India after Tendulkar - a fearful prospect

On November 15th 1989, the world saw the birth of a new era. A man who later redefined the the art of batting, made his debut at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan. A man, the legend, some call him the “Lord of 22 yards”, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was his name. A 16 year old boy from Mumbai made way to the field to face one of the most fierce bowling line up of the world which included the likes of Wasim akram, Waqar younis and Abdul Qadir. Though Sachin failed to make the cut in his first outing in the Indian jersey, he did mark his arrival into international cricket at an exhibition match at Peshawar, smashing one of Pakistan’s all time greats Abdul Qadir for 27 runs in a single over. A 16 year old boy who could do that was indeed “THE NEXT BIG THING”

The turning point in Tendulkar’s career was the India’s tour of England in 1990, the young lad made a 119* at the Old Traford, facing the fastest bowling line up of the world at that point of time. The calm, composed and disciplined performance of Tendulkar under the challenging seaming conditions of England made Wisden rate that as the second best debut century by any batsman in the history of the game, the quote about it is as follows:

“He looked the embodiment of India’s famous opener, Gavaskar, and indeed was wearing a pair of his pads. While he displayed a full repertoire of strokes in compiling his maiden Test hundred, most remarkable were his off-side shots from the back foot. Though only 5ft 5in tall, he was still able to control without difficulty short deliveries from the English paceman.”

At that point when Sachin made his entry into international cricket, he had the great responsibility of filling the shoes of the all time greats like Sunil Gavaskar himself. Sachin, due to his performance in the domestic circuit was regarded as India’s future prospect, and it has to be said that he has done justice to the people who believed in his talents. The journey for Tendulkar was never easy. Though he never had to face the hardships of being dropped from the team, Sachin has always been the most dedicated sportsperson this country has ever produced, and carrying the whole burden of the country on your shoulder for 23 years is never the easiest thing.

Anil kumble once said in an interview – “Me and Sachin made it to the Indian team almost at the same time, but it was never the same for both of us, he had to prove everyone right and I had to prove everyone wrong”. Sachin’s talent was recognised and nurtured from a very tender age and his coach and the selectors had a major role to play in that. Sachin was drafted into the team an age of 16, and the faith showed on him made him what he is today.

The early 90′s in Indian cricket was all Sachin’s show. The team was single handedly carried on his shoulders, there was a notion among the teams at that point of time that once they get Sachin’s wicket, they had bagged the match. The time when Indian team had not many stars, before the fab 5 came together, it was Sachin who carried this team forward. And now when the fab 4 doesn’t exist, it’s still him being the most pivatal part of this Indian team.

Sachin has always been a great global ambassaodor of the game, a perfect gentleman on the field and the perfect example for any youngster on how to behave on and off the field. Whenever the indian team was shooked by the contriversies of match fixing, there was one name that stood apart.

There is no other player who is so much respected by the opposition throughout the world. Here is what some of the opponents say about sachin:

When you bowl at him you are not only trying to get him out, you are trying to impress him. I want him to walkoff thinking that, “that Flintoff , he’s all right isn’t he!? I feel privileged to have played against him

-Andrew Flintoff

“When you play against Sachin, you also want to see him score a few runs , just to see him bat”

-Mark waugh

“Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time the best player without doubt, daylight second and Brian Lara third”

-Shane Warne

After 23 long years, Sachin today is arguably the biggest sporting icon in this country, the best batsman of the modern era, the man who redefined the art of batting and set standards that none can ever match. Today after 23 years when Tendulkar is at the later part of his cricketing career, the biggest question that arises is – “WHAT AFTER TENDULKAR? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE GOD OF CRICKET FINALLY DECIDES TO CALL IT A DAY?”

World cricket has never seen such a lustrous career, the man who has conquered everything from being the highest run scorer to being part of the world cup winning team. For this man records just tumble with a single stroke of his willow. Replacing a man like Tendulkar is never easy, it’s even considered next to impossible, to have a man of his potential and inborn skill is never easy, there is, was, and will always be just one Sachin Tendulkar. In India “cricket is a religion and sachin is the god”. In any cricket stadium in India where India is playing, people turn up to watch with one intention, that is to catch a glimpse of GOD. Anything and everything that Sachin does on the ground is cheered, a man of class, but what will happen once he retires? Though inevitable, none of the fans of this game all over the world would want that day to come. But the hard fact is indeed that it’s not so far away. Now coming to the reality, it’s a really viable question that what will be the condition of Team India once this happens. It’s no doubt that the team has no shortage of stars, but there is no other Sachin Tendulkar, seeing just that name on the batting scorecard gives bowlers all over the worls nightmares. Lasith Malinga did a victory lap all around the ground once he got Sachin’s wicket at the 2011 Worldcup Final. It tells you what that man really is. India has got many uprising stars from there current sensation Virat kohli to the new teen star Unmukt Chand, India has got many bright prospects like Cheteshwar Pujara. All these are capable players; talented, but can anyone fill the boots of Sachin Tendulkar? Virat kohli is at times compared to him but even those who compare, know within that he can never be a Tendulkar. The dedication that Sachin has to the game, the passion, can never be compared to any other man till we find someone worth it. Filling up the number 4 spot in that line up is still a Herculean task for anyone in that dressing room.

It is after all, aptly quoted – ” God wanted to play cricket, so Sachin was born”