After twirling and swirling moments with two consecutive cyclonic waves, people of the State now are caught in the spell of ‘Sachin wave’. The ‘reverential wave’ ushers in a unidirectional flow of fans, eastwards and then westwards, to watch the legendary cricket icon play his career’s last test matches before signing off forever.
In bands, teams and groups, people from Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, even remote districts of Jharkhand, especially those bordering West Bengal are congregating at Eden Gardens from November 6 to 10 for the much awaited penultimate test match of the Master Blaster. Those unable to make to Kolkata, while attending religious callings, have booked tickets for Wankhade Stadium test match to be held from November 14.
Twenty-odd professionally qualified men have bought tickets and will air dash to Mumbai with their families for Sachin’s last sojourn at the pitch. Ravi, summarising the group’s excitement said, “Undoubtedly, Sachin is the God of cricket and we as his ardent fans earnestly wanted to be part of the epoch making day to cherish till our last breath. Over the top budgets are no concern, reasons being, when people are passionate money becomes secondary.”
Ravi’s wife Sarika, a housewife in early forties, recounts, “Sachin’s spectacular knock of 98 runs in 2003 World Cup against arch rivals Pakistan in South Africa, sparked an interest for the game in me. Earlier I ever wondered why our nation raves over cricket and swoons over cricketers”. Still charmed by the above knock, she says, “I vividly remember Sachin’s pugnacious stroke play, oozing confidence and menacingly hitting Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar and mercilessly downsizing Waqar and Akram’s bowling too. Nation’s emotional goblet was brimming after this marvelous victory. I felt like kowtowing to Sachin which I did in my memory.”
JSCA president Amitabh Choudhary will also grace the last test match as an observer, along with his team of officials from the State. Arijit, from a group of engineering students, who are heading for the Eden Gardens, visibly enchanted, says, “Tendulkar is our hero. He wriggled with his share of setbacks and on breaking Brian lara’s record of highest run aggregate in test matches, Sachin had confronted his critics by saying that he had converted stones thrown at him into milestones. These inspiring words had profound impact on me. We will treasure his last performance.”
Sachin’s prolific career spanning more than two decades, had him clinch coveted honours and top records in cricket history. Adored for his humility, uncanny batting talent and unwavering ethics, Sachin became a cult figure earning devotion of millions. They are not mere fans but his devotees. Cometh the hour, cometh the man - his signature style of Mr Dependable somehow inextricably got associated with growth prosperity of our country. His career progressed, so did India’s economy, Sachin’s admirers superlatively draw this similarity. Quite ominously, his lack of form recently also mirrors the breakdown of Indian growth story. Perhaps, Virat Kohli may usher in a new phase of growth of Indian economy.