There is God....and then there is Sachin!!

My cup is full…no, no, it is running over! I have been lucky to see one of the finest symphonies ever to have been played on the cricket field. Tendulkar’s unbeaten double ton last night was not merely an incredible achievement being first ever in 39 years and 2961 ODIs played so far, but a real master class. The control with which he coaxed the ball in to the gaps was really seen to be believed. No words can describe the beauty of it. More than the milestone, I was awe-struck by sheer control, incredible placement and almost no violence in scoring at a break-neck speed. There are players who can bludgeon the ball (as Dhoni last night), or dominate the scene completely (a la Viv Richards’ unbeaten 189 at Old Trafford in 1984), or manufacture shots to befuddle the bowlers like Sehwag usually does, but only Tendulkar in the mood he was in yesterday, could have made bowlers and fielders feel totally helpless and still enjoy the spectacle. Even agreeing that the conditions were perfect for batting, the opponent was far from toothless. A look at his batting chart will reveal that he played strokes all round. What it will not reveal is how he evaded fielders specifically placed to stop his shots. The performance was so commanding that it was like a maestro playing a club side; just that the bowling attack he shred to pieces is one of the best in the business today.

It was obvious that the bowlers could do little to stop him. Indeed the only lip any bowler could have given him was for running on the pitch like Dayle Steyn probably tried to; basically every thing the poor fellow tried had failed to disturb Tendulkar’s concentration and incandescent stroke play. When 145 km fast swinging yorkers outside the off stump are perfectly placed into midwicket gap to find the fence, and that too without violence, the bowler can only sigh. All pace bowlers, champions or otherwise, go through various steps of emotional expressions when they are bowling; a taunting smile, in-your-face frightening stare, a snarl, a tantrum, an ugly remark, kicking the invisible grass, pulling own hairs, shouting nasties at his own fielders, luck and even umpires. What I saw yesterday on the faces of Steyn and all SA bowlers was sheer tranquillity with a sense of inevitability after being dispatched to the fence. It was as if they were saying “Oh well, let us try again and hope that he gets tired or bored and gives his wicket away”. It was not helplessness; it was almost as if they were in a trance, having reached a state of Nirvana; an acceptance beyond pain. It was as if after midway through his innings, every ball bowled to Tendulkar was a “Prasad”, an offering to the God with sincere prayer that he will accept and make you a part of Himself…the innings was simply beyond all adjectives; in fact a new adjective “Tendulkar 200” would be an epitome of adjectives describing sheer beauty of batting..to me at least.


Now to the record part. There are quite a few batsmen I can think of, who deserved the record of scoring first ever double ton in an ODI, but Tendulkar gave it a credibility it deserves. Just as Robin Jackman commented on air before Tendulkar crossed 194, that he had nothing against Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe being at the top of the tree in individual score list in ODI (did you know that??), but somehow Tendulkar’s name at the top makes more sense. Usually awards make recipients more creditable; however there are some people who make an award more creditable. e.g. a Nobel Peace Prize is poorer for not having Mahatma Gandhi on its roster. Batting record for highest ODI individual score was the same without Sachin’s name on it. As the legendary cricket record breaker of all times, Sunny Gavaskar (in late 80s, an Indian author actually published a small book on Gavaskar’s records!), used to say that all cricket records are meant to be broken. And this one shall be broken too…in due course. Hard to say when though, since this one took some time. But that will never diminish the lustre of this innings. After having been written off a few times in his career, the maestro showed to every one what he has evolved into. To bat through 50 overs after playing international cricket for 20 years at an “old” age of 36 (in cricketing sense) he was answering not only his detractors but also setting a bar for his much younger colleagues. I don’t envy the young wannabe Sachins, nor his detractors who do not have a place to hide today..

The man is a genius, no one doubts that. What majority of fans miss is what goes on in that brain. He still possess that almost boyish love for the game. His passion still reminds me of that same baby-faced 14 year old I saw for the first time on Motibaug ground, Baroda (in 1987?) when he came with the Bombay team. We knew he was not going to make his debut; so we all went previous evening to see him bat in the nets. I remembered the same Sachin yesterday; same passion and love for the game, same hunger for runs. Age may have mellowed his swashbuckling style (ask Abdul Kadir who was carted for 3 sixes in an over even before Sachin had played any international game or Shane Warne of the 1997 “nightmares of Sachin coming at me”); but that is precisely where his his mastery lies..in not continuing a mono-dimensional approach to his game. His greatness is in his ability to adept his game to his advancing age. Here is a man who exactly knows how to maximise his talents under any adversity. I have seen many batsmen loosing their ability either due to age or psychological scars (like Krishnamachari Srikanth). What Tendulkar has displayed that needs to be understood and revered by every cricket fan, is his vice-like mind control. He has evolved a batting style that marries his body’s increasing limitations, his soul's need (hunger for runs) and his team’s success. That is the work of a master!

Another thing. I have a feeling that this symphony that we call Sachin is reaching a crescendo. His last 10 international centuries have come in 33 innings in last 12 months. It is almost as if he has picked up furious pace as he is approaching final destination; may be that will come at World Cup 2011 on the sub-continent. He seems to be focussed upon making the most of the available period before calling it quits. Mark my words folks, we are in for a treat! I still feel he will continue in Test cricket beyond 2011, till he sees new crop of Indian batsmen adjust internationally to help India maintain the top rank achieved after so much effort. I really believe he is that type of a player; a total team man for whom the team’s success means more than his own. My suggestion is don’t miss to watch the maestro every time you have an opportunity..or else “धुन्ध्ते रह जाओगे"  (for those who do not know Hindi: “you will keep searching for him”). Go Sachin, you little beauty!!