Published: Nov 16, 2013, 02:23 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 21, 2014, 09:00 PM (IST)
Sachin Tendulkar bid an emotional farewell with Indian captain MS Dhoni and his deputy Virat Kohli hoisting him on their shoulders © IANS
By Karthik Parimal
The dusk is finally here. Despite its inevitability, the moment feels callous, as this dark stage of twilight brings with it gloom enough to consume an entire nation. He walked in as a wunderkind and bid adieu as, unarguably, the greatest cricketer of his generation, changing the face of sport in the country. What transpired during his stay, for almost quarter of a century, is legibly chronicled, and some of his feats are bound to be impregnable, at least for the foreseeable future. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will no longer walk down the aisle at the fall of the second wicket, bat tucked under his arms, helmet in place, gloves tightly strapped, amidst raucous applause. This time, it truly is end of an era.
Barring that fatal late-cut, his final knock had been near flawless. Straight-drives, cover-drives and a few glances were unfurled as graciously as only he can, giving a glimpse of the prowess he’s revered for. Walking off that turf for the last time, 74 runs beside his name, there was no denying the fact that he could have waved that magic willow of his a few more times, but the decision had been made and sealed with wax. Tendulkar knew the mantle had to be passed; that the time was ripe for India’s gen-next to step up.
Now that those pristine white flannels of his are stowed, it begs the question: Can one replace Sachin Tendulkar? The instinctive, emotional answer to that lies in the negative. Although physically fungible, it’s certainly not feasible to fill in for a man of his stature. He can be replaced, but never be equalled in his passion and dedication — two words that are excessively, albeit aptly, used to describe the master. Will Indian cricket struggle now that he’s hung his boots? Perhaps not, for the warehouse is flooded with able colts certain to step up to the highest level when called upon.
The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have shown that they’re proficient enough to amass over 300 runs in a day, or curb their natural shot-making ability, should the need arise. The transition has been seamless and, it’s safe to say that Indian cricket is in good hands, at least in the batting department, for the time being. However, there will no longer be Tendulkar’s calming influence, his guiding light in the dressing-room. He will not be around for a timely tip, a well-intended advice or to offer his two cents on logistics. How much of an impact that could have on the team in the present and immediate future remains to be seen.
When Kenny Miller, the Scottish footballer, called it quits in the August of 2013, Gordon Strachan, the manager, paid rich tribute to the former. Asked if Miller can be replaced, Strachan’s reply was splendid: “Everyone can be replaced, but he has left a legacy in the squad to younger players – how you behave when you join an international squad, how you train, how you play.” Can they follow suit? He also sheds light on how there is far more to being a good footballer than just hoping your natural ability will see you through. “It just doesn’t work that way,” he adds.
Needless to say, Tendulkar was more than just a product of natural flair. It’s his work ethic that propelled him to a plane beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. There were, are and will be some exceptional cricketers, but Tednulkar, who was cut from a different fabric altogether, can never be replaced. Just like there were, are and will be several outstanding artists who wield a paintbrush, but a Claude Monet or Pablo Picasso one can never replace.
Moreover, despite being perched on a pedestal accessible to very few, Tendulkar’s canvas has remained blemish free. Never was he a part of over-the-top celebrations (recently, it has come to fore that he’d rightly restrained a few of his blokes from doing so, too), nor did he pick a fight with the opposition, or his team-mates, on or off the field. Never has he let emotions get the better of him after reaching a significant landmark, too, like one of his younger, equally skilled understudies, often lets it. It is perhaps this perfect blend of craftsmanship and impeccable personality that has helped him transcend boundaries and win hearts.
Success has rarely gone to his head. Will the current crop take heed of this trait, knowing the maestro will no longer saunter around in the dressing-room?
There might come a day when Tendulkar’s records, his breathtaking statistics, are breached, but his legacy will never be trampled upon. Like Brian Lara, another legend of the game, states, “There are boxers who have better record than Mohammad Ali but if you mention about boxing you’ve to mention Mohammad Ali, Basketball you have to mention Michael Jordan. When you speak about cricket, you’ll speak about Tendulkar.”
What a profound way to put it, and who better to validate that fact?
(Karthik Parimal, a Correspondent with CricketCountry, is a cricket aficionado and a worshipper of the game. He idolises Steve Waugh and can give up anything, absolutely anything, just to watch a Kumar Sangakkara cover drive. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/karthik_parimal)
