The Ashes
Sachin Tendulkar, man of the century
Cricket, the game, will never remain the same. A new barrier has been conquered, a new record has been broken — that of 100 international centuries as Sachin Tendulkar hit the much-awaited ton against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup in Mirpur on Friday. While the 100th hundred from Sachin’s willow was long overdue, it was time we celebrate the moment and the man more than the time it has taken for him to have reached there.
To hit a single international hundred takes hours of toil, patience, panache and perseverance, and to have done it repeatedly for 100 times in a career span of over 23 years is an achievement which will not be matched in the near future. Not just players, generations have come and gone, but Sachin’s willow has relentlessly produced runs and how.
As he nudged for a single in the 44th over of the first innings on Friday, the most precious pair of Indian hands rose as the master removed his helmet even as the crowd that had witnessed history being made applauded. It was a sigh of relief more than joy, it was a sign of belief that he belonged to the league even now.
The last 12 months have been tough for a man whose 100th international hundred was discussed more by those who may never have played the game (the media) and those who stand no chance to even stand next to the legend (please read Arun Lal, Nikhil Chopra, Ravi Shastri, Atul Wassan and the other jokers who have made television channels as their second home)!
It is extremely important for any cricket fan to understand the toil that Sachin goes through day in and day out. To have channelise all his efforts in order to produce magical knocks one after another is a stuff only gifted ones can do and Sachin surely has entertained us all.
In my book, cricket’s clock has been reset. The dials have been oiled yet again, and the keys would have to be retuned. It is a moment not many would have envisaged years ago, and many would not have bothered even dreaming.
It is a moment most would not have talked about. But not anymore. Yes, 100 international hundreds—–Oh my god! What an achievement.
Sachin may take a while to realise what he has done to the very word —EXCELLENCE. He has changed the way we would look at excellence in the future. He has raised the bar for all those who want to worship the game and make a mark in it. Sachin, surely is, the man of the century!
