Sachin a synonym to Cricket : A Tribute

Two notable Instances

* India vs Australia, Sharjah – 143 in 131 balls April 22, 1998 

This wasn’t a cricket match. Yeah, It was more a Bollywood film where you see the protagonist, after being bashed up by goons, rising up like an avenging angel. A middle-order collapse, mounting asking rate, an aggressive bowling attack and a desert storm. Sachin Tendulkar overcame all these adversities and bludgeoned five sixes and nine fours to help India qualify for the triseries final. India needed 276 to win, or 237 to qualify off 46 overs, thanks to a revised target following a sandstorm. Tendulkar’s heroics helped India qualify. In the final, he belted another ton to help India win the trophy.

It was a memorable inning! Delight to watch him play in Sharjah.

 * India vs South Africa, Gwalior – 200 not out in 147 balls, Feb 24, 2010

Sachin Tendulkar’s tryst with making history dates back to his school days when he carved records out of habit. 21 years after his debut, he became the first man to score a double hundred in an ODI. The feat came against an attack consisting of Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt and Wayne Parnell. The first double century ever in ODI’s – another feat to his name.

The bestest innings of Sachin.

Glorious Start said it all! 

A tiny figure, all of 16, walked onto the field for the first time in a Test match against Pakistan team comprising of blood-thirsty Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. One ball roared and the kid was in a pool of blood. After a little patch work, he stood up, “I’ll bat.” Navjot Singh Sidhu’s jaw dropped right to the ground. That was none other than Sachin who went on to be the greatest batsman and moreover the most successful cricketer of all time. ODIs were different but so was Tendulkar, not any other batsmen but one for whom God had reserved the chosen stuff. Tendulkar’s aura grew stronger due to his grounded nature. His humility on and off the field despite batting records kissing his feat makes him double the legend he is today. But one thing was still missing – a World Cup trophy. That void was also filled in with the victory of India in 2011 World Cup – The whole team dedicated the emphatic win to Sachin!

As the tennis great Martina Navratilova said, “The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are their worst.” That’s where Tendulkar has outraced every cricketer. Even when at his lowest ebb and people calling for his head incessantly, Tendulkar never lost his composure and remain dignified both on and off the field. He never questioned an umpire’s call but accepted it with grace. He never abused, never resorted to sledging. Only did what he knew the best, that is play cricket.

This religions owes everything to him!

That’s what makes him stand in elite company. That’s what makes him Sachin Tendulkar. Thank you, Sachin, for entertaining us. ODI cricket will find it difficult to fill the void created by your absence.

For rapists, punishment wont do – A serious makeover of society necessary!

While there is a continuing outrage going on across the country regarding diminishing societal values and disrespect of women in the country, I also register my say in this respect. The said initiative is for the Delhi Rape Victim who was brutally raped in a moving bus in the capital few days ago. The shocking incident brought to forefront a self – evident face of the society where nowadays young girls and women have to fear from an empty road as well as a crowded place. Such an aspect is derogatory of the basic values which society always boasts of. India has reached to such a pedestal where even new born girls are not spared from being victims of such disastrous crime. Molestation and Eve teasing are also on an ever high rate. Well it’s not far from now when such people won’t even hesitate to rape our Motherland and openly deter from her traditions, culture and values.

In India, we talk about equality of gender and also status, the same has not yet been achieved by our policy makers. The major reason is that the basic unit of a society – i.e. the present day Family has not been able to imbibe such values to their own members. Thus, the future has a long narrow dark tunnel of crimes which ultimately leads an individual behind bars. And such an individual gains the status of a “Criminal” who is bailed out of jail even earlier than he himself expects and lives his life freely looking for a new prey. The rape victim is left with nothing – no soul, no peace of mind, no friends and sometime even their own families don’t back them. The fear of social stigma on all the fronts devastates their lives. She can’t think of a new life because then the society will step in and say “That your contribution had been enough, now don’t you dare come back to us because we have some basic dignity and traditions. On the other hand, you are left with nothing. It’s better if you end your life!”

Any overnight solution is not possible in this regard. You need to change your perception that such a situation cannot affect your lives; but sooner or later you’ll get to know that you are damn wrong and there’s a lot more to worry about on the other hand. Fastest Track Court is of utmost importance. Society should accept the pros and cons of such a peculiar situation and mend ways to not let this happen to any other woman in the country.