An open letter to Sachin Tendulkar

Dear Sachin,

You have always enthralled us with your batting. You have been idolised for decades now. Whether it was watching you bat in a single wicket tournament at Shivaji Park or on a HD projector during the World Cup final, or checking the periodic updates on a cricketing website , the pain was always the same when you got out. Similarly, the pleasure of watching a cover drive or a scoop shot over the slips, or smashing a short ball from Andrew Caddick for a massive six, or lofting Shane Warne straight over his head at Sharjah was immense.

Recently, there was an article which mentioned that you were a part of a group of players who were heavily involved in trying to cleanse the game when the previous match fixing scandal had broken out in Indian cricket. It never affected your performances on the field. You have always maintained a dignified response to most controversies over the past.

Indian cricket has hit an all time low , not just because the administrators are corrupt , but more because of the lack of spine shown by the cricketers. Both current and ex-players. There might have been corrupt administrators in the past as well, but the fans had faith in their role models.

What hurts the most is that all these cricketers , whether former or present, seem to have been gagged by the board. It is painful to watch them being asked questions by people knowing anything but cricket. Other than a couple of ex-players, the others seem to be oblivious to the recent incidents.

It is time that you came out in the public and expressed your views on the recent issues that have come out. I fear else the people may lose their faith. That faith, which ensured bunking of schools for an international match by kids; that faith, which made sure vehicles had to change their routes to allow gully cricket; that faith which ensured people crowd on a street near an electronic shop and that faith, which must have made millions of people develop goosebumps and moist eyes watching you being carried on the shoulders of other teammates after winning the World Cup. It is the same faith that made thousands of people get out on the streets on that night two years back.

- A fan who still switches off the television and gets upset after you get out.