Column

Sachin Tendulkar may not have been entirely pleased with Roger Federer’s defeat had he watched the US Open after winning the tri-series for India on Monday. He is an unabashed fan of the Swiss tennis star, and maestros across sports disciplines, I suspect, would be empathetic to each other.

Yet there was also something about 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro which would have not only impressed Tendulkar, but perhaps reminded him of his younger days. The intrepid approach, the sizzling strokeplay — indeed the gumption to believe that he could knock off the top two players in the sport bespeaks a precocious talent.

When he was new on the cricket circuit, Tendulkar loved to dominate completely and from Ball One. He showed no fear and would pick on his most reputed opponents to make an impact. The best strokes were reserved for the best bowlers, and that psychological victory would go a long way in subjugating the fielding side.

Is Del Potro the Next Big Thing in tennis? He could be, and not just because he stands six-feet-six in his shoes. A booming serve, an extraordinarily powerful forehand, superb footwork and a seemingly phlegmatic disposition are strong assets in one so young. But the unfettered bravado that comes naturally when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, however, is time bound.

Over a period of time, the exuberance of youth cedes ground and experience takes pole position to ensure that the deployment of skill is judicious, not reckless. Talent must combine with acumen for sustained success which, all said and done, is the only real definition of genius – whether Tendulkar’s or Federer’s – the occasional setback notwithstanding. The history of sport is littered with ‘flash in the pan’ stories. Del Potro’s real test begins now.

But enough said about tennis. This is a cricket column, and dedicated to the virtuosity (yet again) of Tendulkar, for without his sublime hundred, India’s victory in the tri-series would have been virtually impossible. I sometimes think Tendulkar masks his contempt for those who doubt that he is still at the top of his game.

The control with which he played this innings – strokes of panache mixed with the delectable touch, the breathtaking improvisations and the solid defence – bespoke his brilliant current form. For sheer mastery this must rank as one of his best ODI hundreds. India had gone into the final as underdogs after the disastrous previous game. He was the psychological and batting barrier between Sri Lanka and victory.

But the victory was not without some concerns for MS Dhoni, who takes his team now to South Africa for the Champions Trophy.A better fielding side than his would have not allowed Sri Lanka to score more than 215-220 after the first five wickets had fallen cheaply. The bowling, like the fielding, had been patchy through the tournament. The batting redeemed itself in the final, but is still to find the rhythm that made the team so formidable over the past 18 months.

For the moment though, this triumph has to be savoured. True, the number one ODI spot was won and lost within 24 hours. But winning a title for keeps, as a rueful Roger Federer would testify, can give greater joy than a mere ranking.

The writer is the editor at large with DNA