Dear Sachin, We were just entering our teens when we started reading about a bunch of guys a few years ahead of us who had scored a record 664 runs. That is the first time I read your name (and Vinods). Though we knew about our 83 win we were too young to understand. The first memories I have watching India win anything was Ravi Shastri winning an Audi and the Indian team winning the Australasia cup. But those images are restricted to sketchy images of the team riding around the stadium in Tracer Bullets Audi. The first recollections of starting to follow cricket was with your rise. Seeing a teenager not much older than us break into a side of seasoned cricketers was the start of a breathtaking journey. The sixes off Qadir, the perfect straight drive off Merv Hughes followed by the Bill Lawry Ohhh .. stand up and applaud ... thats what people want to see in a test match, the upper cut sixes, the last over of the 1993 Hero cup with Henry Blofeld gushing in the commentary box, the paddle sweep, the destruction of Fleming/Kasprowicz/Moody/Warne ... leaving Warne to buzz away the flies in Sharjah and Tony Greig to almost shout out there she goes, thats hit over the roof and crowd is just loving it .... Se-shin Tendul-ker what a player, almost knocking off Dadas head in the process, bending down huffing and puffing away and out of breath, the endless world cups without a win, making test cricket look beautiful, making one-day cricket look exhilarating, the injuries, the tennis elbow, the return, records tumbling, finally the world cup win ... yes I have had a few doubts myself over the last 24 years on a couple of occasions but you managed to smash right back into our hearts every time. Every time you walked out to bat, I believed. We all believed. We, Indians, minnows started making huge strides with Rahul, you, Dada, VVS and Anil. The five of you gave us reason to hold our head high. Sach, you gave us that chance the most. Yesterday as you bid your final goodbye after the other four, a part of me/my generation bid goodbye as well. Yes we will root for all the young guns, probably watch them bid their final goodbyes as well. But ... you get the picture. You mentioned Achrekar Sir never ever once mentioned well played in the last 29 years. What you probably didnt hear is the million times he felt it as he watched you stride over the cricket world with elegance, humility, raw power and rare genius. You asked him to push his luck and wish you for once now. Now that there are no more matches to be played. What you probably didnt realise is that he wont ever feel or say well played to anyone .. anymore. Go on, live your life with your family, friends who know the man and not the superstar. We, your fans, will remember you, your genius, your humility and your cracker of a 20 minute speech till our last breath. Farewell .. - Tribute to the Biggest Master of them all
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:20:24 +0000
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