As i write this post, 2 countries which have been at war for over 64 years arebusy preparing in advance for the ultimate showdown between the greatest cricketing battle in the continent. A match between India and pakistan, that too in the World Cup. A match that has IT companies in India’s silicon city hurriedly declaring half day work for wednesday while pubs and restaurants anticipate a growing crowd and enormous quantities of beer flowing akin to a premier league football match, in the middle of the week! Even across the border, large screen displays are being put up to entertain the mass public gatherings expected for the showdown on wednesday. But silently unknown to many lurks an unknown worry; something which Indians would relegate to the back of their minds for now, but would find inevitable to accept shud India’s campaign this World Cup end with a victory – the lack of a further challenge to prolong the career of India’s most famous son- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Its been 23 years now that sachin has been the mainstay of the Indian economy apart from just the batting as everyone knows him better for. Spiraling advertising rates and bringing workaholics down to their knees whenever hes at the crease are just a couple of indications of the power he wields among the Indian population. His penchant for records has seen him overtake every milestone the game could throw at him, instead choosing to set his own benchmarks seemingly unattainable by any common man. No wonder he is called god. But what does God do after he achieves everything? In the early world creation stories, God is known to have worked hard for 6 days and then rested on the 7th, after having achieved everything. God in religion can relax, but will a country of one billion accept their new age God to relax? God didnt find inspiration beyond creation of the world. will the lack of an adventurous appeal in the game, once Sachin attains the World cup signal an end to the craving and fire seen so often in him these days? Will he be reduced to a low intensity shadow of his current self as he wallows in the company of mortals not even remotely close to half his stature like Yusuf pathan and MS Dhoni? Will Sachin’s end possibly signify a 1990s west Indies type or the most recent australian type downslide in cricket enthusiasm in the country? Cricket for all one knows could meet with the same fate that hockey did a few decaded back once Dhyan Chand retired. Only time will tell but one fact of life will guarantee one particular incident which none of us would like to accept. A tiger hunts from dawn to duck awaiting his prey. Once captured, he chooses to sleep, not finding inspiration to do anything else. Tendulkar whether he is a god or a mortal will also follow the same fate. His current passion for the game will die a natural death once he attains the full and final goal in his life-THE WORLD CUP. For some reason this world Cup could be the last stage of the focus that we see in the eyes of a 37 year old man. Best of Luck India. Best of luck SRT. God Bless India
