Sachinesque

31st March. End of the month. End of Financial Year 2010-11.

End of Shoaib Akhtar's career. End of Pakistan's hope of reaching the Finals of the World Cup. End of Sachin's successful encounters against Pakistan in WC. And... end of the speculations on the teams reaching the finals.

Wow... what a wonderful 8 hours we had just few hours ago. Although on 30th if not 31st, India emerged victorious yet again against Pakis in World Cups. And yet again, the script-writer was our very own Sir Sachin Tendulkar.

This was entirely a different innings than the one in Centurion in 2003, where his 98 of 75 balls is even discussed today. This was a rather un-Sachin-like innings. Out of 450+ ODI innings, never had Sachin got 7 lives before finally succumbing. He got out on 85 of 115 balls. In the interim, he hit marvellous trademark shots, but gave all the fans 7 heart attacks. He was expected to reach his 100th 100, but even he wouldn't have wanted his 100th 100 to be full of 7 lives. It is something you don't achieve daily. He would want to remember this as a fluent innings, full of dominance, full of control and which will mean a lot more... the ton on World Cup FINALS and that too on his home ground.

There was a contribution from almost all the players today. They have looked like a unit since Quarter Finals who are the deserving candidates to lift the cup. They are picking up their games at the right time, at the right moment. Somehow, they aren't disappointing as they did in 2003, where Sachin and the bowlers fought lone battles almost every time. This makes me feel that India can lift the cup this time.

Sachin got out on 4 in the Finals in 2003. He wouldn't want to repeat that, cognizant of the facts about his team's unpredictable collapses. Indian team can collapse anytime, any day. They can beat a team comprising of the best 11 players of the World on one day, and can drag themselves to a loss even against Ireland on the other day. So unpredictable is their nature, that Sachin would not risk it in the Finals this time. This time... being his LAST time.

2nd April would be a big big big day. For Sachin, For team India, For ME. My heart has skipped several several beats on numerous occasions since 1995 (when I started following cricket, err, Sachin). The Cup is the ONLY thing which has eluded Sachin for all those years, accounting to over 2 decades. Sachin's will not be a Bradmanesque end. It will be a Sachinesque end - having achieved EVERYTHING. And more than Everything, it is the RESPECT, that he has achieved.

Love Respect Adulation Trust and Godliness are some of the minor attributes Sachin has earned. People say he is like Don Bradman. I say, please don't insult God by comparing him with a human.

LOVE YOU SACHIN.