India. Cricket fever gripped me when I was in the age of 13, I simply fell in love with the magician of batting. There were times, I remembered each and every game Sachin played for India. I started following him closely, from the beginning of 1998.
He made me awestruck every innings he played on that year. He started with a hundred in 70 odd balls against the mighty Australian team beefed with likes of Shane Warne,Michael kasprowicz.That was his 13th ODI career century.
That marked the beginning of a glorious year of cricket lovers in India, he managed to score 9 ODI centuries in a year (phew).
This remains a record till date. In addition to that many test centuries as well.
His desert storm century, which made India to qualify for the finals of 1998 Sharjah Cup. Or the very next day he hadhit another century against Australia in finals which ensured that India bestow the cup. There were many instances like Century on Akai-Nidahas trophy finals against Lankans,Century against Kenya tour of India, Century on ICC knockout match against Australia, and so on. He completed the year on November 13,1998 with another century against a competitive Zimbabwean team with likes of Flower brothers, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak and more.That was a memorable year of cricket for me.
There is no doubt he was, I am sorry He is a master of the game. His retirement left my heart sunk, as he was forced to opt it as media played a crucial role in making him not to concentrate on his game. Everyone has experienced lean patch in their career, in his case he experienced it a couple of times in his illustrated careeer which spanned for 24 years. He came back strongly every time he underwent the lean patch.
But during his final days of cricket he was not given ample time which he deserved. He was indirectly shown the doors. He left the game with a good knock, and no one would forget his parting speech. Left my ears on tears, like a millions of eyesof Indian cricket lovers.
I have one big regret in my life, that I did not watch him play on cricket stadium amongst the 1000s of spectators. This regret will be there forever.
He was asked to captain MCC, to play a match against ROW team, to commemorate Bicentenary anniversary of MCC club. He played his natural game one more time and it was good to see him back on fields padded with bat and glove. He earned the respect as a cricketer and that respect is priceless.
