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 44^th 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 100^th 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!

There have been enough sobriquets that have been showered on Rahul Dravid, and trust me the former Indian captain deserves every bit of adulation and much more.Playing alongside demigods such as Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly must have given complex to many, but Dravid created his own niche through sheer determination.

He was a player who wrote his destiny through grit and grandeur. When I watched Dravid make his debut in the summer of 1996 at Lord’s against England, he appeared calm and seldom smiled. As he batted and batted, the opposition lay battered and rightfully so. Dravid did not go for shots right from the outset, he middled the ball and then went about grafting runs. His water-tight technique and his ice-cool water running in his veins gave a sturdy impression to the opposition and the Indian dressing room could afford to relax.

As Dravid fell for 95 in his debut innings, he not only set a precedent for the next 16 years, but also provided the solidity in batting which was lacking at the time of his debut. If one has to know the dedication with which Dravid worked, one must see him sweat it out in the nets. He will come all armed and displayed focus that bordered on the maniacal, but it also won him fans all over the orb. His dedication towards the game made him the most respected and the adulations from his opponents on his retirement is a testimony to that. Dravid was a proud man and he should be. A record that keeps him the best among equals. Even today a child dreams of becoming a Sachin Tendulkar or Virender Sehwag. The reason being they are flashy and gain instant attraction with the crowd. Dravid presented the straight bat always, and that’s why he is irreplaceable. They was, and will be only one Rahul Dravid.

It’s the end of the Dravid-ian era!

Dravid’s profile and statistics

Date of birth: January 11, 1973

Major teams: India, Karnataka, Kent

Test debut: vs England, Lord’s, 1996

ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Singapore, 1996

T20 debut: vs England, Manchester, 2011

Career:

Tests

Matches  164, Runs 13,288, Highest 270, Average 52.31, Centuries 36, Fifties 63

One-dayers

Matches 344, Runs 10,889, Highest 153, Average 39.16, Centuries 12, Fifties 83.

Twenty20 international

Match 1, Runs 31, Highest 31, Average 31.00.

Records:

• First batsman to score a century in all Test-playing nations.
• Most catches in Test cricket (210).
• Second-highest run-maker in Test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar.
• One of Wisden’s cricketers of the year in 2000.
• Won the International Cricket Council’s player of the year and Test player of the year awards in 2004.
• Most century partnerships in Test cricket (88)

It required an uninhibited, at times care-free approach to register what was a famous victory for India. Kohli pierced the gaps, kept the ball on the ground most times before he giving the word ‘onslaught’ a new meaning. To get the measure of what I am saying — dodge this —- Kohli’s final 30 deliveries read 4 1 1 1 4 1 4lb 4 4 4 . 1 4 1 1 2 . 1 1 2 6 4 4 4 4 1 1 1 4 4.

Clearly, just two dot balls. Sri Lanka had a nightmare on the field and their premier bowler Lasith Malinga was treated worse than a club bowler. A difference in approach did the trick for the Delhi lad. More often than not, Kohli has been guilty of throwing his wicket away in this series after having got a start. But not today. Kohli built a good foundation before upping the ante.

There were no half-measures and he made every bad delivery count. Kohli completely overshadowed the other centurions of the day— Tillakaratne Dilshan (160*) and Kumar Sangakkara (105). More than the runs he scored, I liked the manner in which he scored. More importantly, it is the way Kohli celebrated after hitting the century or after scorching a straight drive to give India the win.

Kohli smiled and thankfully, did not utter any profanity which is a sign that he is maturing as a player. It is crucial that one smiles after reaching any milestone in life, and Kohli thankfully did that. Many have already begun calling him a future captain. Yes, he surely looks more than just a prospect to lead the country in the coming years. One only hopes that Kohli controls his temper and ups his temper-ament. Amen!

Some interesting statistics for those who love numbers:

1. It equalled the third highest Indian run chase in ODI history, and was achieved with more than 12 overs to spare.

2. Lasith Malinga, one of the best bowlers at the death, had figures which read 1/96 off 7.4 overs.

3. Kohli shared two century stands – 115 runs off 109 balls with Gambhir and then of 120 from only 55 balls with Raina.

Ever since he set foot on the international stage in Pakistan during the winter of 1989, the world has an awesome cricketer create record after record, and have rightfully stood and applauded. Every time Sachin walked into the middle, runs were expected and he dutifully obliged. Every time Sachin walked into the middle, over a billion hearts beat for him and the Master never once belittled their hopes.

Today, Sachin, unfortunately, seems to be pursuing a mere number. A number that was drilled into his impregnable mind by none other than the media, the statisticians and endless analysis after each innings break by the men in the suit at the commentary box. To be seen as part of a rotation policy is like giving a tight slap to cherubic Sachin. After seeing Sachin get out to nobodies such as Mitchell Starc, Nuwan Kulasekhara and others, I have begun to believe that God too is a human’s creation only.

My heart bleeds everytime I see a desolate and dejected Sachin walking back after being dismissed by someone who would not have played even 10 per cent of the matches the legend has featured in his entire career.

Why the hell are we so bothered about the 100^th international century of Tendulkar? Isn’t the 99 that he hit before any less? Can anyone even remotely come close to this feat? Why are we so demanding?

How does one explain the fact that Sachin did not play a single ODI series after the World Cup win and suddenly got all excited for the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series? No player can be above the game and Sachin surely can’t choose which tournament he would play and which he won’t.

Yes, along with million others I will still follow your game till you play, but you being called God—well, let’s just say you are as human as we all are.

I was a wee bit worried when in the hot conditions in Adelaide, Dhoni walked in with a sweater. I assume that Dhoni was not at his fittest best. And that showed in his running too, but nothing really bothers when he is at the crease. With wickets falling in regular intervals, it finally boiled down to 13 runs off the last over. For me, the most important thing was the captain of the ship was still in it. And then, Dhoni unveiled the shot of the match. It was a six that was hit of the best bowler of the night — Clint McKay—-a shot that not calmed the nerves in the Indian dugout but also gave a ray of hope that India were firmly in it.

McKay bowled a delivery that was wide outside off stump and a good length which was enough for Dhoni to scorch it past the long-on boundary for a huge killer blow. The last time Gautam Gambhir scored more than 90 in an ODI innings, it was Dhoni who took the credit for giving the finishing touches. That was the World Cup final in Mumbai last year, Sunday night was no different.

What makes Dhoni such a superb finisher in ODIs is his ability to anticipate what the bowler will come up with. Dhoni is ready to burn his lungs by some swift running and his partners Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are all students of the same school.

Dhoni’s dazzling show has put the confidence back in the Indian outfit. Hopefully, it will help them go the distance in the ODI tri-series.

A series whitewash, calls for his blood from everyone has made not only the purists sad but also worried. Not long ago, Dravid led the charge with blistering centuries at the Old Blighty. A total of 194 runs at a below-par average of 24.25 is not the way Dravid would have wanted to bid adieu to the game which gave him everything. And the right-hander returned the favour in kind. Dravid gave cricket his all.

He practiced hard, ran harder and played the game the hardest. Adelaide was the same place where Dravid notched up his maiden double century against Steve Waugh’s men during the 2003-04 tour Down Under.

More than centuries being scored from his willow, it is the margins of the victories that has pleased Dravid over the years. Be it Adelaide, Headingley or Rawalpindi, Dravid has been up for the task.

In a team sport, Dravid has made many sit and notice his sheer demeanour of playing match-winning knocks one after another. He would trudge to the crease as much like a man on a mission. He would consolidate, create gaps and pierce them with aplomb. Dravid was the creator of India’s destinies on innumerable occasions. But, like any movie on screen, the end has to come. In Dravid’s case, it has proved to be a tumultous one.

During the current series against Australia —-his defence has failed him completely. A part of me still can’t believe that Dravid may not be in the Indian whites again.

It is a disbelief that has engulfed me for the past few hours and I somehow, somewhere feel that a part of me has been lost, lost forever.

It probably will be the last time we would see the Big Three  — Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman — in action in a Test match overseas as there is a sleu of home Tests coming up as the year progresses. I don’t want to get into the debate of whether youngsters should take groomed immediately to upstage Laxman or Dravid’s place in the Test side or the legends should call it quits at the end of the series, but to have watched them grace and take Indian cricket to the greatest heights can’t be taken away.

I agree with the fact the top-five of this Indian batting line-up which has accrued 48745 runs at 50.93 in Tests, but have fallen woefully short in the last two series abroad. While it has been a collective failure, the talk of Laxman or Dravid facing the axe is uncalled for. Agreed, it is high time that  Rohit Sharma stopped warming the benches and take the field, but to be showing the legends scant respect despite their ordinary run is just not on.

They still are your best bets, and one deserves more respect for having served you for over a decade-and-half. It may be the last time Laxman would (if at all he is picked in the final XI of the Adelaide Test) use his magical wand (yes, am talking about his bat) to bisect the fields to a precision that would make a surgeon proud. It could be the last time Dravid would be unleash those crisp cover drives that would have taken years of sweat and toil in the nets. Dreadfully enough, it would be the last time Sachin has a chance to script his 100th International ton in Tests in Australia.

This very thought would shatter the mood and morale of many a fan who would come to watch the greats wield their willows on Tuesday. I am not someone who advocates the theory of chopping and taking a knee-jerk reaction, but I am afraid many heads will roll at the conclusion of this series and it may bring a halt to the legends’ journey in the longest form of the game.

I don’t want to ponder about who will play, who will be omitted, who will sail this turbulence and who won’t, but there is a churning in my stomach that is slowing passing on a message which is hard to be ignored.

Along with me, there have been countless who would have patiently seen yet another dream India winning a Test series in Australia being butchered mercilessly. As India sank to yet another defeat in the Perth Test on Sunday, there was an ardent fan thousands of kilometres away who lost his battle with his life.

Yes, here is a real life story of a tea-seller in a remote place in central part of India—Nagpur. I first met Mohan Gawande during my trip to Nagpur to cover the World Cup 2011 games last year.

Passionate, proficient and a keen student of the game, Mohan’s shop was not like a normal tea-selling shop in Sitabuldi, Nagpur. With a small TV set to be abreast with what was happening in the world of cricket, Mohan read the game much like thos who write about it and rant about it sitting in the commentary box.

During one of my conversations with him, Mohan predicted that India’s batting will be thoroughly exposed if the much-hyped middle-order fail to perform. Well, one didn’t have to Albert Einstein to read that, but Mohan looked very worried. Despite coming back after my stint there, I often conversed with him, and his relatives had begun to worry about his state of health. Much like the Indian team, Mohan’s health had taken a beating. He was bed-ridden for the last 2 months as a bout of pneumonia had taken its toll.

For someone who took pride in announcing that he has watched most of India’s matches across the world in the last three decades, Mohan firmly believed that this team would make a mark in the series Down Under. During my last conversation with him just after the debacle in the Sydney Test, Mohan had mentioned, “Somehow I feel we were not up to the mark. Indian team is waging a losing battle against Australia, much similar to mine with life.”

He breathed his last on Sunday. While my heart goes out to his family, I do not know how many more Mohans across the world would have died (mentally) after seeing such a sorry show put up by this Indian team.

Today, I don’t want to mull on the reasons of India’s defeat in Australia. There is a silent prayer on my lips as I wonder whether cricket in India too will meet a fate akin to Mohan. I surely hope not.

His innings of 104 came in just 80 balls, more importantly it contained 13 hits to the fence and 3 sweetly times ones sailing past the ropes. The southpaw sizzled in what was according to the statisticians, the joint fourth-fastest century in Tests, and put Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men completely out of the contest on the very first day of the third Test at the WACA Ground in Perth on Friday.

Such was Warner’s onslaught that out of Australia’s total of 149 without loss, the left-hander was sitting pretty on 104, while his partner-in-crime Ed Cowan was unconquered on 40. One thing which would be most demoralising for India was the pace with which the Australian openers hit them and within the space of the first 17 overs, Warner had crossed the 80-run mark in his individual capacity.

Another damning statistic was the scoreline at the end of the first 20 overs. While India had managed about 50-odd for the loss of 2 wickets, their counterparts were sitting pretty at 146 sans any loss. There was intent from the Australians when they came onto bat after guzzling the Indian  innings for a paltry total of 161. Once again the shot selection was poor, the footwork missing and the same mistakes being made in the middle.

Not one batsman looked in command of the situation. The normally swift Sachin Tendulkar had to work hard for his 15, while VVS Laxman did hang in there and just when it looked like he was going to prolong his stay, he departed. The last six wickets fell for just 30 runs tells the story of India’s journey Down Under.

I wonder how many in this Indian team will maintain their own berths after the Test at Perth.

As the India-Australia Test series reaches the WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) in Perth, the threat of the scoreline going 0-3 in favour of the hosts loom large. Who is to be blamed for this royal mess? Who is to be blamed for organising unwanted series such the one against West Indies in India right before this important one? Who is to be blamed with injuries becoming more frequent for the young guns (Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron are part of the injured bench) than it should have been? Who is to be blamed if the big three (Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman) have no replacements at all in the Test side?

The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is the one to who needs to be rapped on their knuckles. Winners in any form of sport are known for having their priorities in place.

The moment former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly called it quits, there should have been a player of the likes Rohit Sharma who should have been drafted and given an extended run. The powers to be should have realised that other batting stalwarts too would be bidding adieu sooner or later. The Big Three are not getting younger by the day, and it would have made perfect sense for them to be phased out, much like a long-serving employee who was with you through thick and thin.

Trust me; it is never easy to tell a player that his time is up and legends such as Rahul Dravid or Laxman are too proud and level-headed to wait for the axe to fall on their heads. The rebuilding phase will mean that the likes of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohlis are given an extended in Tests and given the cushion of featuring in the playing XI despite failures. If one looks at India’s record since the Boxing Day Test in 2007, Dhoni’s team have just won four while going in 12 Tests out of 27 played. It is quite human to be caught with the way the Big Four have batted with panache for years now and to have overlooked at the transition, but if it has to happen, it is NOW. Not to forget, the seniors do need to be treated by not just the men who do the commentary, but those who watch and those who chose the teams. We all do know that a repeat of the fateful tour of England looms large, but we can’t conveniently turn a blind eye to the past and look to conquer the future.