Published: Aug 24, 2013, 11:44 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 24, 2013, 11:44 AM (IST)
When he steps on the shores of South Africa, Sachin Tendulkar will hit the headlines once more, and deservingly so © AFP
Even after playing 198 Tests, Sachin Tendulkar continues to dominate the headlines in cricket. Aayush Puthran explains why the fuss about the man and his enigma will remain for a long time to come.
As Kevin Pietersen was awarded the Silver Bat for becoming England’s highest run-getter on Friday, I went flipping through the web pages to find out what was the most interesting perspective that has been looked at, as with everything English there seems to be a fancy and a hype. One of the perspectives included a comparison with his skipper Alastair Cook and Sachin Tendulkar’s batting exploits. As the hyperlinks of web pages caught me in its traps, I hit my eyes on another page where Tendulkar was making headlines. It was about Cricket South Africa’s wish to honour the Little Master on his 200th Test (which he will play, if he is available and fit, in South Africa later in the year).
With no real desperation for media attention, it is baffling and stunning at the same time as to how the batting genius continues to make headlines even after all these years.
It can’t be serendipity, nor can it be the bookings of crass wisdom working on predictions as he pads up for his 200th Test. To call it either, would be degrading to the man and his efforts. Tendulkar’s career is a testimony to the beauty of timelessness, one that has withstood the change of world order and 22 years thereafter, even as cricket lovers flipped to the back pages of their newspapers to look at a familiar face and in no time realised that they were 24 years older. He has swayed through the changing of times with a childlike zest and acclimatised himself with the needs seamlessly, set to go past yet another milestone and bag his zillionth award.
With Tendulkar, it can’t just be his cricketing exploits, he symbolises much more. Or else, even after all these years and after retiring from virtually every form of the game, except First-Class and Tests, Sachin wouldn’t have been the most sought after sports star in the country. He transcends a class, a practice, a belief and a work ethic of excellence that is indeed Indian, beyond political and geographical boundaries. He garners love when anger and pain fills the air. He was an artist at Sharjah in 1998, a fighter in Chennai in 1999, a hero at the same venue nine years later against England, a warrior against Pakistan at Centurion in 2003 and an icon as he helped India lift the 2011 World Cup. He has donned many hats in his capacity as a batsman over the years, yet added a lot of colour, meaning and zest to the life of millions.
His ability to make the mass emote was aptly shown in a telecom company advertisement when they said “one raised finger can break a billion hearts”, referring to the silence when Tendulkar was given out by David Shepherd. What connected with people seven years ago, still holds true.
When he steps on the shores of South Africa, he will be well on course to achieve a momentous feat, one that deserves its moment of glory in the game, and as self-proclaimed soothsayers say, ‘will never be achieved again in cricket’. Tendulkar will hit the headlines once more, and deservingly so. Honours will float down as politicians will look to have their moment of attention with congratulatory messages and gifts that can be done away with. Inane comparisons will take place and countless pieces of statistics will be thrown.
There may be no poetry in motion while he bats now, but he still works as a fine machine going through the rigours and doing the work he is expected to.
And even with the passage of time, the world will hail the Little Master.
To the Master, to the Champ!
(Aayush Puthran is a reporter with CricketCountry. Mercurially jovial, pseudo pompous, perpetually curious and occasionally confused, he is always up for a light-hearted chat over a few cups of filter kaapi!)
