Virat Kohli after his century at the Wankhede. Sachin Tendulkar during the mid innings (Photo: Debasis Sen)
Some dates stay etched in the memory. Forever. November 16, 2013, when Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium, emotions overflowed. How could someone that millions of cricket devotees had referred to as God retire? Perhaps they had forgotten that God works in mysterious ways even without appearing before you daily.
On Wednesday, the same Wankhede Stadium witnessed that deity giving a darshan. Instead of being on the 22-yard strip that he had once called his temple, Tendulkar was in a special enclosure. He was there to watch over an ardent devotee, Virat Kohli.
Kohli bowed once he had rewritten history. Before the audience. If you thought he was bowing before the fans, possibly, yes. But the real submission was to the God of cricket, as he and his generation had always worshipped Sachin Tendulkar. All along his incredible journey, fans and heartless hacks have made comparisons between the two, an exercise that seems to embarrass Kohli no end. It is a heartless, pointless, exercise.
A decade on from Tendulkar’s last bow, one must read his post on X (Twitter), where he recalls Kohli wanting to touch his idol’s feet. That the young prodigal went on to eclipse his record and score his 50th ODI hundred was poignant. Tendulkar stood and clapped. It was an acknowledgement of how his biggest fan and devotee had gone from master batter to legend.
There was one more icon, again worshipped a generation ago, present at the Wankhede Stadium watching all this – Sir Viv Richards. Tendulkar has spoken of how much he aspired to be like him. In a sense, the circle, a magical one, was completed yesterday.
Ten years ago, when he walked away, looking up at the sky, he left millions in tears. He has been part of Indian cricket in various ways since, as Mumbai Indians’ mentor and as a fantastic ambassador for the sport. A stand at his beloved Wankhede is named after him. There is now also the sculpture installed near it. It is exquisite work of art, just like the strokes he produced while destroying bowlers. Don’t say this out loud though, because Shane Warne might get disturbed in heaven.
The King salutes GOD (Photo: Debasis Sen)
People continue to compare Tendulkar and Kohli. Blame statisticians and data analysts, who have robbed cricket of emotions and made it a numbers game. Yes, some numbers matter, like 10/10 – India’s bull run at this World Cup. If you like black coffee, strong without milk, please have it. If you prefer latte, go ahead. Those two cups are not the same, and no one is forcing you to drink a coffee that you don’t like. Tendulkar and Kohli will always be two different blends, each with much to commend them.
Tendulkar still summons up so many memories, stirs so many emotions – like your first date. It may have been a quiet affair, just moments of privacy, no words exchanged, just a smile. If that was romance, so is Tendulkar. Life has moved on, but the memories remain.Each sport has seen champions come and go. Fans saw Tendulkar, they stared in awe at Richards and were also treated to the sight of David Beckham inside the Wankhede Stadium. Each a legend. On this day, even Tendulkar would be most upset if GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debates started up.
True fans still feel his presence, through his various knocks. Picking one would be very hard, though his Sandstorm effort and other duels against Warne were epic. Life teaches you to be a good lover of sport. Worship a God, if you must. Or be a devotee, as Kohli has been. Whatever yarns are spun, comparing them or the legacies they leave behind, November 16 will always be a special day. Greatness may have departed the pitch for the pavilion, but as we saw from Kohli’s gestures, he cannot and will not be forgotten.
The post As we make a decade without Tendulkar, don’t make the mistake of comparing Kohli with his God appeared first on RevSportz | Latest Sports News.
Some dates stay etched in the memory. Forever. November 16, 2013, when Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium, emotions overflowed. How could someone that millions of…
The post As we make a decade without Tendulkar, don’t make the mistake of comparing Kohli with his God appeared first on RevSportz | Latest Sports News.
