Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives - BBC on Sachin Tendulkar
I'm writing this post one day after India beat New Zealand in a 2 match test series at home. I was just reading the news and I am absolutely baffled and anguished by the number of people asking this man to hang up his boots and walk off from the game he has contributed SO much to, over the last two decades. I mean seriously, are you all out of your mind? Who are we to ask him to retire or walk away? Have you played the game ever? Even if you have, have you played like him? HAve you shouldered the hopes and expectations of over a billion cricket crazy fans? Have you been as consistent and fit as he has? If you haven't, you have no right to question his ability or decision to continue playing.
Before we go any further, I want to emphasize that I don't think Sachin is GOD, I don't think he is the greatest cricketer to have ever played the game (simply because I haven't watched every generation and I can't say that unless I have seen all of them, even then I may not be knowledgable enough to make that call). Hell, he's not even my favourite-est cricketer, that would be Rahul Dravid. Then why am I so pissed about all
this news? Because you cannot, absolutely CANNOT deny his contribution to this game just like you cannot question his brilliance and amazing talent. He has been a worthy role model for many a kid. There is a Rahul Mehra, from Times Of India asking this question. "what does he get out of playing now, he has almost all the records, he won the world cup, he has scored so many centuries, what has he got left to prove"!! You NITWIT, you've touched upon the answer yourself, he has nothing left to prove, or nothing left to achieve. Yet he plays the game because he believes he can contribute further to Indian cricket. With all the legends like Dravid, Laxman retiring one after the other, have you thought of the consequences if Sachin were to retire now? This was New Zealand, who don't have extraordinary bowling or batting. Next to come will be England followed by Australia and I don't think your 'youngsters' alone are going to be able to handle that. If you give me shit like he's playing for money, one SLAP on your face is all you will get. What money does he not have that he will possibly get out of putting his body through more torture. Give him a break. The man is almost 40, and cricket requires training hard, he is not going to put himself through that kind of physical stress for nothing. So instead of yelling for him to leave, sit back and enjoy while he still plays because when he does decide to retire (which is not too far away), you are going to miss him, Indian cricket will miss him and world cricket will say goodbye to one of their most precious gems.
As Mathew Hayden put it -
His life seems to be a stillness in a frantic world... [When he goes out to bat], it is beyond chaos - it is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man.
The chaos WILL come to an end one day. It will be a sad day because you are never going to find someone to fill the void that he is going to leave. So until that dreaded day arrives, let him be. Your Sharmas, Tiwaris and Rahanes can wait. Of all the people that have been unceremoniously kicked out, at least this man deserves to go out on his own terms!
I'm writing this post one day after India beat New Zealand in a 2 match test series at home. I was just reading the news and I am absolutely baffled and anguished by the number of people asking this man to hang up his boots and walk off from the game he has contributed SO much to, over the last two decades. I mean seriously, are you all out of your mind? Who are we to ask him to retire or walk away? Have you played the game ever? Even if you have, have you played like him? HAve you shouldered the hopes and expectations of over a billion cricket crazy fans? Have you been as consistent and fit as he has? If you haven't, you have no right to question his ability or decision to continue playing.
Before we go any further, I want to emphasize that I don't think Sachin is GOD, I don't think he is the greatest cricketer to have ever played the game (simply because I haven't watched every generation and I can't say that unless I have seen all of them, even then I may not be knowledgable enough to make that call). Hell, he's not even my favourite-est cricketer, that would be Rahul Dravid. Then why am I so pissed about all
this news? Because you cannot, absolutely CANNOT deny his contribution to this game just like you cannot question his brilliance and amazing talent. He has been a worthy role model for many a kid. There is a Rahul Mehra, from Times Of India asking this question. "what does he get out of playing now, he has almost all the records, he won the world cup, he has scored so many centuries, what has he got left to prove"!! You NITWIT, you've touched upon the answer yourself, he has nothing left to prove, or nothing left to achieve. Yet he plays the game because he believes he can contribute further to Indian cricket. With all the legends like Dravid, Laxman retiring one after the other, have you thought of the consequences if Sachin were to retire now? This was New Zealand, who don't have extraordinary bowling or batting. Next to come will be England followed by Australia and I don't think your 'youngsters' alone are going to be able to handle that. If you give me shit like he's playing for money, one SLAP on your face is all you will get. What money does he not have that he will possibly get out of putting his body through more torture. Give him a break. The man is almost 40, and cricket requires training hard, he is not going to put himself through that kind of physical stress for nothing. So instead of yelling for him to leave, sit back and enjoy while he still plays because when he does decide to retire (which is not too far away), you are going to miss him, Indian cricket will miss him and world cricket will say goodbye to one of their most precious gems.
As Mathew Hayden put it -
His life seems to be a stillness in a frantic world... [When he goes out to bat], it is beyond chaos - it is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man.
The chaos WILL come to an end one day. It will be a sad day because you are never going to find someone to fill the void that he is going to leave. So until that dreaded day arrives, let him be. Your Sharmas, Tiwaris and Rahanes can wait. Of all the people that have been unceremoniously kicked out, at least this man deserves to go out on his own terms!
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