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Sachin Tendulkar and Match-Winning Knocks: A View Point

2011-08-02T18:17:00.001-07:00

With every other day comes an article on Sachin Tendulkar and his genius.
While many stop by and echo their love and respect for him and his commitment to this great game, there are others who always cry fowl, saying that he is an overrated player; a player who never wins enough matches for his nation; a player who plays selfish cricket only to accumulate runs and records; a player that plays for money rather than his country. (Sachin played the entire IPL this season and skipped the Caribbean tour.)
Though I completely believe that Sachin places country above anything else, I will leave discussion for later. The focus now is on why people call him an overrated player who never won matches and never performs when it matters the most.
There will be examples given of Lara’s superb 153 against the Aussies, with only Ambrose and Walsh to support him, and that of Laxman’s 281, which—even according to me—marked the renaissance of Indian cricket and Dravid’s ton in the Adelaide.
No arguments: These innings of Laxman and Lara are undoubtedly two of the very best ever played on a cricket field and the two—along with Dravid, Ponting, and few other Aussies—are truly great match winners.

Match-Winning Knocks
The point which triggers argument is that other contributions are so easily forgotten.
Forgotten, sadly, are Sherwin Campbell’s neat hundred in the first innings of that test and Walsh’s "five-for."
Forgotten, again sadly, was Dravid’s superb support and Harbhajan’s "seven-for," including a hat trick. (Sachin Tendulkar claimed the key wickets of Steve Waugh and Damien Martin.)
This is not to take away anything from the two artists, but to show that Cricket is simply a team game and not an individual one.

In fact, what is to be considered is the match-winning knock or spell—a knock or spell that might have not won the match (maybe not even saved it), but was something that the player gave his all for.That will make comparisons more meaningful and will give due credit to the player.

Importance of First Innings
Point to be noted is that first innings make the test while seconds complete it. Every ball is important, and the matches are won by the team which wins more sessions.
A combination of individual efforts leads to better team performance. Whilst there is added pressure in the second, a superior performance in the first only means less pressure in the second.
So, the first innings should be given equal importance as the second if not more.
Every run counts: if made earlier, need not be made later.

Support of the Team
Whilst the limited-overs version can be considered a batsman-dominated game, the longer version can be won only if the bowlers can 20 wickets or so.
There are cases in which batsmen Ashraful and Chanderpaul scored wonderful tons but ended up on the wrong side of the result because they did not get enough support from the bowlers or co-batsmen.
Had those innings been played by a member of the Windies team of old or the Aussies of the 90s- 2000s—which had a superb bowling attack to seal the win—wouldn't it have been considered a "winning knock?"

Where Sachin Tendulkar Stands After Considering the Above Points
If a hundred does not help the team win the match, does that mean it’s a meaningless one?
If he scores more runs than the total of the rest of his mates, just because they couldn’t handle pace and bounce on the fastest pitch in the world, is it his mistake?
If a knock of 117 as a 17-year-old kid in the fourth innings could only save the test and not win it, does that make it less significant?
If he didn’t score in the finals of the World Cup, does it make his steady half century against the Aussies, shielding Gambhir from top-quality bowling less important?
No, I am not even referring to the hundreds which were scored in a losing cause (one ended up in a tie).
If a fighting hundred under immense pain and with little support against one of the best bowling attacks was not good enough to win the match, what else is? (Needing 271, India was struggling at 82-5 when Sachin played this gem. He got out when 17 were needed with three wickets, but ultimately the team fell short by 13 runs.)
Then what if we consider the 175 at Hyderabad, the 169 at Capetown in '97, the 155 against the same opposition 5 years later, the 143 against the Aussies in 1998 which helped India qualify for the finals, the knocks in Sydney test which was lost due to baffling errors by the umpires.
The list goes on.
I am not writing this to prove that Sachin is a better batsman. No, that was already certified by the best bowlers the world had ever seen. And what the rest of the world says counts little.
The actual point to be noted is that a player cannot win matches alone with no support from his teammates.
And a run is a run is a run is a run.
Lets put it this way: Lara, Dravid, Laxman, Steve Waugh, and Ponting have played many match-winnings knocks whilst Sachin Tendulkar played many more "match-winning" knocks that actually did not win matches.
At least he gave it his all.

Note: This article was earlier published in http://bleacherreport.com/

http://bleacherreport.com/users/62619-nikhil-nadipelli

Do it for him Guys, Do it for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar!

2011-01-22T04:10:00.000-08:00

The spirits are high; the expectations are higher. The selectors have provided what is probably the best unit that can bring glory on 2^nd April, 2011. That was what we believed four years ago but it was not to be. We came close in 1996 and looked set until the disastrous performance against the eventual champions - Sri Lanka. Seven yeas later, one man stood between the Aussies and cup but it all ended too early when the hopes of a whole nation fell like a red apple into the hands of a screaming McGrath off the ‘MRF’ willow in the very first over of the second innings in the final. In 2007, we lost the battle even before it began.

Time has come for the team to redeem itself. And this time around in our backyard. While every single Indian wants team India to win, and every member of team will give it their all, one person will be taking the stage one last time to fulfill what was his unfulfilled dream since the day he, as a 10 year old kid rejoiced with rest of the nation when Kapil’s Devils beat the Windies to win the game’s most coveted trophy in 1983.

Earlier in 1996 and 2003, he single handedly took the team within grabbing distance of the trophy. But the better ‘teams’ won.

Since, 1992 the lead pacers, spinners, batsmen and keepers changed. Only the best batsman and hope remained. And thus far only as a hope.

So Close; yet so Far!!!

It will be foolish and selfish on our part to expect Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar to be a part of the team in 2015. If it has to come it is now. And he cannot do it alone.

The team as much as they want to win it must step up to give this great man something which he deserves as much as anybody else. Or more, I dare say.

Yes! He deserves it more than anybody else. Yes! For all that he has done, given and given–up over the years for this wonderful sport and its fans, this is the least the team can do for him.

He has done India proud by all his achievements for over 21 years.

He has given us the joy of watching a genius in action, the joy only he can provide. He has many times over allowed the nation to forgive and forget the whole team’s dismal performances with his hundreds in lost causes.

He had saved the nation of disgrace when he pleaded the unruly and un-sportive crowd at the Eden garden to settle. And only he could do that.

Though he has done many such wonderful things, two things in particular stand out.

One is the fact that he has literally given up his entire teen-age for the sport. The age when all his school mates and friends were cherishing what we consider the most memorable period of life, he was busy serving the nation.

The second and most courageous of all was a sacrifice beyond comparison. Midway through the 1999 world-cup, he had to return home when his beloved father Ramesh Tendulkar expired due to a heart-attack. And in less than 48 hours, he was back in England for his nation needed him. We had lost to a lowly Zimbabwean team in his absence. He returned, scored a century in the very next match and looked up to the heavens and said “Dad, this is for you”. It was not about the century, yes, it came against Kenya. It was not about India winning. But what is significant is that with all the pressure and a heart filled with emotions, he returned. He returned, because the nation needed him.

This is just a plea to the rest of the team to give it their all and do it for their idol. Every member of the team has been in a way small or big inspired by the great at some point in their life. In fact most of them consider him their God.

Guys, this is not a one man team. He tried in vain on different occasions single handedly. He cannot do it alone. Few can. But he can do it with your help. This is best and the last chance, even for God.

Do it for him guys, Do it for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

WALK THROUGH THE SHIVAJI PARK – A DIVINE EXPERIENCE

2010-11-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

A lot has been said and written about a lot of cricket grounds around the world. The Lords is said to be the Mecca of Cricket. The Eden Garden is said to The Lords of the East. The MCG is considered as one of the seven wonders of the sporting world. India, a cricket crazy nation has over 25 international cricket stadiums. Each ground has its own importance and significance. However there is a ground, not of international stature, which is more famous and significant than most of the international stadiums.

If one is an avid cricket follower, it is not surprising to have heard of the legendary Shivaji Park even though there has been not a single international match played here. More importantly it is a ground of special importance to aspiring cricketers from Mumbai and Indian cricket fans for personal and other reasons.

Adjacent to the headquarters of the Sena party, has historical and cultural value because of the political and social gatherings it has witnessed, and continues to witness. However, to the modern India and Mumbai its significance is different. Named after the great Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji, it has turned out to be the cradle of many international cricketers of India.

One of the wonderful stories of this ground was how Vasu Paranjype coached his pupil asking him to mimic Hanif Mohammed saying ''when Hanif played his forward defensive in the Brabourne Stadium you could hear the sound (of the ball hitting the middle of the bat) as far away as Churchgate Station.'' As the legend goes, Hanif Mohammed replacement as the ‘little master’ among the cricket fraternity was Mr Paranjype’s pupil Sunil Gavaskar.

Another one was about how decades later two other kids walked all the way from their school carrying their kits to this same ground and trained with players twice or more their age, training for hours together after school in four different net sessions. It also known that Ramakanth Archrekar placed coins on the stumps and his students, if were undefeated throughout the day could keep the coins as souvenirs. And as history books reveal, Vinod Kambli’s friend Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has treasured 16 coins.

Having heard such wonderful stories, your truly had imagined this ground to be like other training grounds, having nets and different types of pitches, where young trainees prepare to realize their dream. However, what was seen there was something out of the world, something extra-ordinary and something truly sensational.

The ground is a big ground which can stage two cricket matches at a time. However, on that ordinarily hot Sunday, the Shivaji park was a stage for not one, not two but over a hundred matches. All that was needed was the 22 yards and a little more. There were bowlers taking run-ups from different directions and fielders waiting for the right cricket ball to come their way. Over a thousand kids and men, enjoy their tennis ball bet matches, while elsewhere there are other groups training with the leather ball. No one seems to have any worries of being hit by the batsman of another match who is batting behind the fielder. At one end there was a girl’s team having a fielding practice. There were teams of different sizes, different ages and playing with different equipment, different genders and with different objectives but the one thing common in all was the passion and love for the game. It was a sight to behold and more importantly it was a ‘divine’ experience.

The ‘experience’ that makes you feel that you are now at the very Shivaji Park where their ‘God’ was groomed. Yes, the very Shivaji park where Sachin Tendulkar 'the cricketer' was born.

"The adventures of Samland"- The quest for a Job.

2010-05-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

I had formally joined the NINJA group on march 31st. And the first thing I wanted to do was get off the 'Ninja' list. I just hate the title for some personal reasons.

I had two somewhat successful telephonic interview rounds. I was thrilled to make it to the third round. It was to be a Face-to-face interview in (....... ) though the job location was Mumbai.

I reached the holy place late in the night. Waiting to save me from the great Rikshaw-wallas were Sreejith and Kutti and Sinjith ( Yet another Mallu added to my friends list). I reached their and fell on the bad, completely tired, thanks to the heat and humidity known only to this place.

Fearing the heat we got into an AC Volvo to get to the office. And what do we see.... We were the only ones inside. (The ordinary buses will always be overcrowded) After about 15 mins travel some college guys got in. Man, these people were so happy and thrilled, and their faces were brimming with pride, we could actually feel some of it leaking from their faces. Guess what they even got a camera and began to pose for pics..... One of them wanted a Solo pic...... was pretty sure that was going to be his Profile pic in Orkut ( I doubt he knew if FB existed) forever. Damn We got into a Volvo.

As we were going, I was looking out of the window. And I was amazed to see many real Posh cars on road. I was not amazed to the Mercs or BMWs but was amazed to see that the people who owned these chauffeur driven cars wore lungis and had mustaches even Veerappan would be proud of. In the meantime one of these college guys removed his "posh" China mobile and put songs on air. OMG. While some songs were extraordinary, some were pathetic... and this guy was enjoying himslef Bigtime.

After the interview (which went on very well) was over , Kutti and Sreejith took me to the beach. How could they even call it a beach. People people everywhere... and not a single babe around.

Then it was dinner time. Ask a few people for a god place to dine or chill out... pat comes the reply in their thick and proud accent... "Zharavanabhavan". ( I am sure if a survey of "the cool place to chill out with anyone" was to be conducted in this place, Sharavana bhavan would beat Pizza Hut & McD by miles.)

As I was leaving for parthi the next day I was very happy that I was going away from this place never to return again. Couldnt bear the Heat, Humidity, The language, No -other language speaking People and ofcourse Billboards with only one language on them.

A few days later when I was just remembering the horrible time I had in that certain place..... I receive a call .... " Nikhil, We are from.... You have cleared the third round, You will now have the fourth round on wednesday again in.............. CHENNAI.

Damn......

Disclaimer: This article was just a satire and no racialism was intended. The food at Sharavana Bhavan was not bad. And of course there were some real good looking "Babes". Lol.

And it took a Genius, 20 yrs!!!!!!

2010-04-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

At around 6 pm on Feb 24th, 2010, the air was thick with anticipation in certain parts of the world. Classes in Chennai and elsewhere were called off and the teaching boards were replaced with LCD projectors. Professionals and employees parked their vehicles and stood by the roadside shops to follow the proceedings. Work in every office took a backseat. The six O’ Clock favourite soaps of the Tamil women were dropped of the priority lists. Hungry children had no other go but to wait as their mothers left their work just to witness history.

Hunger could wait. For, the moment for which a Sport had waited for 2961 matches, 39 years and a million attempts had arrived.

Sachin Tendulkar guided the ball to the gully and stole a single which ended what was one of the most significant waits in the history of sport. The 200 run barrier had been broken as the world began to celebrate.

A few schools had declared holidays. 85 year olds were excused for behaving like 5 year olds. Elsewhere in southern India, certain students of a Hallowed University paused their match to take a Victory lap in the Hill-View stadium. Celebrities and cricketers called him the greatest. Shane Warne cheered and rejoiced on Twitter. Hundreds of profile pictures on Facebook and Orkut displayed a humble tiny man in blue raising his hands and looking heavenwards. And Saaed Anwar paid his tribute.

Tendulkar has taken the great sport to a new peak. He showed the world with this masterpiece that age is no barrier and that class is enough and there is no need for brutal power. And that you don’t need a chance to do so. And he showed the world that he is still the best. The phenomenon had yet again played a path-making innings.

Way back in 1994, as a cherubic little boy, he changed the way an opener plays by scoring a brilliant 82 off 49 balls with just 22 scoring shots. It led to a revolution bringing to the fore attacking batsmanship later displayed by Jayasuriya, Gilly, Haydos and Sehwag.

In 1998, he removed the misconception that his dear friend Shane Warne was unplayable, by smashing the cricket balls, landed on the rough against the spin. The world then began to play Warne with far more ease and confidence.

And now yet again, the great Indian played a revolutionary innings. A double ton has now become a possibility. Gayle, Sehwag among others may now fancy their chances. But only fancy though. Oh!!!!

For, it took a genius 20 years and 442 matches to do so.