Sport - Cricket

The toast of the nation

— Photo: S. Subramanium

THREE CHEERS: Indian players applaud after Sachin Tendulkar became the highest run-getter in Tests.

NEW DELHI: Will there be another cricketer with more grandeur than that of Sachin Tendulkar? It is one thing to promise and another to deliver. He has done it. He showed potential as a 14-year-old, meeting the ball with the middle of the bat at the ‘nets’ with the seniors. And he achieved success with the mastery of a wizard.

Tendulkar has been the toast of the nation and a darling of the cricketing world from the time he ignored a bleeding nose and smashed the Pakistan fast bowlers in his debut series.

That was 19 years ago.

That he has lasted this long itself is a tribute to his endurance and perseverance. You don’t see cricketers like him these days.

When Don Bradman lavished praise on this icon of modern cricket, the world took notice. Tendulkar was special indeed and the Don made no secret of his admiration.

Now that he sits on the summit, with a number of records adorning his career, Tendulkar obviously must be a much-relieved person.

Not that the record, of highest number of Test runs, was beyond his reach.

He has reached it as if by right. But the pace to scale it had slowed in recent times.

Tendulkar the batsman was put under scrutiny by an over-zealous army of critics. But Tendulkar the man, ever humble and the least unnerved, knew his job.

In private, he was pained at some of the unjust reactions but those expressions of emotions always remained private.

He has pursued his first love in life with the dignity that has delighted the purist.

When he batted, greatness was enthroned at the crease.

The expectations grew every time he walked out. He met most, but then failed too.

The failures rankled him and the pressures weighed him down. Like a champion, he fought and conquered his opponents and detractors.

The expectations were born when he took guard in his first Test. And they multiplied as Tendulkar set new benchmarks. Brian Lara was closest to him in matching the highest batting standards.

Comparisons were obvious but the two remained greatest admirers of each other.

Tendulkar emerged the better for many reasons, his eternal poise and grace being the highpoint in a career that has remained uncomplicated and non-controversial in all forms of the game.

His consistency, longevity, discipline and camaraderie have been an invigorating and infectious influence on his team-mates. Pressures and injuries have failed to lay him low.

Tendulkar has lit up an era in which commercialism is synonymous with professionalism. He has kept the traditions and the style alive.

The fact that he continues to command his place and audience in these times is a glowing tribute to the Mumbaikar. Even as ‘experts’ and critics question the durability of the `Fab Four’ and press for youngsters to be blooded, he holds his place in the Indian team on his terms. He has done it for nearly two decades now.

Now that he has got past Lara’s record, it would be fitting to allow the man to play without any pressures.

The Tendulkar of the 90s, domineering at the crease, imperious when facing the best, would be the biggest gain from this landmark at Mohali.

And please, let him decide when to play his last innings for India. He deserves this honour.

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