END OF AN ERA

To me & millions of Indians, Sachin Tendulkar is a hero,an inspiration, an idol,superman to be precise.He has given the people of India a hero to look upon.No matter how grave the situation is in the country,when Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar bats the nation watches.We have been awestruck time & again by the little master.It might rarely happen elsewhere that when Sachin bats the nation comes to a standstill.The joy & smile he brings on the faces of people even after 24 years is overwhelming.His humility,modesty & the way he has handled the adulation for so long is commendable.Little Master,Master Blaster,Little Champion or Tendlya what ever one might call him to us Indians he remains our hero,our superman.The feats that Sachin has achieved over the due course of his career are legendary & outstanding.He has seen & done it all.Yes we did have heroes & idols like Lata Mangeshkar,Amitabh Bachchan,Sunil Gavaskar,Bhagat Singh,Sardar Vallabhai Patel,Mahatma Gandhi,Sarojini Naidu,Kapil Dev besides others but with Sachin Tendulkar people could see an enigma in the making.The people of India finally had a champion who would tall stand(even though he was short in stature)to the mightiest of fast bowlers,immense pressure,scrutiny by media,criticism from various sections.Sachin captured the imagination of the public who were looking for a hero,an inspiration and he did that.It is difficult to assess the kind of pressure he had to cope up with, when people were expecting a century from him everytime he went out to bat.Every time Sachin went out to bat,devotees expected their "God" to score a century & Tendulkar didn't disappoint them to an extent.He carried the burden of the team solely on his shoulder for over two decades,never once complained about lack of team talent,assistance or anything else.He is like an old warrior who refuses to give up,who refuses to budge down,refuses to slow down.His will to play & win matches for the team is jubiliant.He also took up captaincy when he was asked to do so,not once but twice.When in swansong people shower their love & praises on the Little Champion & when he doesn't perform well the same people criticise him  but he never complained.Playing for India was all he wanted as a child.A dream fulfilled as the Little Master went on to have one of the most successful cricketing careers in the game of cricket.Besides his achivements, his modesty & humility are known across the globe.The likes of Roger Federer,Michael Schumacher,Usian Bolt,Don Bradman,Sushil Kumar,Andy Murray,Boris Becker,Martina Navratilova,Amitabh Bachchan are not only fans of his cricketing talent but also the way in which he handles public pressure,scrutiny,criticism,expectation of a billion people.His attitude of playing the game in the fair way,respecting the opposition team & players most importantly his love & passion for the game is endearing.When the team fails or the nation fails,Sachin quitely did his job,he always let his bat do the talking.He always brought cheers & joy across when ever he came out to bat.If the Americans had Michael Jordan,F1 had Schumi,Football had Pele & Maradonna,Boxing had Muhammad Ali,Baseball had Babe Ruth ,Tennis had John Mcenroe,the cricketing world was priveleged to have "Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar".His courage,his heroics with the bat & ball,his discipline,his focus,dedication & respect for the game he loved & fans that adored him is bravado.His child like enthusiasm & approach for the game is still talked about.He has always played throughout injuries,which defines his gritty character.His ability to dominate,be in control of his innings,shape up the course of the match is oustanding.Yes he is not perfect he isn't the same dominant cricketer that he was before but it is a fact that he gave all that he could for the nation.He has his share of criticism & rightly so no one is perfect,not even Tendulkar but the thing is we are happy to see Tendulkar happy & doing well.Yes one could also argue with the fact that he wasn't a match winner,got out under crucial circumstances or didn't sail through the victoey for India.One of the reasons being lack of support for Sachin at the other end,he was always the "Last Man Standing".It is right to fault him that when the heat was really on he lost his wicket.Yes he isn't that big of a match winner or dominates the game the way Brian Lara,Ricky Ponting,Jacques Kalllis & others did  .But the thing is Sachin was always under pressure to perform & rightly so because he was Sachin Tendulkar.That is how big his contribution has been to game of cricket & the team.He is the real "Ratna" or "Gem" of the nation.It is a treat to watch Sachin bat & even better is when he scores a hundred & looks upto the heavens and waves his bat in the memory of his father,followed by God & his fans.It is funny to see that even though Sachin doesn't bat or bowls people still chant his name.

He is childhood hero,he still is one & would remain one throughout my life.I like to refer him as "The Master".His contribution to Indian Cricket has been astounding.The man holds a horrendous record of 69 International Cricketing Records..haha..difficult to name all of them.He has bought pride & glory for the country.The madness with which he is worshipped is incredible.Yes the Master Blaster is retiring but he is retiring after giving the nation & public a heroic service for 24 glorious years.He is not bigger than the sport but he is what that completes the sport.People have went on to quote that,Cricket is my religion & Tendulkar is my God.It is difficult to measure Sachin's greatness.He has the ability to lift the nation from any crisis or depression.He is a living legend,having carried the hopes of the nation of a billion people is no joke.A very fine batsman & an even gentle & nice human being.Amidst the love he gets,the fame,money & support he has remanined the same Tendlya we saw bat when he scored his first International Century against England @ Old Trafford,1990.A simple,shy,reserved character whose passion for the game he loved is commendable.Sunil Gavaskar summed it up perfectly,he said,"India's fortune will depend on many runs the Little Master score".As the Master bids adieu ,farewell to the game of cricket for the final time i can only say thank you for the memories Sachin,#respect.The SRT straight drive is surely going to be missed.I can go on & on & on about the Master,he is perhaps one of the greatest cricketers & athletes ever to have ever played the game of cricket.The chants of Saaaacchiiinnn......Saaaaccchhiinnn are surely going to be missed.Its is definately end of an era,end of an illustrious hall of fame career,perhaps one of the greatest ever in any sport.#ThankyouSachin for the memories,you are a hero,or as MS Dhoni summed it up the true "Mr.India".Jai Hind

My Sachin Moments

As the glittering hall of fame career of Sachin Tendulkar comes to an end it is time to rewind on his most famous memories that he has bestowed upon us.Here is a list of my most memorable Sachin moments:

1.Sandstorm Innings,Sharjah,1998

The Master Blaster  was at his imperial best in the two innings he played against the mighty Aussies in Sharjah. Little Master scored two back to back hundreds with scores of 143 in the semi final & 134 in the final to win it for India.It is unarguably one of the finest dsiplay of dominant batting one could witness.The memory stays intact with all of his fans & the nation.The sixes that he hit of Moody,Kasprowicz,Warne & Fleming were amazing.Both innings played under immense pressure as India had to chase a total in excess of 270 both the times.Sachin was on a different zone during this period,he dominated the game of cricket in the 1990's like no cricketer  did.

2.Demolishing Pakistani Attack.World Cup,2003

The six that Sachin hit of Shoaib Akhtar's ball in the group match, in the 2003 World Cup remains one of the most memorable sight for a cricket fan.He cut him hard over backward point,the ball travelled a long distance & went for a huge six.The crowd at Centurion Park erupted in a frenzy.Fans in the stadium went mad.Sachin demolished the likes of Wasim Akram,Waqar Younis,Abdur Razzaq,Shahid Afridi & particularly Shoaib Akhtar as India beat Pakistan in the match.

3.Six of Andrew Caddick,World Cup,2003

India Vs England it was in the group match,Sachin was batting & Andrew Caddick was bowling.Caddick bowled a bouncer & Sachin pulled him for a wild six.Yes the bowl sailed out of the stadium.It was a massive massive six.Tony Greig's commentary on that particular shot made it even more memorable.

4.Rivalry vs Warne

Two of the greatest cricketers ever, went head to head several times in the prime of their careers.It was a joy to watch Sachin bat against the Wizard of Spin,Shane Warne.Tendulkar dominated Warne like no other batsman did,eventually always got the better of Warne.His best shots against Warne were the inside out ,hitting sixes & fours right over Warne's head,dancing down the track & hitting him for boundaries.It was the most exciting battle in cricket.Sachin gave us plenty of memorable moments during his duel with Warne.

5.29th,30th,34th,35th&50th Test Tons

I made a point to point out these particular hundreds of Sachin for the simple reason:

29th Test Ton against West Indies-equalled Sir Don Bradman's record of 29 test tons

30th test ton against England at Leeds broke the Don's record

34th test ton against Bangladesh, equalled the previous world record of 34 test hundreds by Sunil Gavaskar

35th test ton against Sri Lanka at New Delhi,The Master finally broke Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 test tons 

50th Test ton-Perhaps the most memorable hundred for Sachin & his fans.To score 50 test hundreds is a gigantic feat.None could dream,achieve or think that it was even humanly possible to scale 50 test hundreds.These tons have been memorable not just to me but millions of his fans.

6.Winning the World Cup,2011

This was perhaps the last chance the Master had to cherish his unfulfilled dream of winning the most prized possession in cricket,every cricketers dream,to win the cricket World Cup.The Master after playing for almost two decades & losing in the 2003 World Cup Final had his moment under the sun.India finally won the cricket world cup after 1983.Sachin batted beautifully throughout the tournament,he was the second highest run getter in the tournament.A very emotional moment for the master as well as his fans.

7.103* vs England @ Chennai,2008

One of his best innings in test match cricket.The match was played in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks that took place in Mumbai.The Indian team was to chase 387 on the last day.Sehwag,Yuvraj & Tendlya did it for Team India.For those who criticise that Sachin didn't perform under pressure,this was The Master's answer to his critics.Indian won the nail biting contest in a thrilling manner,Tendulkar score a magnificent hundred.One of his best innings & surely a memorable moment for his fans.Tendulkar scoring a hundred & India winning.

8.200* vs South Africa @ Gwalior,2010

I will quote Ravi Shastri's commentary here,"First man to score 200 & he is the Superman from India".It was one of the most defining moments for Sachin as a cricketer as no cricketer had ever scored 200 in an ODI.Sachin scoring the 200 made us even more proud for our hero.It was an amazing & memorable moment for Sachin fans.

9.Heroics in T20 Cricket

The Master Blaster people knew was back & back with a bang.Few could belive Sachin could play dominating cricket yet again.The fours & sixes he hit was a treat for the fans.Vintage Sachin in action yet again thrashed bowling attacks in the IPL.He was  the highest run getter in IPL  for a brief period & also won the IPL,Champions League & did the unbelievable, scoring a ton in T20 cricket.It was fabulous watching Master bat the way he used to bat in the prime of his career.

10.Retirement from International Cricket

Carrying the hopes of a billion people for nearly 24 years,bringing smile & joy on the faces of countless people,Sachin Tendulkar quitting from International Cricket after his last test against the West Indies is a sad day for cricket.But for his biggest fans "Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar" would always remain their hero,idol,inspiration.Hail the God of Cricket #ThankYouSachin for the memories you have given us over the years.

GREATEST COMMENTATORS OF THE GAME OF CRICKET:

Cricket is a game watched by millions around the globe.Fans either watch it live in the stadium or watch it live on the television.But what brings alive the game of cricket on television is the cricket commentary,commentated by the greats of game & other individuals.Being an ardent fan myself & following the game of cricket for long now,i feel cricket without commentary on tv would be dull & unentertaining.The commentators by their unique style speak,discuss,debate,elaborate & even enlighten the audiences & fans with their expertise,voice,sense of humour & analysis.Their contribution is of supreme significance.So here is my list of the  10 greatest  cricket commentators of all time:

1.Bill Lawry

Former Australia batsman & captain is by far the most entertaining cricket commentator i have ever listened to.I still remember waking up at 5 in the morning because the Australian matches were broadcasted early in the morning in India,just to listen pre match analysis by Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud,it was a lesson in cricket for me.I had pay to listen to Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud when they spoke,such was their greatness when they spoke.His knowledge of the game,his reactions,his impromptu response to crazy match situations & his fairness towards the game of cricket makes him my most favourite cricket commentator of all time.

2.Richie Benaud

Many would rate Richie Benaud as the finest cricket commentators of all time.His immense knowledge of the game of cricket stands out.Richie Benaud,himself being a successful member of the Australian Cricket Team,is also the most respected & famous cricket commentators around.His robotic voice was legendary to say the least,his observation of every player,every team,every situation,they way he described it,gave his opinion,it was an absolute honour to listen to Richie Benaud.

3.Harsha Bhogle

He is a cricket fan's delight when to comes to listening quality,unbiased,witty yet incredible commentary.Harsha Bhogle is a rarity.His knowledge of the game considering the fact that he never played professional cricket is outstanding.His opinion & thoughts on the game of cricket is amazing.The thing with Harsha Bhogle is one can never get bored of him,the more he speaks the more do people want to listen to him.He has a real connect with the television audience.He is time & again voted as  the favourite commentator by the fans.

4.Ravi Shastri

One of the most popular & successful cricket commentators in recent times, Ravi Shastri or "Shaz" as people may refer him in the commentary world is excellent when he speaks in his trademark fashion.His style,the way he speaks it is incredible.He is witty ,has an amazing sense of humour & speaks fiercely.Himself being an accomplished all round cricketer,Shastri is a real treat for the tv audience.He isn't afraid & speaks his mind.

5.Tony Greig

Along with Richie Benaud & Bill Lawry if there has been a crickter who has been covering the game of cricket for so long,then it has to be Tony Greig.Unfortunately he succumbed to cancer earlier this year of cancer & died but he had a distinguishing career as a cricket commentator.His voice was instantly recognisable with the fans,especially when the Little Master,"Sachin Tendulkar"used to come out to bat.His cricketing skills were terrific coupled with his knowledge of the game & outstanding voice & biased free opinion contributed his success as a  great cricket commentator.

6.Ian Chappel

He can be rightly named as the"Guru" of cricket.A ferocious captain of the Australian Cricket team & a fine batsman,Ian Chappel is also one of the most recognisable cricket commentators in modern day.His knowledge of the game of cricket is incredible,it is like an ocean,deep.He is a cricket expert in real sense.Being a student of the game of cricket i can proudly say the youngsters have & can learn a lot from him.His observation,analytical abilities & description of the game is phenomenal.Like Shastri,Ian Chappel too is fierce & speaks his mind out.

7.Sunil Gavaskar

One of the all time cricketing greats,Sunil Gavaskar has been a veteran of cricket commentating since two decades now.Gavaskar,like Ian Chappel is a student of the game,his obersvations,analysis & opinion on the game of cricket have been terrific.I always made a point listeining to cricketing pundits like Sunil Gavaskar,Richie Benaud,Ian Chappel & Ravi Shastri especially for their immense knowledge of the game of cricket.Masterclass,one could say. Gavaskar, though has been accused a bit of being biased towards the BCCI nonetheleast he is one fine cricketing brain to listen to.

8.Navjot Singh Sidhu

If there is anyone & i mean it any one with such a great sense of humour,proverbs,impeccable hold of grammar & vocabulary in English at same time in Hindi & is incredibly entertaining to listen to it has to be Sherry Paaji.It is always a joy to listen to Sidhu.The way he describes the match, ball by ball,situation by his proverbs,thoughts & his antics they are a thorough treat for the tv audience.Loved by all,Sidhu's hold on language & his understanding of the game is incredible.What is even better is his analysis & the way he describes it.One can die with laughter when Sidhu holds the mike at the same time one can also learn alot about the game & life when Navjot Singh Sidhu speaks,pure class.

9.Danny Morrison

One of the  most entertaining commentators in recent times,Danny Morrison is insanely funny yet charismatic.His witty nature instantly connects with the audience & he can make people laugh anytime as per his will with his antics..one could actually say lol that was insanely funny Danny :D

10.Nasser Hussain

A thorough gentleman on and of the cricket pitch,Nasser Hussain has gained popularity as a successful cricket commentator.The former England Captain has a simple approach,his simple yet fluent style suits him well & his anaylsis & opinion of the game are outstanding.He speaks like a thorough gentleman,someone one would like to listen to.Speaks his mind,is unbiased & fair in his judgement.Nassau pinpoints terrific detail about the game which leads fair discussions & debates.