Imagine a world without Sachin
Tendulkar. Seems almost impossible, doesn't it? Who else will fill in
the legendary number 4 position of the Indian team if Tendulkar
leaves? For over two decades, he has made that spot his own, carved
his name in bold, and etched it in time. However one day it would be
just his name there and not Sachin Tendulkar the five feet 4 inches
of human flesh. And when is such a day that Tendulkar should leave
the game?
He has already bid adieu to ODIs and
T20Is and now it's just a matter of time before he says goodbye to
tests and international cricket. But just how soon is it?
Now Tendulkar is a legend of the game
without a doubt and surely would love to leave on a high. His ODI
farewell wasn't exactly that and hence he would wish his final
farewell from international cricket to be special. Now with India
standing at the threshold of a historical 4-0 whitewash of the
Australians at home, has that time come?
Tendulkar is the last remaining man
from his era. The Dravids, the Kumbles, the Gangulys, the Laxmans –
all who made their debut years after Tendulkar have moved on.
Tendulkar is 40, and not getting any younger and as much as he would
love to continue playing and fans continue watching him play, he
eventually does have to draw a curtain on his illustrious career.
Tendulkar's retirement is sure to send
shock-waves throughout the sporting fraternity and hence he would
probably announce it near the end of the series and bow out
discreetly as Michael Hussey did for Australia. Since it is
Tendulkar, it won't be all that simple. However the stage is set for
that.
Tendulkar can stay on for the South
Africa tour and provide the much needed experience in the Indian
middle order, or he can give up his place for a youngster to be
blooded in one of the most difficult conditions for an Indian
batsman. The transition phase of the Indian team has been rocky and
turbulent, but there are young guns more than capable of taking the
team forward and has the time come for Tendulkar to pass on his
responsibilities?
He is currently on 198 tests and might want to reach that landmark 200, and maybe this series is not his last. Whatever the case, with the next home series in October 2014, surely this test is Sachin Tendulkar's last test match at home if not his final one for India.
Now a few years ago the thought of
Tendulkar's retirement would have been impossible to imagine, but now
with great difficulty some of us can indeed imagine it. Imagine it
with great pain, loss and pride. And that imagined world after Sachin
Tendulkar may come in just a few days time.
2 Comments:
Indian youngsters have come of age and are doing exceedingly well in current series against Australia.
Tendulkar dragged his feet, far too forward and his continued presence is hurting India. Even Mike Hussey retired in his prime and refused to tour India, to help his struggling side..
All good things must come to end! Sachin is no exception!
I think that Sachin should retire at least now when he is performing but it seems that he hasn't learnt from his previous decision about his retirement from ODIs and T20s. The only good decision about retirement which someone has made is I think Mike Hussey so Tendulkar should learn from Mike and announce his retirement.
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