1 overs). India squandered the opportunity and collapsed to 347 all out in 49.4 overs, to hand over Australia a victory by 3 runs. Sachin’s brilliance was overshadowed by the rest of the mortals.

6)      114 against Bangladesh (Asia Cup 2012): This was the famous 100^th 100.  There was relief all round, and joy at the achievement. Tendulkar had created a new summit- a summit that would perhaps stand forever. Yet the joy was short lived. Bangladesh scripted a memorable win that ultimately knocked India off. This innings was criticized as being a “selfish” innings, as it was bit slow, and hence stopped India from scoring a huge total. The controversy continued till the last day of his ODI career, and perhaps influenced his final decision at quitting this format. It is incredibly sad that yellow journalism played its part to vanquish such a brilliant career. 

As Sachin announced his retirement, tears flowed from every eye. The victories were saluted, the triumphs revisited. The agonies lay interred in our hearts. It has been a memorable journey, with an unexpected end. He departed as the greatest warrior, with a halo of a tragic hero. We shall not see the likes of him, and this deepens our pathos. 

The modern Hannibal

Disclaimer: I do not often write about cricket. However, I felt I would lose all my rights to writing if I didn't pen my feelings on this issue. An old warrior fighting his lone battle: forsaken by friends, pursued hotly by his enemies clamoring for his head. A pen shouldn't remain silent in these issues: Otherwise it would have to surrender its right to write; forever....

Often we mimic life, but sometimes, just sometimes, life decides to mimic us. Often we look at an incident, and exclaim: Hey, that's what life is! Life, however, sits back, and watches the proceedings with an amused smile on its face, often uttering: how naive, how silly! But sometimes the great gladiators force life into an arena, daring to fight it, single-handedly. Life, despite the audacity of the gladiators, do face them: and fight them fair and square. Some win, others get a second chance; some are forestalled! A fight with life is on the cards now: the question is- will life allow itself to fight the mighty Hannibal of modern world cricket? Or will it prefer to sit back and watch in amusement?

Once Cronje  had exclaimed: cricket to me is a reflection of life. The vagaries of a hypocrite society has ensured that he is no longer a part of the proceedings; but perhaps, he wouldn't find a better example than the play being enacted now in the classical battlefields of Australia. Perth could be the destination of that grand fight between Life and the greatest warrior of modern times: Laxman; Or it could be the scene where life, taking an unfair advantage skips the battle by incapacitating the warrior prior to the scheduled fight.

Cricket could be amusing at times. It could also be poetic. But rarely is it so painfully melodious. To the Indian "fans" he remains Laxman, yet another instance where a surname becomes a name, and does justice to it! In Indian Mythology, Laxman was the brother of the greatest Indian Prince, elevated to the level of God. Great warrior though he was, he was rarely mentioned. His sacrifices did not merit a poet's lyrics. Sadly, it has been the case with this Very Very Special man here too.

Test Cricket is not for the faint-hearted. Neither it is for those impatient men who fail to appreciate the beauty of a ball swinging past the bat,  a solid defence, or a well judged leave. We indeed have lost the desire to stand and stare, and in this fast paced life the obituary of Test Cricket is all but written. Yet, so interestingly, life has got its revenge! It is in Test Cricket that Life reveals itself it the various forms, inflicting pleasure and pain alike to the viewers and the players. Life asks serious questions here, and provides beautiful answers too! But its only those who have the ability to read the language decipher the story. The rest are left behind in a make-belief world. Embark on a journey with me through the lush green outfields and the hard greenish brown 22 yards in the middle: and I shall attempt to tell you the tale of a Gladiator fighting for his last chance to face Life.

Let's first wind the clocks back to about a decade. Chips were down: even the bravest soldiers and supporters laid their guns. Defeat was certain. It takes more than a man to fight back from here. It takes more than an idea to clutch victory from the impending Defeat. But when some one does it, He become more than a man, more than an idea: he becomes a Symbol. VVS Laxman played the innings of his life on the Cricketing battlefield of a ground so aptly named Eden! After a decade however, he finds himself in the mercy of a few jokers, unworthy to tie his shoe lace, decide his Fate. As a symbol he could fight them all: prove all of them wrong time and again, performing the improbables and impossibles as a matter of daily routine. However, as a man he can't fight them: he has to wait for their signal to perform that last magic. It is here that Life could enter the arena: It is here that the jokers could take away his sword, and his right to fight.

Even a year ago the Fav Three were sacrosanct. No one raised a finger at their abilities, or for that matter, at their age. Laxman perhaps is the most under-rated of these stars, and hence it is no surprise that he's the Chosen One for the Big Sacrifice in the name of rebuilding a future. A few failures, the lack of which would have defied the cricketing law of averages, now are seen as writing on the wall to get him axed. True, he hasn't performed well in Overseas for a long time, but then does it merit his exclusion? Remember, even when he is on song, when the cherry vanishes out of sights implored on by the mighty wrists, which can effortlessly play the same ball in two orthogonal directions, he doesn't make the most of it. He is a true character, he is not an accumulator of runs. Amongst the Fav three, each one performs a different duty. The Wall defends the Castle, The Little Master charges and command the attack. When these two have failed, does this man come out as the only symbol of Hope, keeping defeat at bay through an impossible charisma. Be it the match winning 281, a battling 96 against SA, or a 73 with a number 10 alongside to seal those thrilling moments forever engraved in the hearts of the ardent followers of Life Test Cricket. So it's wrong to exclude him just on the meritds of average: Laxman doesn't play for runs, he plays for wins! To exclude him at this juncture, denying him a chance to get even with life, deny him to bat just once in Waca could be a real injustice. I sincerely hope that that doesn't happen!

It has happened earlier, it will happen again. We in India do not shower our attention and heart on the brazen soldiers: the Handsome Conductor gets the kudos. It might not be an exception now! The fighter could lose before the battle begins: but if he doesn't, mark my words, he shall prove to life that he is still capable of turning the tables around!