This review is not about how great a player Sachin is...everyone knows that. its about how he could be a better player. Yup guys, most reviews written here would be enumerating many of the great qualities that Sachin possesses both, as a player as well as a person. So what’d make you read this review carefully ? The answer is...Its Different !!.
I really am no authority who could advise a person like Sachin Tendulkar, but I really want to have a situation where the whole world admits the fact that the greatest person to have ever held a cricket bat, was an Indian, Sachin Tendulkar. ( Ideally, I’d have liked to have my own name in there, but well... ). Heres a few things that Sachin could do...
The very first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Sachin, way back in the early 90s is a curly haired, short, childish looking kid. The kid, who had a particular attraction to face up to challenges, face up to six and a half foot tall bowlers bowling at frightening pace, and hitting them way out of the ground. The image of a young Tendulkar running three steps down the pitch and hitting a lofted straight drive right into the upper stands will always be a memorable reminder of the genius for years to come. Te sad part is that the inventive enthusiasm for taking the challenge seems to be waning a little bit. But that is merely because he has taken each and every challenege that did exist and absolutely obliterated it (Think Shane Warne). There really seems there isn’t much more left to achieve. But my friend Sachin, there is !! We all would really give our whole salary to see you in that young, carefree approach again. We’d so like to see that huge six straight over the bowler’s head. We’d love to see that twinkle in the eye and a quiet confidence when you hit the fastest bowler in the opposing team right out of the stadium. We’d love to see the little nod of the head when you see it going high and mighty. Theres a lot of little things that we all miss about the young Tendulkar. We don’t wanna see a mechanical run-making, record-breaking machine, but we wanna see a spontaneous, instinctive genius of an entertainer.
To be really fair to Tendulkar, he’s made an effort to keep all these things alive. He’s still the most enthusiastic guy on the field. But the tremendous pressures that he constantly works under, makes him lose that spontaneity that we all so love. He has to make sure he stays till the end and makes India win. So hes started a few years ago to be more restrained and try shots like the paddle sweep which are more effective than entertaining.
This world cup was a welcome change to all of us. We saw Tendulkar relieved of his pressures by a lot of other youngsters. That made the great young wonder-kid make a comeback of sorts. The superb way in which he countered Shoaib and the superb sixes that he hit off him and others, especially the hook out of the stadium off Andy Caddick were exactly the shots that I am praying for in the early part of this review.
One more thing that Tendlya could do is be a lil more agressive in his talking. We know he’s always won battles with his bat and he’s always hit people out of the ground when they talked to him. But, I would like to see him say a few more things to people. Thats why I like Ganguly (read my review on him). He was being criticised all over the place that he’s not capable of playing fast bownling and stuff and what does he do ?? He again opens the batting, and this time, even takes the first strike. Its a brave thing to stand up to criticism and that why I respect Ganguly (its a different matter that he got out first ball of the match !!! next match on, better sense prevailed and he came down the order...but the point had been made...he ain’t afraid of nobody !!). I really think that Tendulkar lost the most crucial battle of his life when he got out to McGrath in the world cup final. That was the best chance he had of crowning his star studded career with the greatest prize of them all. But he lost it !! That is where the genius of McGrath lives. I believe, if Tendulkar would’ve uttered a few choice swear words in return, the pressure on him wouldn’t have been so much. That meant that he would have been able to concentrate on playing the ball, rather than trying to hit the ball into oblivion to get back at McGrath. When you get a few words back in, you are not under the pressure to play the next ball as hard as you can.
Also, the last time we saw Tendulkar lauging on the pitch was very long ago too, wasn’t it ? Ever since his good friend Kabli left his side, he’s not the same and I think he pities Kambli a little bit and feels guilty of not being able to do much for him. But really, he tried his best. Just that Kamli wasn’t clever enough to grab the chance.
But I think the times are changing. The order is changing. The pressures have been relieved off the greats and I really wish we can see all three old warhorses of the batting, Ganguly, Dravid, and Tendulkar being able to play in full flow, wothout any worries and without any hard responsibilities, coz I believe that the Indian batting is easily the most attractive, attacking, shot-making batting line-up in the world. And......just one more wish.....give old man Kambli, another chance....he was always a great character to have on the field. Even in the circus, you need a joker, who apparently has no other special talents to boast of. In fact, in most cases, he’s the star of the show !!
cheers
-Guns
P.S. : I am fed up of this, I’ll kill you if you don’t write any comments. And then I’ll have a real feast of your souls..a ala Grim_Reeper, my good friend !!