Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the most popular name with cricket fans in the country has retired after an illustrious career of 24 years at the crease. He won laurels on the field at home and abroad, and also the hearts of millions of Indians who adored him as their idol. Youngsters watched his ball to ball and stroke to stroke play to lean by watching what classical cricket is. He leaves behind an enviable record; 200 test matches, 463 ODIs, lone T-20 and 34,357 runs. He remained the sheet anchor of Indian Cricket team inspiring his playmates with his most professional skill of batting, fielding and handling the situation. Indian Cricket team always looked impregnable as long as Sachin was there at the crease. While playing test matches against Pakistan, Pakistani cricket fans would not ask for the latest score; they asked if Sachin was out.
From a humble beginning, Sachin gradually rose to become a legend of the game of cricket. He has often been called the desk book of cricket game meaning that he batted strictly according to the rules of the game. He has been compared to great batsmen like Dan Bradman and Gary Sobers. But Sachin had a style of his own that needed no imitation.
The game of cricket is highly romantic and mostly unpredictable. British colonialists brought it to India but it flourished briskly in this country and more especially in Mumbai. Sachin followed in the line of great cricketers of India, and for his immediate predecessor, Sunil Gavaskar, he always demonstrated immense respect and regard. He can be singled out from among a host of Indian cricket luminaries who, on account of his soft temper and humility, endeared himself to one and all. The great cricketer kept himself meticulously out of any controversy so as to be rightly called the cleanest of the clean sportsmen we have ever produced.
In some of the matches played towards the end of his cricket career, he could not show the same fire in his bat to which the spectators and his fans were used. People said Sachin’s day of retirement is not far off. But in his farewell speech on Saturday at Wankhede Stadium, Sachin said that he did discuss the matter of his retirement from cricket with his wife Anjali and told her that the moment his inner voice tells him it was the end of the day, he would retire. And the day came and Sachin told his wife that then was the moment. The cricket legend and his family took things in their natural course and prepared for the exit.
The farewell was poignant no doubt because for him, his family, his playmates and above all for millions of people of this country the thought of Indian cricket team without Sachin there on the lawns was unimaginable. His team mates gave him a farewell befitting Sachem’s status. It showed in what high esteem they held him. Captain Dhoni and Virat Kohli lifted him on their shoulders as he waved the Indian tri-colour with pride to bring honour and fame to the country for which he played all his life. Sober by temperament and soft spoken to colleagues and friends, Sachin concentrated on the game and not on extraneous matters that often become source of distraction for the players. He maintained excellent relationship with the BCCI bosses not through any sycophancy or stratagem but by sheer merit hidden in his professionalism. Hindsight shows that Sachin could be the model for budding cricketers in our country who would vie with one another for many years to come to be in the footsteps of the cricket legend.
In his farewell speech at Wankhede Stadium, Sachin gave some small insights into his cricket career and family life. He acknowledged that his insatiable thirst for cricket kept him away from home for a long time and his two kids did not receive his attention as it should have been. It was his wife Anjali who took upon herself the burden of running the chores of daily life and thus allowing Sachin time to be at the playfield. His extensive visits abroad kept his kids yearning for his company which, he hopes, he would be making amends after his retirement. Indeed, credit goes to his family that made it possible for him to pay full attention to his profession of playing and improving his game of cricket and one after another winning laurel on the field. Imagine the support from his family that his sister would go on a fast on the day he would be playing a test match. Everybody in his family made fullest sacrifice for him to see to it that he remained the ace of the Indian cricket team. His love for the cricket fans throughout the country is depicted in his remark that the loud words “Sachin, Sachin” given out by the spectators at Wankhede Stadium as a mark of their emotional farewell to the cricket legend, will resound in his ears till the last moment of his life. Nothing more can explain his deep attachment to his countrymen.
In recognition of his dedicated services to the country the UPA Government offered him a seat in the Rajya Sabha, which he has accepted. There is still much more that the Indian State should do in honouring the legendary batsman. A national cultural centre could be incepted after his name. Courses in sports subject for school going children could be designed to emulate his example. A Cricket Academy after his name could be established and some roads in Mumbai and New Delhi could be given his name to let youngsters remember the man and his style. A scholarship scheme could be floated by the Union Government after his name so that upcoming youth would be benefitted. Sachin’s name could be recommended to the UN as Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill, and the Government has taken the right decision to bestow him with country’s civilian honour– Bharat Ratna. We feel honoured in saluting the great sportsman who brought dignity, grace and embellishment to the game of cricket and enviable fame to his country. As a retired legend, he has the big task of preparing team after team of good and stout cricketers in the country who can make their name in the annals of cricket history.
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