Sachin- a God forever..

On a day when the master reached the mercurial figure of 200, the first in 2961 ODIs, some sort of manic celebrations were pretty much expected. Not that I have not seen it before. I saw it after the "Sandstorm" innings, the 98 in Centurion in 2003 WC, the CB Series 1st final century (which as I read today, was his 1st century in a winning chase after 2001!!!) and many many more.. So as the famous hands went up in the air (again that is another change- earlier the bat was raised to the stadium, now he generally raises both arms!!!), I was very much prepared for the deafening noise. The celebrations will go into the night, I am sure ;-) They have been going all evening, with the "Sachin Puja" just finished now.

For long, it has hurt so many people in this country that India had the ignominy of facing the brunt of Saeed Anwar's 194, and no doubt each one of us has wished that some day this stain, if I may call it, finally leaves us. It did actually, about an year ago, when a little known Charles Coventry put his name at the top of the list by staying unbeaten at that same 194. It was an innings that I saw, and had it not been for an extreme shortage of strike in the final overs, he would certainly have touched the 200 mark. Anyways, there are no places for ifs and buts in cricket. Still, I don't blame the guys who didn't know about this record, since the major reason we all know of the "194" is, because India was on the receiving side..

Anyways, whether aware or not, Pakistan or Zimbabwe, Anwar or Coventry, finally the record is ours. And certainly it's a time to rejoice. Since evening, most Gtalk status messages, Facebook updates and almost everything hails Sachin as God. But were not those 92 centuries the deeds of this God.. Wasn't that Chennai special an divine act? The fact is Sachin has always been at that point, but people fail to acknowledge that. People talk about statistics and how Sachin doesn't win matches, but today it again came down to that one figure of 200. There can be comparisons to Ponting or Lara, but just by his sheer longevity and consistency, Sachin would stand miles ahead. Ponting, his closest contemporary, has had an amazing 3-4 years, no doubt. But he has faded in the last 2 years. He may rise again, but the competition has certainly died out.

Even more mocking is the fact that many of these followers would start cursing Sachin as soon as he starts failing. What kind of a faith will that be on your God? How many did actually celebrate the innings of 175, albeit in a losing cause, but in my opinion, an innings of much more substance, in much tougher conditions and certainly among the best he has played. The 200 today was special, but even with the 140 strike rate, it wasn't a destructive innings, a very sedate and chanceless one, and the ones that we can so easily associate Sachin with nowadays.

As a child, I have known cricket since I have known the master. The 1996 World Cup was truly Sachin's event, and since that day he has been a role model for almost everything in life. He hardly gets into any controversy, and is among the most humble guys playing today, and his commitment to the country goes without question. There was a time when he burdened the expectations of this country on his shoulders alone. Probably that time has passed now, and so many would have wished that we could see the Sachin of old, in this era. I have idolized this man since those days, and for me, and many like me, Sachin has been a God since that time.

This day belongs to us, who have loved this man through all the highs and lows. It belongs to the true Sachin fan, to whom he has always been a God.