"There will be Cricketers... there will be Legends... but there will never be another Sachin Tendulkar"
I was born almost 2 years after he
made his international debut. The reason for realizing this so late is that I
never really believed that cricket was ever played before him, because for most
people in my generation 'cricket made its
debut with him'. The first memory we
have of cricket is hearing the cries of 'Sachiiin
Sachiiiiiin' by my family
members, relatives, neighbours and the entire country, while we were watching
the legendary innings he was playing at Sharjah. In fact my second memory of
cricket is also watching him play in the 1999 world cup in the match against
Pakistan. Patriotism was at its highest peak then.
During our childhoods, many
believed that MRF was
a company that manufactured cricket bats and that was only because of this
little master. When sometimes my father would bring a bat for me which didn't
have that sticker on it then I would tear the sticker on it and write MRF with
my red sketch pen.
For millions, the match
used to end just after the fall of his wicket. Every time I
missed watching his batting due to school, the first question that I asked to
my mother after returning was 'how much Sachin
scored?' and after hearing the answer I
would imagine him hitting all those runs and cheer. It was him who inspired
every boy and girl of my generation to do something for our country. It was him
who inspired
many parents to allow their
children to take up sports seriously.
From an age when teens struggle to
figure out a hobby, he at 16 was facing some of the fiercest bowlers the game
had ever seen. Most of the present team India players were not even in school
when he made his debut. Intimidated and nervous, what was thought as the entry
of just a lucky kid to debut at such an age; bouncer after bouncer, with a
bloody chin, till the moment he got out after his first innings, world
knew he was not just another boy. He was something
special. And then began the most illustrious journey Cricket has ever seen.
Career stats which would make even a CA run for his money. Record breakings
were made a mockery of. The number of records he has, is a record in
itself.
Opponent after opponent, stadium
after stadium, year after year, world cup after world cup he continued to
mesmerize everyone who even heard of him. The time he has 'Bled
BLUE', three generations have come and gone.
The Game has seen a drastic change but the master stood firm. After an
astonishing 5 World Cup
appearances, even the greatest riches, fame couldn't
shake him. Aiming to play Tennis in his childhood, more than 3 decades later he
became much more than just
a Cricketer. To many he was the GOD of
a sport which is even bigger than the government in India.
The SACHIN-fever was
not just limited to those acquainted with the 22 yards, it was a global
phenomenon. People who never watched cricket, admired him. Places where there
is no cricket, honoured him. And he was a dream-catch to those few lucky brands
who were able to make him their face. He was one of the very few players in
world cricket, who used to get standing ovations
across the globe; from Kingston to Lords to Durban
to the SCG. Strategies were made especially for him. His wicket was every
bowler's dream. There is not even a slight possibility, the BCCI will ask any
other player ever if he is available or not; before selecting the squad for
any series. Opponents respected him with the highest regard and some of their
statements have now become ever-green quotes of idolism.
- Mathew Hayden (one of the greatest and feared
Aussie batsmen) famously said, "I have seen GOD. He
bats at No.4 for India".
- Hasim Amla once quoted, "Nothing will ever happen to you, if you are on the same plane
with Sachin".
- "I want my son to become Sachin
Tendulkar", said Brian Lara (One of the greatest
batsmen ever).
- "We didn't loose to India, we lost to a
man called Sachin Tendulkar", said AB Devilliers (South
Africa ODI Captain) when Sachin scored the first ever double hundred in
ODIs.
- Barack Obama very famously once said, "I don't know about Cricket but still watch Sachin play. Not
because I love his batting but I want to know why my country's production
goes down by 5% while he is batting".
It was a career so magical, that
his records may even last forever. He has possibly written every
individual record in his name; won the
IPL, CLT20 and of course the ICC Cricket World Cup on his home ground in
Mumbai. But as nature has it, the inevitable did finally happen. One fine day,
out of nowhere he declared that he wants to retire within
a month, at his homeground. Suddenly India skipped a heartbeat. And all of a
sudden, BCCI geared up to bid the grandest of all farewells to its biggest
superstar. A quickfire series with the West Indies was suddenly accommodated in
the already jam-packed team India's schedule; the Master's final appearance
being scheduled to be at Wankhede on 14th Nov
'2013 for the 2nd Test
Match. Everyone prepared for the best of celebrations; but there was a wish in
everyone's mind not to see this day ever in their lives. After all Sachin was a true
peoples' favourite. Every run he scored, felt like
it was ours. After all Sachin was the GOD of the game & how can we not
feel his magic.
For the build-up to this massive
game, India was gripped in hysteria. The GOD was retiring. Every news channel's
prime-time topic was about the little genius. Every youth, every sports lover,
almost every Indian was gripped in 'Sachin
fever'. And that day finally
arrived. Madness, Hysteria,
Security that has never been
seen before any cricket match & definitely not a Test match, gripped
Mumbai. But this was no ordinary match. It was the Master's final appearance on a cricket field. Wankhede turned into a fortress to bid goodbye to its favourite son. Undoubtedly it had to be the most
important cricket match in the history of
Indian cricket. There was not even a square feet of empty space inside the
stadium. The President's Box was full, so was the VVIP Box and was the entire
stadium. Aamir Khan to Hrithik Roshan to Rahul Gandhi to Nita Ambani to Clive
Lloyd, all were in attendance. The Master's mother
and coach were there too to
watch their favourite son for the very first time and for the last time as
well, so was his entire family. His son was among the ball-boys sitting around
the boundary rope (surely the best seat in the house). It was the biggest
festive day in Indian cricket.
Indian captain MS Dhoni won the
toss and very famously said, "I am going to
break a lot of hearts now, but we will bowl first" and
the audience booed. But dramatically WI got all out after tea on the very first
day, giving India a couple of hours to bat. Suddenly the stadium came to life.
Everyone started praying to get the opportunity to see 'GOD at Work' for
one last time. After an hour; falling prey to spin, Murali Vijay sneaked one
into the hands of the close in-fielder aaaand that
was it. India's second wicket had fallen
and the 33,000 strong crowd along with millions watching at home cheered like
they had won the World Cup out of nowhere (or even more). Finally their prayers
were answered, finally it was their turn to be a part of history. Finally the
GOD was walking down the stairs with his trademark bat and Wankhede erupted so
loud that the roar would have easily reached as far as West Indies. Followed by
a guard of honour by the WI near the pitch which was also attended by the umpires,
Sachin walked in, vowed to the 22 yards strip with his hand and settled in.
Mumbai was going berserk by then. The "Sachiiin...
Sachiiiiiiiin" roar was reaching
the highest decibels. A single towards the leg side & Sachin broke the
deadlock. There was relief everywhere, the Bradman-ghost (duck on retirement)
was avoided. What followed was a true collector's item. Every short was better
than the previous one. It was as if, the Master was determined to gift everyone
a snapshot
of his entire career. Straight drives, cover drives,
square cuts all were on display. The day's play ended with Sachin at 38* and
everyone started dreaming of a Sachin hundred in his historic 200th Test match;
his 101st century. Suddenly Indians found it really hard to sleep on a pleasant night.
The 2nd day saw an even bigger
attendance, even more madness and euphoria because
everyone knew that there was a very remote possibility of India batting for the
2nd time. This was their last opportunity to grab a piece of "I
was there" moment. Sachin was
still on the crease and it was almost a virtual 'Bharat
Bandh'. Students bunked
colleges, youth bunked offices just to watch their favourite Superstar play for
one last time. And again, Sachin didn't disappoint. He resumed exactly where he had left off the previous day. Drives, cuts were on display at their best possible
form. It was vintage Sachin. A half-century and up he raised the bat (which was
coloured in the Indian tri-colours). The environment was to be seen to be believed.
Everyone became nervous wanting one last century. Well that didn't happen but
when he got out at a brilliantly made 74,
it was one of the saddest moments for the sport. Even the opposition captain
who took his catch, didn't celebrate. Wankhede stood-up with its loudest cheer
ever as GOD walked back into the pavillion raising his bat.
Everyone were dreaming of a quick
declaration by the Indians, so that WI bat and almost impossibly take
a lead; so that India get to bat another time (typical Indian brains). So that SACHIN
gets to bat for another time.
But as practically expected, WI fell the very next day morning and finally it
was time to say goodbye to the
greatest player to have ever played the game. It was time for
him to bid goodbye to the 22
yard strip. Silently he plucked out a stump,
hugged MS Dhoni and a blanket of sadness covered the cricketing fraternity. No
one was sparred, the crowd, the umpires, the commentators, the policemen,
everyone who was touched by this little master had moist eyes. Sudhir, one of
Sachin's greatest fans with his body painted in tri-colours was deep in sorrow.
Former team-mate VVS Laxman couldn't do commentary out of high flowing
emotions. The moment had arrived, when we had to say goodbye to the GOD. An
emotional Sachin Tendulkar then gave one of the most touching speeches ever; he
cried, entire India cried. On
taking the microphone, he had to beg 'all
my friends, settle down, let me talk, I'll get more and
more emotional' and you feared he could break down. Instead, of course, he was
pitch perfect with his tributes. He didn't forget to
thank everyone for supporting him for 24 long years. A
full-house was already celebrating that life with delirious acclaim and the
crowd whooped with delight at seeing the first never-ending, moveable guard of
honour for a tearful Sachin as the little master's young teammates kept
bouncing alongside him towards the pavilion like gleeful, star-struck
kids. Everything was coming to a fitting
end where it all had begun. Then came the priceless
moment, when escaping all the chaos
around him and the security, Sachin walked towards the pitch; touched it with
both hands and made a salute in traditional Indian style. It was his way to
thank the game, that has given him everything in life. A game he has worshipped
his entire life. And the crowd had not stopped chanting 'Sachiiin
Sachiiiiiin' for the last half an
hour; conveying their thanks to a man, who has given India so much
of excitement and entertainment. It was the GOD's
final swansong.
Darren Sammy (The captain of WI)
very humbly said, "This has to be
the greatest farewell ever to any sportsman in the world. India has showed us
how to salute a legend. We are lucky enough to be a part of this series".
The British Media also said, "There
has never been a farewell in sport quite like this" but
there has never been a player like this as well.
As he disappeared up those
pavilion steps one last time, it felt as if India
had lost its inspiration, its pleasure dome and its
comfort blanket. How could it imagine life without its Sachin? The game itself
mattered little. In a nation defined by crowds, this was all about one man. In
an emotional valedictory address, Tendulkar (40), said what so many across the
country felt: 'It's hard to
believe my wonderful journey is coming to an end'. For the first time, words disappointed me. They somehow couldn't convey how sad I was, along with a billion other people.
Vice-Captain Virat Kohli said:
Dat feeling wen I saw him cry, most painful..never saw the whole team cry for something..That was our emotion..
Yuvraj Singh quoted:
Master Sachin Sir...That could be the most emotional speech of all time..players crowd and each person present at that moment hadwet eyes..so did i..it was painfull and a proud moment..Love u and miss u.
Indian Captain MS Dhoni quoted:
"Sunglasses help a lot..Myself Never cried but today I did..Can't imagine cricket without him..what a pleasure to be present at dis moment..moment cherished for all my life #SachinRT..."Dat feeling wen I saw him cry, most painful..never saw the whole team cry for something..That was our emotion..
#Sachin paaji.. I am speechless..ThankYou..memories
Master Sachin Sir...That could be the most emotional speech of all time..players crowd and each person present at that moment hadwet eyes..so did i..it was painfull and a proud moment..Love u and miss u.
Legendary Rahul Dravid said:
I controlled a lot but the time he took my name along with Sourav's , I couldn't help my tears coming out...Gentleman departs with big heart.. Cricket will be now known as AS (After Sachin) and BS (Before Sachin)
Tendulkar, adored by all
communities in his homeland, represented a vision
of unity that many Indians
today fear may be imperilled as a divisive election campaign season looms.
After all he was a symbol of unity in a diverse country. He was the
nation's most popular son. He is the
GOD of Cricket.
I have never seen our countrymen
more united than they were while watching him in action and one suitable banner
at Wankhede on that teary farewell day read 'India...
divided by religions, united by SACHIN'. He represented
just one religion ''CRICKET". It was him who made us believe that we can
take on the whole world, just like he did in his entire career. He touched us
in so many ways, which even he doesn't know. The ESPN Cricinfo website crashed
during his historic speech. The '#ThankYouSachin' tag
was the most trending topic ever on Twitter in India. Nearly 2 billion pictures of Sachin were downloaded from google during the 2 and half days of his final Test match. Minutes after his touching speech, the Indian Govt. declared 'Bharat Ratna' for him; the highest civilian award in India & Sachin was the first sportsman ever to receive it. On a lighter note, looking at the gifts Sachin jokingly said, "I thought I had built a big house, but I was wrong".
We were lucky enough just to see
you play in our lifetime.
Truly 'One-of-a-kind'...
Thank you for 24 years of sheer excitement... & entertainment!!!
#ProudToBeAnIndian
#ProudToBeAnIndian
Lifetime Salute to the Legend....Sachin Tendulkar
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