Love for Sachin knows no Borders
He's God for the Indians.
He's the only one who bats like him for Sir Donald Bradman.
He's the one who gives nightmares for Shane Warne.
He's the most prized wicket for Wasim Akram.
He's the best batsman he's ever bowled to for Allan Donald.
He's Paa Ji for the Indian cricket team.
And he's the best batsman to have ever played the game for me and for the entire world.
It really doesn't matter whether one is from India or Pakistan or Timbuktu - if you have watched Sachin Tendulkar bat, you are a fan!
And again, it doesn't matter whether you are from India or Pakistan or any other cricket playing country - you got to know that this World Cup is about Sachin Tendulkar.
Love for Sachin the batsman knows no borders and has no boundaries!
He possibly holds every single batting record there is in ODI cricket and Test cricket. He has done it all in his illustrious career. The only thing missing is a World Cup victory.
And how badly he wants it.
And how badly his fans want to see him get it.
Just before the World Cup 2011 started, Sachin promised that he will be at his aggressive best at the top of the order.
Sure Sachin is not the same aggressive batsman he was 10 years ago but he is still in a class of his own. His game has evolved with time, but one can't score a double hundred in an ODI game without being aggressive, and Sachin did that just a year ago.
So why the criticism still comes his way regarding the lack of aggression is still beyond me.
Criticism or no criticism, Sachin showed the world that he meant what he promised. He showed the world that he is going to deliver. He showed the world that they can keep dreaming about a World Cup victory for Sachin and his team.
His innings against Bangladesh was cut short due to a misunderstanding in the middle, but against England he made sure that no such mistakes are made.
Sachin was definitely at his aggressive best, smashing all bowlers to all parts of the ground.
He made Graeme Swann, whom the English regard as the best spinner in the world, look like Carl Hooper!
He destroyed Swann and the rest of England's bowling attack to notch up his 5th century in ODI World Cups.
Sachin Tendulkar's World Cup campaign has begun and he is on his way to achieve the one elusive prize that is not there on his shelf - The ICC World Cup Winner's Medal!
Yes its a team game, yes its about India and not one man, and all that bull... but for me, this World Cup is about Sachin, irrespective of what MS Dhoni says.
The Dhonis, Yuvrajs, Gambhirs, Kohlis, Rainas et al will have many more cracks at the World Cup - for Sachin, this is the last one and they need to do it for him more than for the 1.2 billion people.
Sachin has given so much to Indian cricket, and now its time for Indian cricket to give him what he so dearly wants.
Can you imagine what it would be like to see Sachin lead India to victory on his home ground at the Wankhede Stadium in the final of the 2011 World Cup?
It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it!
Great post man...Sachin is truely a genious...The way he plays will definitely inspire any spectator. The best factor that makes him a real hero is his simplicity.He is still playing with the same enthusiasm he had in the first match 20 years back.Gr8...I recently happened to read an article titled cooling cricketers for the hot Indian weather. It was a well written article. The article can be followed at http://www.sinapseblog.com/2011/02/cooling-cricketers-for-hot-indian.html
I was extremely happy when Sachin got to his 200. Even though he broke Saeed Anwar's record, but there is no one who deserved it more.
When Pak is playing India, that is the first back I want to see, but otherwise, I always enjoy his batting. Indians have the tendency of over blowing mediocre players, but Sachin truly deserves the adulation he has received over the years.