“Five years ago, on this day.” Facebook reminded me of something- something I can never forget.
Five years ago… I was still in school. I was crazy about Sachin Tendulkar. I only bought Reynolds pen because the wrapper had his picture on it, I scribbled his name randomly on my notebooks, I fought with my friends arguing Sachin is the greatest, I never moved away from my seat when he was playing, I used to get mini-heart attack every time an appeal is made against him.
According to me, Tendulkar's last game was the biggest event at that time. I already had plans for his last game, and I remember each and every detail pertaining to what had happened prior to the match day.
Most of his fans, including me, were furious about the LBW decision against him during his penultimate game at Kolkata. That was perhaps the second last time we were going to watch him play and the umpire gives a wrong decision? Unacceptable. Alright! We'll get to see what he's lost in the penultimate on the final.
A day before the game, it was an ordinary day at school before something unusual happened. It was the last year of my school life and the most interesting one, too. And somehow I believed interesting things happen only when certain boundaries are broken. Yet that day no boundary was broken, at least not by me.
There was this notorious classmate of mine who was a part of my school life. He was known to get involved in strange things. That day he was wrongly accused of stealing a book from the library while he claimed he only checked it out. Soon, I don't know how, this scene escalated. He was taken to the principal room and my class teacher and vice principal were also asked to be present. We usually only had Computer Science and English language classes in the afternoon session. Now since the CS teacher was my class teacher and English teacher our vice principal, we almost didn't have any class during that session.
We, inside the classroom, were gossiping about the possible outcomes of the investigation and yet nobody expected it. Gossiping, I must agree, was one of those things which had the school life interesting. Hours of investigation went on and it was strange what was followed. He was handed a five-day suspension. The term “suspension” was new to me. I mean, we were only in school where we don't come across this punishment so often, and I was confused how a suspension would affect a person. In college it is different. But school? In what way was it a penalty?
Some people sympathised, while some felt otherwise. But I only wished I was in his place. 5 days permitted leave to watch the 5-day test cricket. Only a loser wouldn't take it.
I didn't care much about that issue afterwards. The next day, I didn't go to school.
Well it's Tendulkar's last and I want to watch.
Nothing seemed more important to me.
I don't remember how the Windies stumbled in their first innings on day 1, but India came to bat the same evening and Sachin- at the fall of second wicket, same evening. As he walked into the pitch, you could imagine the kind of cheer he received and people all inside the ground offered him a guard of honour (including the umpires). It was first of it's kind- umpires giving guard of honour. I needn't mention much about his innings- every stroke that the master played gave pleasure like it was just meant for us.
At the end of day 1, the master stayed unbeaten on 38, which meant I had to bunk another day.
The next morning play resumed and Sachin’s farewell gift to his fans was a half-century. I was happy. That's some kind of a pleasure you wouldn't want to share with anyone. It was all for myself. It is for that very reason I like watching cricket (especially test cricket) all alone. There’s serenity. Of course I discussed the game to some extent with my friends but that moment was all mine.
Sachin Tendulkar on 74, a bowler named Narsingh Deonarine spinned one onto the master which he edged and was caught quite easily by the Windies captain, Darren Sammy on slips. He did not celebrate. No one did. The stadium suddenly became still and it went totally dead for a moment. It took a bit for me to realise Sachin was gone. Things happened very fast. More than Tendulkar, we weren't ready for it. Everything had come to an end. Slowly a cheer erupted as Sachin walked off for one last time. There was Harsha Bhogle’s very energetic and enthusiastic voice in the background that kept the spirits and energy high. The moment was slowly fading away and I couldn't believe it was all going to end. “Thank you, Sachin.” Bhogle said.
All was not over here. The game went on to the third day. At the end of day 2, I got a phone call from my friend. Unfortunately the event that preceded brought to light few disciplinary issues and at the heat of moment all the students were asked to be present lest would be facing serious trouble. Sounds silly, I know but I went to school anyway. It was a Saturday and half-working, supposed to be just a prize-giving ceremony. I thought it would end soon and I'd come home to catch the remaining live action but what happened was different. On my entire time in school that day, I didn't talk to a single teacher and that warning was just a bluff. I came home and the game was over. Sachin Tendulkar's farewell speech included. Perhaps the worst decision, I thought. Going to school that day, but thanks to Facebook, I was able to watch the speech in real time without any cuts as it happened. It was a very emotional one. It left me teary-eyed, to be frank. Finally we had to accept the hard fact that a legend had retired.
The coming generations might call some the greatest of all time, even the stats might prove them right but there can never be an emotion equal to the one named Sachin Tendulkar. There can never be another player who would make you turn the TV off after the fall of his wicket; who could make you nervous with his entry to the pitch, as if you're going in yourself; who could make you completely devastated with his cheap dismissal; who could make you sweat everytime he crosses 90 and who could carry your pulse with his bat, like your heart is meant to beat for his game.
Thank you, Sachin. For everything you have given me and to the country. You'll forever be the greatest.
Footnote: The following is what I received from Twitter and BCCI. An automated autographed picture. It's been five years since I got this and four years since I bought a smartphone. This one is still my wallpaper.
Footnote: The following is what I received from Twitter and BCCI. An automated autographed picture. It's been five years since I got this and four years since I bought a smartphone. This one is still my wallpaper.
