Sitting inside an enclosed media centre and listening to music
on maximum volume through the headphones the chant of “Sa-chin Sa-chin” could
still be heard even before Tendulkar entered the playing arena. Mumbai Cricket Association had opened the
gates nice and early to ensure each fan was inside the stadium to watch Tendulkar
walk out for his 329th his final test innings.
Nearly each person that entered the Wankhede Stadium kept on
standing and cheered their hero to the crease. For the next 15 minutes they
screamed “Sa-chin Sa-chin” continuously and refused to sit down. Even a defensive shot was greeted with a
roar. It was once in a lifetime experience
and highly unlikely India would ever experience such an atmosphere or such an
audience for a Test match ever again.
For all those that turned up, the shots Tendulkar played
during his outing will remain in their minds forever, none more so ever than
the shot that bought up his 68 Test
fifty. It was the trademark Tendulkar
straight drive played with a full face of the bat and it just raced to the
boundary.
For that spilt second, you felt like freezing time. It would have been the fitting gift for man that
has managed to freeze a nation of over a billion people for nearly a quarter of
a decade. But to halt time would be a fantasy and perhaps those who believe
there will be another Tendulkar are living in a fantasy life.
Back in the real world Tendulkar stroked his way to 74
before playing a deft late cut into 1st slip’s hand. Tendulkar was out. The brief walk back once again told a story
of man that just simply loved playing cricket.
Once he realised he was out, the disappointment on his face
was evident. But the primary reason for
the dismay was because he had executed the same shot only couple of over’s ago
against the same bowler. So annoyed was Tendulkar
he started to scurry of the ground, his natural instincts took over, he was mad
at himself for not been able to execute the shot, the cricketing brain was
still in action and it seemed like Tendulkar had almost forgotten this was his
last innings. About ¾ of his journey to
the boundary rope, the cricket brain finally halted and he acknowledged the
fans for one last time. It was not the prolonged goodbye many would have
expected as the master rushed up the steps. But once again the walk back to the
pavilion showcased Tendulkar was so engrossed and dedicated in his batting that
all other factors was extraneous. Short and quick exit was only a minuscule of
the remarkable Test career but it was the last sign of a true batting genius.
Without the great Sachin Tendulkar Test cricket will never
be the same in India again.
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