I did my best to get back home to catch the moment that was of magnanimous proportions. Alas, I missed it. Nevertheless, following Sachin's innings on my mobile from the start of the 40th over was nerve-wrecking and exciting. Just to make sure that the luck doesn't change, I kept playing the same song over and over again on my mobile. About Sachin, well, no matter how much is written about him, it just can't be enough, can it? Yet another feat; first double hundred in an ODI since its inception 39 years ago and who better, to accomplish it, than the greatest servant of Cricket himself. There have been instances in the recent past, where he has come very close to achieving it and now that he has eclipsed it, makes me feel as if I've achieved something big, and I'm sure that is exactly how most of the cricket lovers must be feeling right now, a feeling of achieving something personal.
Watching him bat is almost like watching a small child at play, full of exuberance and unwavering concentration. And when someone with that kind of commitment achieves something, it puts a smile on our face. This is probably why what Sachin does on the field matters a lot to us, may be not as much as it used to during the 90's when he burdened the hopes of an entire nation without much support from his mediocre team-mates, but nevertheless, Indian cricket still, very largely, banks on his performances.
So, what is it that keeps this man, who is 36 years and 306 days old, going? More than anything else, I think it is his passion and the love for what he does. The man was born to play Cricket, that is what he does and that is what he has been doing for past 20 years and how!
Despite of the fact that he is a genius, his immense respect for the game and professionalism in his approach to it is admirable and his undying hunger to achieve things, at an age where most of us would be considering a retirement no matter what our profession is, is simply astonishing. And it says a lot about the character of the man. It is the kind of character that will be respected world over. That's the thing with great people, isn't it? It isn't so much about what they do; it is more about how they go about their business.
The more we watch Sachin bat, the more we get to know him and about the character of the man and the more we get to know him, the more we respect, admire and love him.
During the early part of the last decade, most kids wanted to play like Sachin and now, I bet most people want to be like Sachin, passionate and committed to their work. I certainly want to be like him. What you've done for us is service. And for that Sir, I bow down and thank you. You truly are a national hero.
Sachin's retirement is inevitable. And when it comes that, what do you think will be a greater loss, removing Sachin from Cricket? Or removing Cricket from Sachin?
I think its the latter.
No comments:
Post a Comment