The Tireless one (Jumbo) has gone. The Indomitable one (Dada)will hang his boots after Nagpur. Soon, the Immaculate one (Rahul) and the Special one (VVS) will crumble too. The Legendary one (Sachin) shall linger on for some more time, but inevitably, he too will have to call it a day. Indian cricket is at a crossroads now, witnessing the biggest exodus in recent times. The most iconic players to ever don the India whites are bidding farewell to the game.
Somehow, I cannot imagine an Indian team without the likes of Kumble, Dravid and Saurav. True, the recent inflow of youngsters had resulted in almost inhuman pressure being put on them, but they handled it with aplomb, and showed their class time and again.
I, like most guys my age, grew up watching and idolizing these players, and the most enduring of my cricket memories will be
1. Kumble bowling with a broken jaw and high fever in Antigua (2002) to get Lara out.
2. Sachin beating the living shit out of McGrath and co. in Sharjah (1998) and single handedly propelling the team to wins.
3. Saurav Ganguly and his offside strokes which were, according to me, poetry in motion. He repeatedly bisected 7 fielders on the offside and brought the best laid plans to pieces.
4. Rahul Dravid choosing to keep wickets to accomodate an extra batsman in the team, and withstanding the enormous toll on his body to become the ICC ranked No.1 ODI batsman in 2004.
5. Laxman bringing the Aussies to their knees in Kolkata (2001) and being christened 'Very Very Special'. To this day, he remains the nemesis of the Australians.
6. Kumble's test century in England (2007) and the way he celebrated when he got it, suddenly looking more like a 12 year old kid than a veteran of 37.
7. Rahul's comment in the media : "Everywhere else, there is God, but on the offside, there is Saurav Ganguly."
8. Kumble's magnanimity and humility when he remarks to the media on being given captaincy "I understand this is a transition phase and I have to do my duty and ensure the captaincy is handed in good hands when I retire shortly."
We as a generation shed tears at their failures, and jumped with joy when they played well, for we knew they were giving their heart and soul for the nation.
I wonder how long it is going to take, or is it ever possible, to respect the pugnacious Yuvraj or the fiesty Gambhir, or the ice cool Dhoni in the same way. They are great players too no doubt, but there was something about the oldies that made us idolize them and want to BE like them (I became a left hand batsman because of Saurav) .
Seniors, we love you, and shall always respect you for your immense contributions to Indian cricket. Please stay involved with the game.
Goodbye Jumbo. Goodbye Dada. And the others too. We are better players and humans for having seen you play.. You guys will always be missed.
(readers, feel free to post your fav memories in the comments section)
3 comments:
my fav moments: Taunton 1999, Adelaide oval 2003, Eden Gardens 2001, Headingly 2005/6.
U see whats common in all of them. Ya that's right I am a one man fan.
Even though I acknowledge the contribution VVS and Saurav have made to the team, for some reasons it just irks me to have them put in the same grand boat as Sachin and Rahul. Sourav and VVS are classy sure, and sure they have scored lots of runs but thts where it all ends.
Sachin and Rahul have shown commitment far beyond the capacity of the "others" in addition to the feats they have accomplished.
Kumble I don't really care bout, after all he's one of the support staff (read bowler!!).
I idolise 1 man,not just for his cricketing talent or achievements;bt for the kind of humble,simple,student kinda person with loads of humility,head firmly on the shoulders and feet stuck to the ground. Among the plenty of joyful tears filled memories that he has given to the zillions of people around the globe,especially Indians;I recollect a few now
1>Ofcourse the sharjah match 1998 where the kangaroos were looking suddenly like dogs fetching balls from the fence
2>India touring australia (dnt rem which year)whrn in the last test at Sedney sachin scored 240*.The thing that amazed me about that knock was how he avoided almost anything outside off-stump and be there on the wicket for more than 135 overs... vow!!! Exemplary patiance
3>2004 W/C match 98 runs against pakistan,a very high profile bowing attack was torn apart on a bouncy south-african wicket with shear class
4>Last but not the least the exteremely responsible centuries the struck during the recent one day series down under in the finals.
I definately cannot imagine ne1 but Dravid willing to go out of the way to open the batting on a green hard surface against the aussies gunning foe your blood just accomodate a young chap in the team
I cannot imagine any Indian getting a standing ovation everytime by the Australian crowd down under
I cannot imagine ne1 else bisecting 7-2 offside field with such consistence
I cannot imagine ne1 with such grit n determination to bowl with a broken jaw & high fever and getting a legend like Lara out
I cannot imagine the whole of India to bank on 1 player just about every crises like they did with 'The WALL'
Finally I cannot imagine ne1 to be a "Legend for decades"
Will miss u DADA & JUMBO.
May you get to live a life post cricket that you always dreamt off.
Sanket.
great tribute..truly, the five of them..they'll always serve to be as amazing role models as good sportsmen they are.tht's something lacking in their juniors..probably tht's why they evoke an equally strong sentiment from technically-not-so-sound cric fans like me.:) as they return to the pavilion forever..they've really set high standards for the present team to live up to..let's hope their careers made of so much passion and diligence will continue to urge on the next generation to reach new heights in their wake..
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