Early 1980s is an era to be written, if not in gold, at least in black & white in Indian history. It was the time when B&W television sets made their way into Indian middle-class, in a big way. Thanks to my parents who too had managed to buy a brand new B&W television set. As a kid who used to watch TV at the neighbors till then, owning one was a matter of pride for me. Very thought of watching the famous “giant-robot” at my home on our own TV was exciting.
I don’t know why, how, & etc. One morning, I got up and, instead of my favorite TV soap, started watching a game between India and another country (England, I guess) with all the interest in the world. But all that I remember is that a short fellow, wearing his trade mark traditional hat, was busy running between the pieces of wood planted on either side of 20-odd yard hard soil strip, for most part of the time I watched during the game. It was only later, after many years, I realized that it was Sunny Gavaskar playing the game of Cricket. I somehow could not sync with the game. Subsequently, the interest faded.
It took another short fellow to re-ignite a cricketer and a new religion, in me and alike. This time the impact was mighty strong. He came; He played; He ruled. His affable batting, immaculate timing, his impeccable collection of shots and the very way in which he played the game had a lasting impression on millions. When we were down and out, he gave us hope; When we were sad, he gave us a reason to smile; When we were divided time and again (thanks to our politicians), he held us united; When we were lost in the intricacies of worldly image, he gave us an identity. Sachin successfully managed to build a new India; India which believed in one religion, in hard-work, in winning, in fellow countrymen. (Unfortunately, this India struggles to survive as soon as Sachin is off the field)
The saga, however, had just begun. What followed is probably the most glorious phase of Indian cricket. If text books could walk, run and play, Rahul would be first. He is, without any doubt, the most sophisticated batsman to have ever played cricket. Not surprisingly, in his simplicity lies his sophistication. True to one of his famous statements, “…When it comes to cover drive, first there is GOD and then there is Saurav…”. Saurav and Laxman are the gifted craftsmen with the bat who made batting look terribly easy with there silk-smooth drives and classy flicks. And between all these batting greats, one man held the Indian bowling guard for decades bagging hundreds of wickets in both forms of cricket.
I watch, follow, and play cricket not because it is cricket. But because Sachin plays it. Rahul plays it. Saurav, Laxman, and Anil play it. For me cricket will never be the same again. More so, when Sachin retires. The day after his retirement, India will wake up to a different game of cricket; totally new, strange, cryptic, and completely difficult to comprehend.
Agreed that no one is bigger than the game. But these guys have made the game bigger and better. Apart from being great ambassadors of cricket, they have been inspirational role models and, more importantly, wonderful human beings. They inspired me for the first half of my life. Now I wonder what will happen to my second innings.
I don’t know why, how, & etc. One morning, I got up and, instead of my favorite TV soap, started watching a game between India and another country (England, I guess) with all the interest in the world. But all that I remember is that a short fellow, wearing his trade mark traditional hat, was busy running between the pieces of wood planted on either side of 20-odd yard hard soil strip, for most part of the time I watched during the game. It was only later, after many years, I realized that it was Sunny Gavaskar playing the game of Cricket. I somehow could not sync with the game. Subsequently, the interest faded.
It took another short fellow to re-ignite a cricketer and a new religion, in me and alike. This time the impact was mighty strong. He came; He played; He ruled. His affable batting, immaculate timing, his impeccable collection of shots and the very way in which he played the game had a lasting impression on millions. When we were down and out, he gave us hope; When we were sad, he gave us a reason to smile; When we were divided time and again (thanks to our politicians), he held us united; When we were lost in the intricacies of worldly image, he gave us an identity. Sachin successfully managed to build a new India; India which believed in one religion, in hard-work, in winning, in fellow countrymen. (Unfortunately, this India struggles to survive as soon as Sachin is off the field)
The saga, however, had just begun. What followed is probably the most glorious phase of Indian cricket. If text books could walk, run and play, Rahul would be first. He is, without any doubt, the most sophisticated batsman to have ever played cricket. Not surprisingly, in his simplicity lies his sophistication. True to one of his famous statements, “…When it comes to cover drive, first there is GOD and then there is Saurav…”. Saurav and Laxman are the gifted craftsmen with the bat who made batting look terribly easy with there silk-smooth drives and classy flicks. And between all these batting greats, one man held the Indian bowling guard for decades bagging hundreds of wickets in both forms of cricket.
I watch, follow, and play cricket not because it is cricket. But because Sachin plays it. Rahul plays it. Saurav, Laxman, and Anil play it. For me cricket will never be the same again. More so, when Sachin retires. The day after his retirement, India will wake up to a different game of cricket; totally new, strange, cryptic, and completely difficult to comprehend.
Agreed that no one is bigger than the game. But these guys have made the game bigger and better. Apart from being great ambassadors of cricket, they have been inspirational role models and, more importantly, wonderful human beings. They inspired me for the first half of my life. Now I wonder what will happen to my second innings.
Indresh M S
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