Sachin, Tendlya, Master-Blaster...GOD!

- When Sachin plays - big-city roads are easy and trains and buses ply empty at rush hour and the markets take a beating...  

- When Sachin plays - busy, ambitious executives ignore their calls and cancel their appointments and avoid their clients and miss their deadlines...  

- When Sachin plays - college Common Rooms are dense and tense and hushed as an entire generation sits on pins and needles...  

- When Sachin plays - school-yards are silent and playgrounds are deserted because those who normally make such a racket imitating their hero are all too busy watching him make batting look so ridiculously easy...  

- When Sachin plays - fathers who want the NEWS channel and daughters and mothers who always want soft stuff and brothers who fight for action, for once all agree on what to watch...

 - When Sachin plays - India forgets its differences and divisions and teeters between tensions and exhilaration and breaths and laughs and cries as one, as its heart fills with pride and joy...

 - When Sachin plays - all else is irrelevant...

I'd read these in Sportstar a long time back, but it is something that holds true for eternity. 

Just last week when I saw him come to bat against Rajasthan Royals for the inaugural match of the IPL 2, sacrificing my afternoon siesta seemed all worth it. He was once again greeted to a standing ovation. The respect the man draws all over the world is truly astounding.  

He has come a long way since making his debut against Pakistan in November, 1989, breaking like a zillion records. But what has been more satisfying is the way he has achieved them. Australia too has broken records but we all know how much they have lost on the way; they have lost the respect of the people. They might be a cricketing powerhouse but they no longer have role models. Sachin on the other hand has been an ideal ambassador for the gentleman's game and the perfect role model for millions of budding youngsters the world over.

There have been many legendary cricketers who have done wonders on the pitch; Shane Warne for instance. But if a boy walked up to his dear dad and told him that he wanted to be like Warney, the father would have to impart some wisdom on what-to-dos and what-SO-not-to-dos of Warney's life. And there would be quite a few things on the not-to-dos list!  

Sachin has not only been a great cricketer, but more importantly, the greater person. A champion on the field, and also off the field. When I try to recollect moments from the past, a couple of them vividly come to my mind...

• The 2003 World Cup clash against arch rivals Pakistan

The stage was set. And he decided to make it his own. Not only did he play an electrifying innings, but he gave us one of the most memorable moments in history - sending the ball sailing into the crowd over backward point. It was one of those 'I was there' moments. I was there...I was there when the Mumbai cha Mulga smacked the man they call the 'Rawalpindi Express'!

• The one that flashes across the mind is the Sharjah blitzkrieg (1998)

The back-to-back hundreds against Australia. Oh, and the look on Warne's face. The utter shock out of sheer helplessness. I distinctly remember the instance when Tony Greig was on commentary and Sachin had just hit another six. And all he said was "What a player" (pity I can't imitate his typical style, with all the excitement in the voice here). A wish: Before he decides to call it a day, I'd love to see the no-holds-barred vintage Tendulkar once again. To see the helplessness in the bowlers, to see him come charging down to the fastest of bowlers and mercilessly pull them through mid-wicket, to stand tall and effortlessly play the upper cuts over the keeper, to have the audacity to slog sweep spinners against the turn, to have the class to hit them inside out over the covers, and all the while innovating with his blade the way one can't imagine.




When Sachin plays, the world watches in awe...India comes to a standstill... Go commit whatever crime you want.. It will go unnoticed.. Because, even the Lord is watching!!! (courtesy: Sportstar again)  

The 'boy' turns 36 today...Happy Birthday Sachin!  

PS: An IPL hundred against the Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad) tomorrow would be a fitting Birthday gift and a chance for me to go "Saaachinnnnn...Sachin, Saaachinnnnn...Sachin" all over again!