Tuesday, March 21, 2006

 

A chance to redeem himself


Almost a year ago, I wrote a post about Tendulkar's opportunity to do what Gavaskar couldn't complete -- winning an test within inches from defeat. Tendulkar couldn't deliver then, neither could the rest of the Indian team. The current test in Mumbai offers him a fresh chance: to redeem himself in front of his home crowd that was thoroughly dissatisfied with him. I, for one, do not believe he got boo-ed in Mumbai like the media says and would rather go with a more credible source, who was actually in the stands and wrote this. Indian cricket followers aren't that naive; they just do not diss the man. Granted, they might have been waiting for so long for him to perform in front of them and when the time did come, and the man tottered around for half hour scoring one run and getting out, they have every reason to throw a fit. But still he's their lad, somebody they've seen him perform for more than half of his life span.

So here's a chance to shut his detractors up. He doesn't have to make a century or score the winning runs. But a fair contribution and that's all the fans ask for. Now, what is fair contribution? We'll see about that tomorrow.

Comments:
This is not to show Sachin in a poor light, but he's so far never won a TEST match on his own. I don't agree with your view that "rest of the team couldn't either". Dravid has on INNUMERABLE occasions either saved India or his knocks have been instrumental in paving the way for an Indian win! Remember his efforts in Adelaide, or his epic partnership with Laxman in the Kolkata test V/s Aussies? Can ANYONE name ONE such knock of Sachin (in tests I mean!)On the other hand remember his "Great knock of 136 in Chennai '98 v/s Pakis? He got out when only 17 runs were needed to win the test, that too attempting a "Heroic" 3rd sucessive booundary against Saqlain! Now there can be many arguements as to why "others" couldn't contribute the paltry 17 runs. But then, can you ever imagine Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting or Inzy getting out in similar circumstances? Lets accept that Sachin is the greatest batsman, but only esthetically and not practically. If I ever sit down to make the best ever Indian test XI, I don't think Sachin will find a mention in it. ODIs is a different proposition altogether!
 
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