Will the dark knight RISE?

The Knight always protected his city, he stood against every attack on his people and wanted to ensure Gotham was a peaceful city. Though some people felt he’s an outlaw, a vigilante, a man who did all this for himself but in general opine he was always hailed as the savior, the hero in the hour of need.

As time passed by this protector faced an enemy. A man the people called the joker who had no boundaries. The Knight battled against him as he always stood against the bad but this time when he saw the after effects of the joker being able to bring out the worst from the best in Gotham, the Knight had to make a choice. A choice which he believed was right for the future of Gotham, a choice where he never wanted the people of Gotham lose belief in what Gotham stood for. Making this choice he vanished in the dark and returned after 8 years to again protect his city, his people again.

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This is a superhero story let us try to fit it into reality, where a man has fought like a knight for the last 23years, he’s stood tall on battles of the fastest pitches when the rest used to fail, he faced the best of bowlers with ease.  He has carried the hopes of a billion not as a burden but as a responsibility. The Knight I am talking about is Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin’s contribution to Indian cricket, World cricket is something we can’t deny or question, whether it be his records or his achievements, his longevity they speak for his dedication towards the game. His fans hail him as their hero, their God. Someone who can never do anything wrong. He’s style of play and achievements have inspired many to make cricket their career which is evident from the numerous occasions we have heard the members of the GenNext Indian team say they started playing cricket coz of Sachin.

Post Dravid & Laxman’s retirement Sachin’s role in the Indian test team is more than a flag bearer; it’s more of a nurturer for the future as the team cannot go into a transition with its biggest three names retiring within months.

 

Amidst all this the dismissals during the New Zealand series have not only raised eyebrows but also the questions from fans whether our Knight is like “Sir boast- a-lot” whether he only thinks of himself & his achievements but not the teams, whether he is playing to one day play with his son, whether he plays just for himself and nothing else. It’s raising questions on the dedication of a man who from the age of 16 has only been playing cricket. The only thing he’s stood for is cricket. When he started he didn’t know the money he can make in this game all he knew was how to play cricket.

Cricket Pundits today ask whether there is a chink in our Knight’s armour?  whether he’s playing across the line too much?  Whether his body balance while facing the ball isn’t how it used to be? A question on his reflexes, his ability, has age caught up with him?

Whether this Knight is still the best in the game? Or should he leave as he’s taking away the spot of some budding talented cricketer?

When we look at Sachin’s performance over the last 12 months you will find he’s still playing better than most players whose performances have been overlooked.

Yes the criticism against him while on crease are true and he must be evaluated like a batsman whose being bowled regularly as it is a question on batsman’s defense but in his case why is that sometimes the usage of words, expressions either from his fans or critics go over the top? Why is that some try to prove he is a god whereas others try to prove he isn’t? at the end of the day we all love our cricket we love our cricketers & when Sachin  bats in form or like “Vintage Tendulkar” no one hate him, everyone loves watching him bat. In cricket or any walk of art you are as good as your last performance and Performance is reality but when it comes to Sachin is it coz the standards he has set in his early years that we feel it is only he who can only be matched or bettered by him? 

Today when our Knight bats he hears the chant of Tendulkar, the roars & expectations of a billion wanting a 100 & the moment he gets out the T vanishes only ENDulkar remains.

 

Today more opinions are echoed that Sachin is knight India deserves but doesn’t need right now, there are battles on his name where a critic of his has to first present his qualification to criticize him. Where a fan of his has to prove Sachin has never stood above the team, for him its always been the team.  In between all this Sachin is the one whose cornered into darkness, questioning whether this was the cricket he stood for?

 

Unlike the Knight of Gotham, Sachin doesn’t have 8 years to return, within the next two months India starts a season of fierce cricket where they host England, Pakistan & Australia this is where every innings every game Sachin will be tested.

 I don’t know if he will play all these series or if like the superhero he too will rise, strike form & travel with the team to South Africa. As an Indian cricket fan, I do hope for the latter not to hitback at anyone but coz he is a genius.

I do know one thing that Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar would prefer to retire from the game he loves; he stood for as a HERO rather than continue playing it as a VILLIAN.

 

This post isn’t written to overlook his flaws or question his genius, its just a hope that Sachin will be back to what he knows the best to play cricket.

Do read my earlier post on Sachin- A mortal yet a GOD, to have a glimpse on why he is India’s most celebrated cricketer. https://anuragrekhi.wordpress.com/2012/03/