Friday, March 16, 2012

The Hundredth Hundred.

What a Relief!!!
 
As a citizen of a nation obsessed with Cricket, I too had great love for the game. I can't recall exactly when I started loving the game, but often spent days in front of the idiot box at home, ears glued to my small radio at the backbench in college, begging to the hostel warden to let us watch the world cup match between Sri Lanka and India (it ended rather disastrously, leaving many of us in tears) and many more... Though India had always been my favorite, and will continue to be so, I've always enjoyed other matches too... When South Africa chased down the highest score, I had cheered as if I was a South African!


Today, as India suffered a loss, despite Tendulkar finally achieving his 100th century, I feel that Indian Cricket is the loser. I have nothing against Tendulkar, and though I don't consider him as the God of Cricket, I had high regard for him as a player. But, I think slowly he is falling off the high pedestal on which he is placed. His passion for the game is never questioned. The fact that his presence and contribution to world cricket is enormous, is also undoubted. Still, I refuse to hail this 100th century.

If I am not entirely mistaken, he had stated that the only thing that was missing from his career, and which he badly wanted, was the World Cup. When he got it the last year, he should have gracefully left the stage. He lingered on and the hype for the 100th 100 got too much that, he himself admitted the pressure was too much on him. And finally, when it came today, as an Indian Cricket fan, I am not at all happy. A Tendulkar fan would be happy, but not me!

Now if he retires after the series, many would say that he had also been waiting for this milestone; so selfish of him! If he doesn't, many would again ask what more does he need to achieve!!! Tendulkar has placed himself in a rather uncomfortable zone... and might (I hope not) end up being portrayed as someone who is concerned about his records only. All his good deeds of the past would be forgotten and he would be disgraced (believe me, we are capable of that - it takes the fans no time to put anyone on a high pedestal and then pull them off it!!!)

The ability to call quits when one is at top is not an easy thing! The desire and belief that one can do better will naturally be strong, when one is at top. But it is better to call it a day with one's head held high than being forced to come to that decision. May be Tendulkar should take a leaf out of Dravid's example and spare us the trouble. I am no one to tell that but, personally, if he had retired when he had scored 99 centuries, the regard I had for him would have been a bit more high. If anything, this insipid century has deepened my feeling that he should quit ASAP. 

Let me end by saying that once upon a time, I too was awe-struck with his brilliance and couldn't have enough of his batting... Not anymore! Still, Thanks for all the wonderful times that you gave a cricket fan like me. And though would be difficult for him to think of a life without wearing the Indian Jersey, I hope that he call it a day - sooner than later!

PS: Special Congratulations to the Bengladeshi Team for showing that even mortals can win over Gods, if they are determined enough!!!



17 comments:

LeoPaw said...

A player should quit when it starts to feel as if every run is run uphill. He was in fact going through one such phase. But now who will want to quit when you are really ahead. Whatever his plans are, I admire him for all his achievements and contributions.

Nisha said...

"But now who will want to quit when you are really ahead" true, but at what cost? When a part of a team, one should play for the team and not for personal milestones.

And I agree that Tendulkar has achieved and contributed for cricket like no other.

The trick is in knowing when to make that call... and how!!!

ajith said...

Not feeling so great, to be frank

Dee.. said...

to be frank:0 i felt very bad for India's loss..
It could have happened with a winning note, as a fan of SACHIN i enjoyed your post and his century,
but as a fan of Indian cricket team, ifelt pretty bad :(
good post ji...
happy to see you happy....

Nisha said...

yeah, I too felt bad about the loss...

Rahul Bhatia said...

The sheen is lost due far too much cricket:(Sachin is a legend!

Nisha said...

Yeah, No doubt on that - he is indeed a legend.

GK said...

I’m not in a mood to debate. Forget about Tendulkar and his achievements, your writing skill have to appreciate. It shows the strength of your thinking and the language you have expressed in the article is superb.

Years back I had a chance to meet the great poet Kunjunni Mash (with Chintha Ravi – Raviyettan, who was interviewing him for Asianet’s “Ente Keralam”). He was saying lot of kunju kunju karyangal and one quote is still I keep in my mind is about “attachment and detachment”. It’s very difficult for any human being “to detach” themselves.

Cricket is now a business more than a sport. When Sunil Gavaskar was in lime light, the same scenario was in Indian cricket. The same repeated for Bedi, GR Viswanath, Kapil Dev, Kirmani, Vengsarkar, Srikant, Ganguly and even Rahul also. You can see only few exceptions like Sreenath and Kumbley. (Sreenath retired when he was in full vigor).

I have gone through almost all your writings in the blogs but one thing I have to repeat again is your language (sakthamaaya bhaasha, nalla ozhukkum) of this article.

Regards, GK.

Nisha said...

Thank you GK Sir! Not only for your good words but for not being in a mood to debate. I can assure you that I am not half good in debating as I am in writing. So, your mood suits me very well :-)

Kunjunni Mash was a gem of a person who could convey highly insightful knowledge in few words. I am always in awe of him. The simplicity with which he communicated is par excellence.

It is true that Cricket is now a business - the most profitable business, if I may say so. It is disheartening to see the sport losing its sheen amidst all these :-(

Thank you once again for your comments. I feel really honoured, motivated and humbled, all at the same time. I accept your compliments with all humility and hope that I'll be worthy of it in future too...

Saru Singhal said...

Sachin is God and nice article. BTW, Bangladesh is playing well. I won't be surprised if they win the Asia Cup this time...

Nisha said...

Thank you Saru! :-) and Yes, they are capable of winning. Would be great boost for their cricket if it happens!

roopz said...

Good post...Hope to see more criticisms from you on God if his followers did not harm you ;)

Regards
village girl

Nisha said...

Thanks! The idea was not to demean anyone... Hopefully, I'll survive the scare :-)

Saru Singhal said...

Oh they lost and it was so close...:(

Ruchi Jain said...

nice post...

Unknown said...

:) ;)

debarshi said...

his quitting was not only abt him, board didn't allow him to quit before

Of Little Trips and Great Learnings

The other day, we (some staff, volunteers and service users of Mary Seacole House, Liverpool) went on a day trip to Llangollen. This wasn&#...