A season of Faith's Perfection

Many a times you would have faced the question “Who do you admire?”

It is one of the questions which I answer with amazing clarity; unfortunately my audience doesn’t share the same opinion. Most of the people are amazed at my answer. Not because the Names which I give are bizarre; not because it is difficult to believe.

It's simply because people don't believe I am telling the truth. And well I can’t deny that they have got some reasons to do so.

The first name I take is Sachin Tendulkar. I admire Sachin Tendulkar. But so do lot of other people.

Well, if you do know me, you would have already caught up the point. For the people who haven’t, it’s because I don’t know the A B C of cricket. I can’t differentiate between a Yorker and a Googly. I always get confused between the Leg side and the Off. But I unflinchingly give Sachin’s name when people ask me the concerned Question.

So, what’s the catch? Let me explain

They say that it was one of the most memorable sights in the history of cricket was when Abdul Quadir; a refined Pakistani bowler sledged a young 16 year old kid. That young novice batsman hit Abdul Quadir for 4 sixes and 1 four in the next 6 balls. A new star was born in cricket that day who would keep us amazed with his game; and whose fame would put legends to shame. By the way, just to keep the records straight, this kid was the youngest of test players who have played for Indian cricket team.

Sachin started Opening for India in 1994. It was against New Zealand when Navjot Singh Sidhu got injured. The young Sachin, boldly stepped forward and took the responsibility of opening. He blasted 82 off 43 balls. They say that the opening position in the batting order of Indian cricket was reserved for next decade on the same day. This was the same year when he scored his first international century against Australia, after playing for 5 years.

As a batsman; he has exploited the cricket dry. The number of records he has would fill pages and pages. His strengths as a batsman would again form a good sized volume for the young aspirants. The way he used to hit sixes and fours all over the field would glue even a non cricketer to the screen. What do you say of a batsman when bowlers benchmark themselves by their capacity and the number of times they can get him out?

I can keep on telling stories about his exploits in Cricket; as anyone who has the slightest knowledge about cricket can. But that is not my aim here. I am here to tell why I admire him; not to remind you of his cricket records.

He is one of the most consistent Batsman India ever had. Also, he is one of the most humble ones. It indeed is a rare sight to see Sachin getting agitated on Pitch; and hence the saying “He lets his willow do the talking”. If cricket is the game of Gentlemen, you can see Sachin doing it the perfect justice. He is the first Indian cricketer who told us that the fire is not in your anger; it’s in your heart. His quiet manner speaks of an affluent age and the way he is comfortable on the pitch with the opposition speaks volumes about his confidence.

He is the one sportsman who has told the world that Indians can be cosmopolitan, slick and debonair. Clearly, he is one of the most calm, confident and easy going sportsman. From a bowlers point of view he is also one of the most to-be-feared batsman. And what can be a better testimony of this fact than the quote by the Legendary Sharne Warne who said that he gets nightmares of Sachin hitting him for 4’s and 6’s.

Sachin is the one person who has bought the biggest change in Indian cricket, knowingly or unknowingly. He has given a lot more to Indian cricket than mere figures, records and victories. One of these gifts is the capability to win in foreign grounds. Indian cricket team was considered to be a poor traveler before Sachin came into picture. This has changed significantly, and we have even beaten the Kiwi’s at their home.

Sachin has seen Indian cricket growing and flourishing; and he must be really happy since he is one of the few nurturing it. He has been the back bone of Indian batting order, he has been considered to be the savior. He has bowled for the team in the need of hour and taken significant number of wickets. He has played the role of technical and strategical expert, and the captain of the team. It’s been a long journey. And in this long journey he has given so much to Cricket that he has been crowned the undisputable god of Cricket.

It’s not only that Sachin is a good cricketer. He is admired because he defines Great Cricket. Because he tells you that stature and size don’t matter if your faith in self is strong enough. Because he is one of those few people, who makes you believe that nothing is impossible. Because he tells you that a single man can carry the entire nation on his shoulders and rule the hearts of same. Sachin makes you believe that dreams are the seeds of goals; all you need is the strength to pursue them and turn them into reality.

However, time loses to no one. The 18 years which he has given to cricket have finally got him, and he has started showing signs of age and injuries. Finally the illusion has shattered; the Illusion he had created.

People have started realizing that Sachin is getting old; that he is not the same young spirit whom bowlers used to loose their night’s sleep. Some can’t take up this fact. They want Sachin back; in all his full glory. And when he can’t deliver, he is criticized. Only a few realize that there is glory even in those criticisms. That the illusion he had created actually worked. What more glory and praise can a sportsman ask and get. No matter what happens in cricket tomorrow, his name which will always stand distinct in the books.

It has been a Season of faith’s perfection. Perfection, few would dream to achieve; leave alone dare.

P.S – The title of this Post is actually from a movie named “Finding Forrester”. William Forrester writes an article with the same title in the movie. An awesome movie; another of the few things which I admire in life.