Mostly people think that Indians are over emotional when it comes to cricket. While just like billion Indians, I was keenly following the last match he was playing in front of a packed crowd in Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, I was observing the live score in net. My British colleague saw that and commented with a naughty sarcastic tone “Ohh, com’on now!!! he has played for 25 years and let him retire. Don’t be so emotional. I know most of Indians are not working and seeing the match… Halting the entire nation and reducing the productivity altogether…”

Yes, we are emotional about cricket.. This is the one thing apart from war, which unites all of us.. Sachin Tendulkar has been a undisputed player without any black marks on his career spanning almost two and a half decades. When I started watching him, I was in my primary school and it was Benson and Hedges world cup down under in 92. There on I kept on watching him again and again and again… 

He never shown any attitude on field and always answered his critics with bat. He made Indians forget about the problem temporarily and made them enjoy them game. It doesn’t mean we have no respect for others, but SRT is in his own league. 

I don’t remember how many times I cheered with full throat when he hit. I don’t remember how many times I became emotional when he got out. 

Many of my friends who are SRT critics always tell when ever he scored century, India lost. Guys, Have a look at the statistics and you will come to know about the facts.

There has been always a cold war between Rahul Dravid and SRT fans though. Usually we had innumerable discussions on  lunch table about who is great and almost every time the discussions have ended without any firm conclusion. 

Well, as he departs from international cricket, there are number of stories published/shared in social media. I have come across one article would like to share here.

In 2003, before the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, the Indian team led by Saurav Ganguly came to Bangalore for a conditioning camp at the Chinnaswami stadium. At that time, Ishaan Raghunandan, my son, was a keen and talented cricketer, who was knocking on the doors of the under-fifteen State team. He lived and breathed cricket. 

Knowing that the Indian team was in town, Ishaan and a friend, Abhi, took leave from school to be at the Chinnaswamy stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. They both managed to sneak through the security cordon and enter the stadium, where they soon began to run around as ball-boys, picking up the ball and returning it from the boundary as the Indian players went through their net practice sessions.

Abhi was Ishaan’s fast friend. A tall and lanky boy, he was a right hand bowler and a left hand bat. He bowled fast leg breaks, with a round arm and square on action. With his height, he was able to get some disconcerting turn and bounce from the pitch. Abhi was a useful lower end batsman. He was a good player of the ball in front of the wicket and could hit the ball high and straight. In school cricket, Abhi’s special talent was to step out and hit straight sixes, like Saurav Ganguly. A playful boy, Abhi and Ishaan were fast friends, and deadly rivals on the field, if playing for opposing teams. 

In the stadium, Abhi and Ishaan started their own little game on the sidelines, with Abhi bowling to Ishaan. Sachin, who was batting at the nets saw that and liked what he saw. He beckoned to Abhi to bowl to him at the nets and appreciated his bowling. That day, Ishaan and Abhi spent a lot of time with their heroes. 

The matter did not end there. Sachin liked Abhi’s cricketing talent so much, he asked him whether he would be willing to play at a benefit match in Hyderabad. Abhi’s parents could not believe their ears when they heard of it. Sachin arranged everything, including air fare for Abhi, to go to Hyderabad for the match. 

The Hyderabad match was a benefit for a retiring cricketer and was played between ‘Chiranjeevi Eleven’, captained by the popular Telugu film star Chiranjeevi, and ‘Sachin Eleven’. Abhi was in the Chiranjeevi Eleven. 

When Sachin came in to bat, after a few overs, he asked Chiranjeevi whether Abhi could be given a bowl. Chiranjeevi readily agreed. 

So here was this fourteen year old boy, running in to bowl to Sachin Tendulkar! As he began his stride, Sachin beckoned to him to stop. He turned to the crowd and asked them whether they would cheer this young bowler. The crowd stood up and began cheering. A roar filled the stadium as Abhi ran in to bowl to Sachin. Abhi was not overawed by the occasion. Here was a batsman at the other end, and his job was to get him out. The crowd rose and roared for every ball, backing Abhi to do his best.

Sachin treated Abhi’s bowling with respect. Abhi was able to get some bounce and Sachin played him defensively. At the end of each ball, there was appreciation from the batsman, even as young Abhi ran up in his follow through. I think Sachin played only one scoring shot, perhaps scoring two runs, because he did play all six balls. At the end of the over, Sachin came over, patted Abhi on his back for his sterling effort and turned to the crowd, asking them to cheer again. Abhi got a standing ovation as he walked back to his fielding position. 

I will never forget the newspaper photos the next day, showing the crowd on its feet, behind the bowler’s arm, as a fourteen year old boy came in to bowl to the world’s best batsman. 

Oh, did I forget to mention one thing? Abhi has one arm.

(As in Facebook posted by Raghunandan TR, https://www.facebook.com/raghunandan.tr) 

I can’t forget that innings in Sharjah against Aussies, that innings against Pakistan in World cup 2003, that last over in Hero cup Semis against SA, that struggling innings against Pakisan in Chennai, 2011 WC century against SA and England …. The lost goes on and on.. 

I am not sure if the timing of Bharat Ratna is correct or not, but his legend will live on.. 

As saw in stadium “CRICKE_ is incomplete without Tendulkar”

Miss you SRT.. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqORhgh_LCQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AaR9Su1Va0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachin_Tendulkar

(Thanks to Mr. Raghunandan TR)