Indian cricket fraternity is back to its favourite point of discussion — Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement. Indian team recently lost two of their all time batting greats in the form of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. It has only been one Test match that India has played without Dravid and Laxman and there are people who have started vying for Sachin’s blood all over again.
In the first Test against New Zealand two youngsters, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli played very well and that gave people opportunity to raise doubts over Sachin’s role in the future. But what people don’t understand is that the team is going through a massive change and one good Test match (that too at home against eighth ranked New Zealand team) doesn’t prove that India is ready to play without the senior players.
It was good to see our youngsters enjoying their time in the middle, but no one should forget that the runs came against a very weak opponent. Sachin Tendulkar failed with the bat in Hyderabad and it seems that people are noticing every failure of the great man.
But there are some strong arguments as to why the Little Master should not be forced into retirement and why he should be the sole one to decide on that.
Firstly he is not some cheap nut who could be cracked according to the whims and fancies of any certain someone. He knows his game and body better than anyone and that is probably the reason as to why he has been associated with the game for more than two decades. And taking about his fitness, he is still giving his 100 percent on the field and the age neither play on his mind nor his body. He is still quite swift and can cover the length and breadth of the field well. So leave the decision up to him and he would step down the day he thinks he has become a liability.
Secondly, Sachin has looked in good touch in the recent past. Yes, he did struggle in England, but in Australia he looked good. Sachin got start in almost all the innings in Australia but somehow the little master failed to convert it into a big score. In the Asia Cup Sachin scored his 100th international hundred and that will be a big relief for the legend. With the monkey of his back, Sachin will be eager to quickly get back to his hundred scoring form.
Thirdly, no one is capable enough to replace him as of now and the team would not be able to take the shock of his sudden retirement. Sachin’s magnanimous personality has been a pillar kind of this team for the last 18-20 years and if he all off a sudden hangs up his boots, the might would collapse like a nine pins. So first the team has to fight with the demons within and then think of his retirement
Fourthly, he is a mentor which every youngster coming in the team would like to have him by their side. He has set examples all his life and would be an ideal person to guide the youngsters. India has already lost their two great batsmen and Sachin’s retirement can infuse panic among the youngsters. Sachin was in the team when players like Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly made the debut and Sachin will know that he will have the job to groom the way he did with those players.
No one can shy away from the fact that he is still one of the best batsmen in the country and perhaps the World. Sachin is an epitome of humility and a grace personified. He is considered as the god of cricket and a great ambassador to the game. His self-respect is unquestionable and has put his game ahead of anything. He is what he is and in a true form he is god’s gift to this cricketing fraternity. So respecting what he has done for the cricket in the country and the world, it would be only fair if the decision of his retirement totally is taken by him.
By Indian Sports News Network
