28 years and Champions

It was 25th of June in 1983 that India had created the history by defeating the dominant side of the West Indies who were the giants of Cricket then. India had lost the opportunity of being crowned in 2003. The 2007 showed some decline in the men in blue in the first round exist with the likes of Greg Chappell. This didn't stopped the mighty Indians in conceiving the dream of winning the world cup of 2011. After lifting the T20 world cup in 2007, the men in blue were unstoppable. The inspiration and ambitions that were drawn from Gary Kirsten had no looking back. The God of the cricket didn't stop for 21 years to conceive and witness the most memorable day in the life of cricket. The Lankan Lions had to be given back the nightmare of 1996 and you can't ask for a better, bitter sweet revenge than this. Indian team was considered as the favorite when the tourney had started. They literally played like a unit of champions. Nothing could deter this men of blue along with whom were bleeding the billions. 4 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss out of 6 group matches. The bar was only raised up with every knock out match. 

The team considered to be the strongest batting powerhouse in the world of cricket were highly criticized for their bowling show. We were chasing 260 in the quarter finals and defending 260 in the semifinals. Bowling performance in the quarter finals against Australia had shut some mouth by restricting 'em to 260 at Motera. The disciplined attack of Zaheer supported with Munaf and Nehra was just getting better by every match. The semi final against Pakistan was another masterpiece of a close enocounter. The score was not good enough to be defended without a disciplined attack of bowling where Nehra was criticised after his subdued show in the last over against South Africa in the group stage. But that could say the least.

And, finally it was the big final, giving back the memories of 1996 to Srilanka. The Tigers had their last roar over the Lankan Lions. The Indian sub-continent celebrated the glory with all fervor and gumption. And why not, it came after 28 years!

P.S. The feelings are yet to sink... :)

Time Magazine's Quote on Little Master

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam. When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy. It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

Cricketing Legend - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

It’s been 39 years, since the incipience of the ODI format in cricket. Many great knocks have been hammered by teams and so by the individual players. Many teams registered 400+ scores and one did chase the mammoth total of 434. It was South Africa who had chased this successfully against Australia. But this time around it was different; SA couldn’t chase 401 scored by the mighty INDIANS. This knock came with the power pack performance by the little master blaster Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Saeed Anwar of Pakistan had scored 194 runs against INDIA in Chennai in May 1997, by surpassing the individual record of Sir Viv Richards of West Indies 189 N.O. Saeed Anwar’s knock was equaled by the less known Charles Coventry 194 N.O. of Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in August 2009 but in vain as Zimbabwe had lost the match.

Everyone was expecting this record to be broken sometime by the cricketing legend SRT. Sachin Tendulkar’s bat speaks more than him and has always proved his critics wrong by the brilliance of his batting strokes. The batting strokes from the blade of the little master blaster don’t blaze off with force but also with the fine finesse.

Immaculate and impeccable performance by the little master blaster came on February 24, 2010 creating the history in world of cricket not only by being the highest run getter in an ODI but also reaching the first Double ton ever. Vengeance is seen in the batting of this cricketing god these days after being dropped out from the Indian squad in 2007 and being booed off in his home ground before 4 years, where his career was about to defunct. But nothing stops the boy within him to blaze his blade. He never lost the belief, which inspires us to aspire his heights.

Nothing stops me from watching the highlights of those mystical moments that were created by SRT in Gwalior. One of the best moment that I recall here is of the legendary hero hitting a ball pitched outside the off stump by Dale Steyn and SRT moving across the wickets, flicking flawlessly between the square leg and mid wicket straight to the boundary and Steyn shrugging his shoulders back on the way. Robin Jackman had only one thing to say during this impeccable innings, that the best thing to do is not to bowl Sachin. This is the only secret that would save the South Africans.

Post match presentation, when Ravi Shastri asked him about how he felt on being the highest run scorer in an ODI and getting the only double ton ever in the history of ODI cricket, this humble and down to earth said “I don’t know how to react to this, I dedicate this double ton to the people of INDIA, all those people who stood behind me during my ups and downs in last 20 years. It feels good that I was there at the end of 50 overs, and would still like to bat for another 50 overs at some stage and see that my fitness level doesn’t drop” The best one was when he replied to Ravi Shastri on being asked that, when would the bowlers get some respect and he nicely mentioned “As long as in my heart I know that whatever I'm doing good for the team at that moment, I'm going to go ahead with that” (in short as long as he stays in centre, all you bowlers out there, don’t expect any respect from this little master blaster)

I envy all those people in Gwalior who watched and witnessed the mystical moments of the double tons that came from the cricketing god.

Such is the Power,

Such is the Genius,

Such is the Class...

SACH is the GOD of Cricket, atleast to US (INDIANS).... he made us all proud.....Hats off, Bows and Salute to "SIR SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR"

Terrific Tendulkar

Still at the age of 36 with a prolonged career of 20 years into the highest level of International cricket the little master blaster is completely unmoved from his basic instincts. Yesterday's ton against Australia at Hyderabad once again testified the passion and dedication of Sachin Tendulkar. Scoring 175 of 141 balls was an impeccable and phenomenal performance by the little master. The rampant 175 by Sachin recalls the reminiscence of two consecutive tons against Australia in 1997-98 Sharjah series. The way he send the ball out of the park hitting high over the head of Hauritz mesmerized the Sixes he scored against the legend leggie Warnie. The brilliant pull shot over the mid-wicket smashing the ball over the boundary reminded one of the biggest six hit in an ODI to Andrew Caddick of England in the World Cup of 2003. But still this great knock by the little master couldn't bring victory to the Indian team. Though team India was so near yet so far from the win as they continued with their legacy of snatching the defeat from the jaws of victory once again by losing the game with a very close margin of 3 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja who didn't learnt from the mistake of the last match at Mohali proved himself a culprit for the consecutive second time. He threw away his wicket in Mohali and made the mockery of the situation. His poor temperament showed the lack in his mental ability to cope up with the pressure at the do or die stage. This also doesn't justify his place in the Indian team while neglecting the presence of Yusuf Pathan who blossoms in situations like this and is handy in the spin bowling too.

It happens rarely where Man of the Match award is given to a player of the side losing. Despite of India's loss Sachin was awarded the Man of the Match and was not at all appeased. The disappointment was clearly seen in his dejected eyes, body language and speech. When he was asked what keeps him motivated; the genius, down to earth and humble person had few simple words to say "It's passion, I care about playing for India and I have been absoloutely honoured to play for India for 20 years."