Intimations of mortality are not what cricketers or cricket fans like. At least not in success-starved India where star players are supposed to be, expected to be, demanded to be, projected to be, ordered to be combinations of Superman and Methuselah.
But with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ruling himself out of the Test series against the West Indies today, a big question-mark has been thrown on the future of the 33-year-old master blaster. Will he ever bounce back from injury? Or will he not?
The jury will forever be out till he formally makes an announcement himself, but quite the sanest piece in recent times on making sense of Sachin was written by Rohit Brijnath for the BBC website in February. Read.
The decision of Tendulkar not playing in Test series West Indies is a wise decision. To make records w.Indies is a right hot spot now, as thier bowlsers are nothing but avg highschool lads who can wistle the around ur neck couple of times but if you give right treatment they will be bowling @ your knees. On Tendulkar’s part i believe his current motto is to be in a nice nick when world cup starts next year, make himself immortal by winning it for India. He still have that fire in him if he plays with same attitude he started with.
I think it is a wise decision not to hury comeback…..may be south africa will be nice place to mark a return than unchallenging windies bowlsers.
It was great to read the comments that followed rohit brijnath’s fine article….especially the ones posted by the englishmen. we have often been so blinded by the genius and enigma of the man that it sometimes helps to get a foreign perspective. This one response by matt coombs says – “Having watched Sachin Tendulkar in his prime not so long ago, he will never be back to his best.” Here we go, i thought, another one laying down the law….but he follows that comment by saying – “In fact I never believed it was possible for anybody to bat as well as that.” …that really warms the heart, to think that the world’s greatest batsman this generation used to bat for india….nothing can change that!!!
Sachin Tendulkar has been superb in his efforts for India. However, it is probably best for him to bow out gracefully now so that we remember him for his glorious batsmanship rather than in two years from now, when all we remember are his injuries, his uncertain form and patchy performances. A team India without Tendulkar is almost unimaginable but it is time that we start to face reality.
Oh! another obit for Sachin??? It makes me think why are we journalists so eager to writes this man’s obit??? He has proved time and again that he just can’t be written of that easily. Remember Times infamous caption “Endulkar”??? and then the 90 something knock that he cracked after that in Pakistan, remember guys remember and as i write this Team India is struggling against a mediocre Windies team with 3 runouts and enough of other stupid errors
There appears to be an excessive nay-maniac obsession with Sachin. We do not know whether it is a creation of the media and ad guru’s due to the fact that crores have been sunk on the man. Juxtapose this with the scene when Javagal or Kumble were cooling their heels due to career threatening injuries. No one really bothered till they made a heroic come back with single-minded devotion, training and above all faith in themselves. I for one feel these two Karnataka stalwarts have contributed more to Indian victories then Sachin has ever done despite his imposing personal achievements.
He should learn to keep media at Bay and concentrate on his regaining his health. He is still young and age is on his side. Cricketing glory will follow automatically. Visiting kukke and other places only exposes his frailty.
Well Sachin certainly can comeback and everyone has these DULL phases and fitness issues. he might never regain his touch also .Lets wait and see .
But his visit to Kukke might be his personal reasons (C’mon give me a break everyone visits temples ) and might not be related to ‘Getting into Form’ or ‘Regaining fitness’ . I am appalled by the media coverage and how people wag their tougues ( No offense ) .
So many people visit thirupati and shirdi …maybe they just want to visit since a long time .Lets keep it at that way and leave it.
Prakash,
In the first place I never said it is wrong to visit temple etc. I fully agree with you that every one has the right to privacy and his personal and religious beliefs. When you read about Sresanth visiting Temples or getting tulabaram etc, one hardly notices and we take it as his belief or religious affinity. But we have hardly ever heard of Sachin ever visiting any temple. An elaborate two-day ritual only adds to the frailty inherent in such an act. It is like Tipu getting chandi homa done at sringeri after the Mysore III war.
Never mind . No offense meant either. saMkaTa baMdAga veMkataramana !!!