Master blaster retires unhurt, and with dignity
What connects millions of people to godIJ Just one word: Faith. Faith made Sachin Tendulkar the ‘god of cricket', not only in India but among cricket-loving audiences across the globe. Tendulkar may have occasionally failed to score on the pitch, but he never lost the trust of those who had invested their heart and soul in him. Gods also fail, or at least they seem to, and that is why we read the rants of Bhakti poets who have in times of desperation berated the deity they have surrendered to. But such complaints are derived from love and affection, not out of spite or erosion of faith. Tendulkar too has had his share of brickbats from his devotees, and those have come in great measure especially in the last few years when he repeatedly failed to score big, and seemed shockingly vulnerable to bowling that he had in his heyday dispatched with contempt to the boundary.
Those who wanted him to quit the game which he has served with exceptional honour for more than two decades, did not do so because they had disrespect for Tendulkar. They did that because they held him in deep regard and did not want him to slip into a zone that would negate his sterling — and in many ways unmatched — record. No one puts question marks against their gods. The master blaster's announcement on Thursday that he would retire after playing his 200th Test next month before his home crowd was, therefore, greeted with a mix of respect and dismay. Respect, because he timed the announcement just perfectly and with the grace and dignity that has been Tendulkar's hallmark. And dismay, because the void that he leaves behind in Indian (and world) cricket can never be filled. It's not a cliché.
There are three factors that made Tendulkar not only a sports icon but also a model figure deserving emulation. First, the many records that he set and broke as a batsman; second, his perfect personal conduct off the field; and third, the power of 24x7 television. With 51 centuries and a total of 15,837 runs in 198 Tests, and 49 hundreds and 18,426 runs in 463 one-day internationals, he remains unmatched for his colossal display of prowess. Great as this is, what really made him a darling of the masses is his impeccable behaviour off the field. Unlike some of his peers in the country and outside, he was never embroiled in controversies and did not punch colleagues or others. Nor was he caught in a state of inebriation at late-night parties where, in the name of letting their hair down, sportspersons often conduct themselves disgracefully.
Despite all the international adulation that could have easily led him astray, he remained rooted to the ground, his family and cricket. For a people desperate to latch on to a model they could genuinely respect — Tendulkar was god-send. The cricket legend's connect with the masses was furthered by the enormous impact of television, which brought the man and his charming manners into the living rooms of millions of homes. The social campaigns he was involved in and the many products he endorsed made him into a larger-than-life person. His magnetism cut across caste, community and religious lines. As he bids adieu to the game, we hope that he remains connected with the sport in some way. Also, he can give more attention to his role as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Whatever he does, one thing is for sure: Sachin Tendulkar will bring to it the same dedication and honesty that he played cricket with.