Ten(Dulkar) things I want before retirement

#5: Leg glance, the flick and the upper-cut

2003 World Cup, game against Pakistan. All three shots played with flair. Shoaib Akhtar steaming in and first ball was flicked through the square leg for four.

A Sachinist will always remember the upper cut that set the tone for that world cup. And talking about the leg glance, Waqar Younis said, “Tendulkar can play a leg glance even with a walking stick.”

I would love to see Tendulkar play the wide variety of strokes. Not only do these shots require a tremendous amount of balance, but also a meticulous coordination between the eyes and face of the bat. One of each kind, that I can store in my memory.

#6: The Defence

For Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar, I will not use the adjective “strong”. It is implicit, when I am talking about one of them, I am talking about the best defence by any batsman in the world. Someone like Darren Sammy or Dwayne Bravo bowling in and Tendulkar stretches out and leans forward and defends it, with that head very still and the hand parallel to the ground. I want to watch him defend some deliveries in his own classic way. Swift movement of the feet and the head coming down strong. Tendulkar, has really spoilt us, bad.

#7: The juggling

The year was 1998 – India vs Australia at Kochi.

He got Steve Waugh caught and bowled and he rejoiced by juggling the ball in his hands. That showcased the celebration of the success of his trick of cramping up Waugh for the room and getting him out caught and bowled. It showed the child in him. I want to see Tendulkar go like that. I want him to bowl leg-breaks, get a couple of wickets and rejoice as if a 15 year kid has just taken the two best wickets of his life. Tendulkar, I believe, has that 15 year kid in him, still.

#8: Panama cap

I cannot even remember, when he did the transition from the regular cap to the Panama. It makes it easier for the viewers to spot Tendulkar on the ground, so it helps that way. Yes, I want to see the Panama cap take the field at mid-on (vintage Tendulkar position) and take a catch coming down his throat. I am confident, his smile at the end of it will take care of our emotions.

#9: The look towards the heavens

Before world cup 2011, people used to talk about the final in Mumbai. India playing Sri Lanka/Australia/Pakistan, Tendulkar scoring a ton and winning the cup for India. The ton did not come, but the rest of the script came true. It will be a dream come true if Tendulkar is able to make a hundred in the penultimate/ultimate game of his career. That hundred and the look towards the heavens, a “Sachinist” will understand the fervor of the moment. A career that has spanned for 24 years will give another reason to rejoice, to shout, to dance and to do what not. Tendulkar scoring a hundred is always a special occasion. It is then we realize, how well we slept last night.

#10: Hear him speak

Tendulkar will embark on his “Final Frontier” on a not very high profile series. But emotions will still be high and it will be really fascinating to hear it from Tendulkar. I have heard him speaking in open after his tennis elbow injury treatment and after winning the 2011 world cup. Otherwise, Tendulkar has been quiet and shy. It will be really wonderful to hear about the innings he rates the best, the best bowlers he ever faced and his favorite grounds around the world. All in that presentation ceremony, where he will be overflown with the awards and the accolades. And who knows, he might just grab another Man of the Match/ Series and finish it in style.

All these 10 points, do make me a selfish person, as I want to see everything I have seen in last 20 years from him, in just two test matches. I believe, what will make a classic Tendulkar farewell, will not be what he does in the last two matches of his life, but remembering every single innings he has played for the past 24 years of his career. At the end of the day, all I want is to sit in the front of the television with a bowl of fruits and watch him bat, like he has always done.

As the God he worshipped was walking away, Gurudev trusted another and left for the evening prayers at Siddhivinayak and I saw a young kid helping the “mali” take down the nets, and calling it a day. Somewhere at Shivaji Park, a young kid wearing a Number 10 jersey walked home, this time to not take the field.

Note: The conversation with Gurudev is only imaginary and is for an effective piece of writing. Any resemblance, is purely coincide­­ntal.