“How about this scenario of Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th century at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the final?” asked Haroon Lorgat before India’s quarterfinal against Australia in Ahmedabad. Well, the International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO is not an astrologer nor is he a soothsayer but there is every chance that his words might come true, after all.
For a ball boy during the 1987 World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede, playing the final would be quite a phenomenal rise. But then, Tendulkar has shown growth has no saturation, at least in his case. Twenty-one years, six World Cups, 44 games, over 2,000 runs, nine Man of the Match awards, the journey goes on and on. Tendulkar may have achieved every conceivable feat, besides, of course, every inconceivable one, except the World Cup. Now, he has this opportunity of a lifetime to correct the record, rather complete it.
It was as if fate has willed it that he would score his 100th international century on the grand stage at home in Mumbai, “Going back to Mumbai for this event is going to be a wonderful occasion, we’ve got to be calm and focused. This has been memorable, and something I will cherish all through my life,” he said after the match.
Tendulkar would fail to reach the milestone at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, despite all possible help from Pakistan fielders in the semifinal. The Little Master was dropped four times and had couple of reprieves in the form of the third umpire and yet he was out for 85. Every time a catch was dropped, the spirits of a billion people were lifted.
It was not the best of knocks. Tendulkar failed but it was very effective nevertheless. It came in the biggest match for India. There were no two arguments about the Man of the Match. It, incidentally, was Tendulkar’s ninth Man of the Match award in the World Cup. The Little Master avoided the customary post-match press conference, preferring to be observed than quoted. He would let the feat do the talking.
About the missed chances, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that they were not easy catches. “The shots were hit hard I guess,” he said.
“You have to look in the context of the match, pressure and situation.” Sometimes, the easiest of catches are actually not the easiest.
The great Sunil Gavaksar provided the perspective to the innings. “He was not at his best but he kept on hanging around. He did not throw his wicket away,” the former India captain said. That is the hallmark of the Master — 21 years on and he still has the patience, perseverance, hunger, desire and drive to score runs.
So on Saturday, the stage is set for him to go on to reach the biggest milestone of the game on its grandest platform. Even if he doesn’t, he, sure, would contribute for the team’s cause. The 100th century would come anyway. He has all the patience, perseverance, hunger, desire and drive to achieve the feat at some other time.
Comments