The Real Don

Last week the cricketing world came to a standstill, as the most prolific batsmen of the modern era bid adieu to the game, his passion for over a quarter century.
It was a tearful speech. The nation was tearful. A handful of naysayers were still unhappy and questioned the dilly in the event. Some even said that he should've quit an year or two ago
To me, he has been a true hero. An iconic role model epitomising dedication, sincerity, humility and devotion to his work.
A man, with so much of wealth & popularity right from the teenages and yet approaching the game with a fresh mind everytime for the last quarter century.
He stood tall among the debris of various scandals that hit the game
He was the sole reason why millions wanted their children to seriously consider Cricket as a career
Incidentally, it was due to him only that I became obsessed with cricket to maniacal levels
I cried bitterly when his 136 was not enough and we lost by 12 runs . Not because he could have done more, but because our tail was incompetent to complement the great man.
I was awestruck when he returned a day after the funeral of his dad, his role model.
I was furious when Mike Denness punished him for no fault of his, when Mike Procter didn't trust his words during monkygate, when Chappell questioned his commitment, when the naysayers hunted for his head and didn't henconsider the fact that HE deserved to leave on his terms.... be did everything for Indian cricket..Undoubtedly, Pujara, Kohli, Dhoni, wouldn't have picked up the willow had he not been an inspiration !!
He is the heart of Indian cricket. 1983. 1985,2007 may not havehis contribution, Kapil,Sunil gavaskar might be bigger but he is the one who will be worshipped forever.....
Miss You Sachin!!#ThankYouSachin

Hyperbole

We are a nation of hyperboles.. we react strongly to everything... we were asking the greatest cricketer ever to call it quits just because he couldn't score 100th 100.. now that he scored 99 tons didn't matter to us... Now that he has scored many say go for more against minnows... Bangladesh showed that they are no pushovers by defeating us.. still we are angry that we lost... When India as minnows can show fight and turn a giant killer by defeating WI 29 yrs ago, why don't we think that some other minnow can't defeat us.. thats the glorious uncertainty of cricket... Some ppl blame Sachin again for this loss saying his slow batting cost us the match..does it mean that our bowlers will defend totals above 300 only? what sort of bowlers are they then? we can't cover up our failure by just blaming one person.. he will continue to do his duty... We hailed MS dDoni when he won world cup.. he could never be wrong.. just two white washes abroad and is he still a man with midas touch.... does it mean he should go? if he goes then who's next viral kohli? are we sure he's mature enough to lead... Yes we win the world cup but we can't just keep winning.. what matters most is the fight we put up.. we did not show any fight in the 2 white washes and we have every right to be angry about it.. but the fact is this too shall pass.. We came from the darkest hours of Mohd. Azharuddin captaincy where he and nayan mongia took wickets while batting..we saw azhar deliberately getting out by giving catch practices...Azhar's team lost just about every other match in a dubious manner we still cheered.. Then came Ganguly who gave us some fighting spirit and backed the right youngsters.. We then saw the forgettable dravid captaincy where we were knocked out by Banglas in Wc first round... We bounced back the very next year with a WC win under dhoni.. so what willa few losses do to us.. we will win as long as there is talent..And by God there is talent in India.. Jai Hind...