Yesterday was a sad day for Indian cricket, no doubt. A day when a demi-God was brought down from the pedestal by a few unscrupolous men, and his abilities being put under scanner by others. I am talking abt yesterday’s incident at Wankhede when Tendulkar was booed on being getting out on a solitary run.This has followed a long dry spell of runs, when he has not scored a decent amount of runs.
The debates about his eventual retirement have surfaced yet again, and the shout of ‘Endulkar’ is again being heard.
So, will this mark the end of Tendulkar??
I can’t answer this question at present, but going by his performance on field, the day doesn’t seem 2 far. He looks completely ill at ease while batting these days.His footwork is nowhere, n even novice bowlers tend to scare him out. His palpable face while facing Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan, and his lying on ground with his head down on getting bowled, are the worst pictures in the lifetime of any cricket fan. So, the fact is that his batting has suffered and he is no longer the old “Ton-dulkar”.It happens to everyone at some stage of their carreers, so it is no different for him.But then another question beckons Team-India-How long are we going to carry him along, at the cost of poor cricket.
I don’t know his personal traits to that extent, but feel that he is a person of grit and determination. But at times like this, people refuse to accept their weaknesses. They simply clinge to their position becoz of the past performances.
I feel its time Tendulkar take a decision about himself, coz Team India can’t b put 2 ransom for so long.Either somebody has to take a harsh decision on him, but I think that would be a bad end to such a great cricketer.
In my opinion, Tendulkar should understand that his days are over, and there should not be any embarassment in accepting that, as he has alreasy given so much to the country,and is undoubtedly among the all-time greats of cricket.What approach he can take is step down for a while, work hard on his shortcoming by playing domestic cricket, or mayb county.Then make a comeback for a tough series, score plethora of runs, and just when people start thinking that he has resurrected himself, he announce his decision to hang up his boots.It would be like going down fighting, and not as one on the knees.
I would like to bring the example of Pete Sampras, who after a long reign at the top in tennis, has to undergo same kind of humiliation. He took a break, came back, won a no. of Grand Slams, and just when people thot he’s back with a vengeance, he decided to retire.
I feel that would be a befitting farewell to a player of the stature of Tendulkar.
I just hope he’s thinking on my lines.
Asset
He surely is one of the Greatest player and I’m sure he would be thinking this long before people thought of it.
I agree that he should take a break. A real break from active cricket and try to come back whenever he has the same gusto that he had when he was starting at 16.
Fame has its own problems of getting scrutinised too much. And frankly speaking I will start seeing cricket the day this master blaster comes back and gets some respect to the Indian sqad.
Comment by Apurva — March 21, 2006 @ 5:18 am