Yesterday, HE announced his retirement from test cricket and with in a minute whole cricket loving community flooded with emotions flowing right from their hearts. As Harsha Bhogle rightly put it, "you knew it was coming, it was inevitable, then why Sachin do you still produce this numbness?" that sum it all. I think people of my generation learnt a word cricket with name of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. We can't separate both as we learn to walk we never think that walking is mere putting one foot forward after another similarly cricket means to watch Sachin. We grew up watching both together and may be the numbness is due to a feeling like someone taking life out of cricket. I am writing this article not to iterate his cricketing skills but to put my point of view about, why billions like me equates him to GOD of cricket and our love to him. But of course without mentioning cricket we can't say about Sachin and vice-a-versa.
How many of you have been tired of your job and doing it just because you need money and doing without passion? What would you have done if everyday your job is to perform and prove every time in all possible situations under pressure? We get tired too easily and failed to withstand with pressure after sometime. Here is the first difference that distinguish HIM from other human beings. For all his 24 years of career, every time, every match that HE had played, HE had pressure to perform and meet the expectations of billions. Yet HE comes out practice, play with same passion with same zeal and dedication which HE had when HE started HIS career. It is not easy to imagine what would have taken for HIM to play for so long to perform under pressure every time. HE taught us to be passionate and dedicated to what we do and not to succumb under pressure.
Be honest to yourself and tell me don't get carried away with little praise or success. When usually people are praised or if they achieve some success, they unknowingly get carried away with that some gets arrogant some suddenly starts feeling they are more important than others and same is reflected in behavior in how they treat others. Here is the second reason HE is different than usual human beings. In spite of achieving incomparable success, HE is still down to earth and humble. You would hardly remember HIM boosting HIMSELF or being arrogant to anyone. It might looks like a easy task but when you see people around you who get changed and change their behavior then you would understand how genuine HE is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VGljr9G6MA HE has been always polite towards everyone. Very few can do that.
If someone abuse you or throw bad words at you, how would you react? Probably 8 out 10 people hits back at other person with same intensity and lose their cool. There goes your third distinguishing quality of HIM from other human beings. In 24 yrs long career you would hardly find a incidence where HE has sledged back at opponent. He is always in control of emotions and knows exactly how to channel it in appropriate way. Here is an example,
After initial days, how often we go back and keep looking for our mistakes? May be till 5 years in professional career but soon after we lose out on hunger for perfection. Another quality to separate HIM from others. Still after 24 years of glorious career, HE still go back and study HIS own dismissals and works hard to get over that mistake. It's HIS attitude towards game make him Immortal. Here is how Harsha puts it,
HE has that ability to bounce back. How can one forget the post 2007 world cup loss, it was HIM who shown resurrection to Indian team. It is really commendable to go as long as 24 years in sport profession with this kind of attitude.
Another quality of HIS is, to inspire others and nurture the talent. No one will have doubt that HE is the single most personality in any sport who have inspired most number of people to take up that sport.
And after all that, the sheer talent that HE has is just amazing. I have seen people who does not have interest in cricket or know very little but still feeling amazed by looking at Sachin's game. It is sheer joy to watch HIM play that backfoot punch or late upper cut or hook to mid wicket or delicate square cut or six straight down the ground or magical sweep... I guess, I will have to list down all the shots in cricket dictionary because HE plays all of them so well. HE has played enough cricket that it is hard to pick up HIS one inning and tell it was the best of HIM. HE has played according to situation and what was the team need. I can go on an on talking about HIM as his legacy, HIS shoes are too big to be described anyone. There will be new talent coming in, records will be broken in future but there is one thing which one cannot match of Sachin is to be a SACHIN.
To the GOD who has changed the game of cricket and gave everything that HE can to the game HE loved.
RESPECT.
