2003. In two days' time I had my tenth Social Science exam. I was easily among the toppers in the 150 odd batch of students in the subject and was expected to be in the 90s atleast. But there was this minor thing on March 1st, the epic India v Pakistan match at the World Cup. A stiff target of 270 odd. My dad who had actually taken off a week or two I think to coincide with my study holidays didn't even have the heart to stop me! Both us being cricketers, atleast at a local club level, enjoyed THAT scintillating six over point and we both knew that that signalled an end of day's study for me! I, unsurprisingly to me, ended up with an 85 but Tendulkar got the 97 for me ;).
Same year. Same WC. March 23rd 2003. The final. Tenth board exams over. Time out! Everyone of my cousins had gathered at my house for the day. The pasting we got all over Johannesberg not withstanding, we still wanted to see India fight. We geared up for the chase and the first over began. That not-so-convincing pull for four. Hope. Next ball the caught and bowled. Shattered!
1998. Midnight. Damn power cuts. Sharjah. Missed the 143 during the sand storms. Sat down the next day for some glorious batting on his 25th birthday! The cup was ours. Period.
1999. Day 2. At chepauk for the India v Pakistan test. 3 balls played. Caught at point trying to play Saqlain with the spin. Disappointed. Missed the second innings marathon 136. The tears. The shame.
2001. Again at chepauk. Day 3. India vs Australia. Perfect day. The Dravid six of Gillespie over long off over the MCC stand right after tea and the Tendulkar six of Miller over D stand vividly in my memory!
Finally 2013. February. Last test at Chennai. At chepauk. Went there only for three hours of play. The perfect three hours. I enter and soon we were two down. Cometh the man. Three balls - three exquisite fours. Worth every second I spent getting fried in the chennai sun. The next day couldn't go. He couldn't make the 100 as well.
Now though I have loads and loads to write and study for my Montessori diploma, I take these few minutes to remember that one man who I grew up watching. I may not get to bid him farewell even though am in Mumbai (thanks to everyone who gets those complementary tickets), but here's to that one wonderful ray of hope even in the deepest of darkness through twenty odd years of Indian cricket. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
P.S: This blog was inspired by a Sidin Vadukut's tweet!
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