Some reflections on Sachin the Master

Some reflections on Sachin  the Master

Sachin has duly confirmed what was on the cards for sometime. His millions of admirers - and I am one of them - will be sad as the test matches without him will miss the aura and excitement which the persona of Sachin brought to the game. I guess, I need to relate an episode from Mahabharata to bring home the multi-faceted importance of Sachin to the test matches involving India.

The war having been won finally, Krsna took Arjuna and asked him to step out of the chariot. Arjuna did as asked. Krsna followed him and concurrently Hanumana who was perched on the chariot flag all through the war invisibly, too leapt in the sky. No sooner did all this happen that the chariot was up in flames. Arjuna could not believe his eyes. He was distraught and prayed Krsna to unravel the mystery. Krsna comforted Arjuna and told him that this had to happen. He told Arjuna that this was a divine chariot and divine horses were yoked to it; that he was the Saarthi  and that it was protected by the mighty God Hanumana.  Krsna added that this was why it could survive the numerous assaults of Bheeshma, Drona and Karna; and that this would not have been possible without the divine intervention. But, the war having won, the purpose of this chariot too stood accomplished.

While Test match cricket will certainly not be in flames with the retirement of Sachin, he was to the Indian Cricket  Arjuna, Krsna  and Hanumana in turn – the out and out combatant in the first phase, the sutradhaar  and supremo  Krsna in the second phase and the invisible protector Hanumana in the last. His retirement is curtains on Arjuna, Krsna and Hanumana of the Indian cricket.

The game must go on, however. And as the dust settles down, many a follower of Sachin will sigh with relief too – that two matches hence Sachin will in no way be able to descend down the ladder in terms of his career records. Records do not convey the whole truth but, I assume, a career batting average of less than 50 in test matches will render a batsman’s claim to greatness suspect. Sachin of late appeared to be risking his greatness which the great Bradman had once acknowledged tacitly.

The timing of Sachin’s retirement will be a matter of some debate. To my mind, if Sachin had announced it in the wake of the World Cup 2011, his number two position in the pantheon of cricket gods  was more or less confirmed -  the first being the miles-ahead  Donald Bradman. But with a forgettable last segment  of 31 test matches, Sachin seems to have conceded this position to the South African all rounder Kallis.

However, the sentiments back home are swayed in the least by the global rankings. Sachin has represented the country close to a quarter century and his impact and popularity transcends the boundaries of cricket. Amitabh Bacchan is the only person of his times who could be credited with a greater pan India popularity and acceptance. Perhaps, Atal Behari Vajpayee’s acceptance when he was the Prime minister was as great but that was relatively a short period. However, unlike the actors and politicians, a cricketer is subject to the limits of his physical self. Sachin lasted much more than one would have initially thought. Sachin will have to find another worthwhile channelization post his retirement to ensure visibility and sustain popularity. As a Member of Parliament, Sachin has not even created a ripple, much less a wave. May be now is the time for that.  I fervently wish and pray that Sachin’s swansong mach will be fitting finale to a journey in which the whole nation was with him.