Letter to Sachin

“That’s a wonderful wonderful shot. Straight down the ground for six. What a wonderful shot that is! Oh my god!” No points for people who guessed the verses were from the legendary Sharjah Series where you celebrated one of your wonderful birthdays. Even today, I just have to witness your classic performance in the series and instantly get motivated to perform my best. That was what your performance could do to masses. That is why you are a mentor and motivator for many.

As I scan through newspapers in the morning, which used to give me immense pleasure earlier, I mourn to the fact that the media is making news and money out of bad publicity of yours. It’s the same media which had made you God of Indian cricket some years back. News channels have some or the other adverse comments on you (which amazes me the most considering their wonderfully awful knowledge of the game). I write this letter to you to ask you for a bunch of favors.

Favor to show these people what you are. Favor to shut up all the senior players and commentators for the way they criticize you (I really hate when they criticize because I feel at least they could understand the plight of players). Favor to show young players the path of glory you have enlightened. Favor to give my Sharjah Dvd some rest and substitute it with live cricket match. And I ask you these favors from the bottom of my heart. Rather, bottom of thousands of hearts.

Suggestions and corrections directed to you would undoubtedly be an insult of game for sure. So I would not want to indulge in the same. But as a fan of yours, I would love to see you back to the opening slot, preferably with Ganguly. But with the kind of attitude BCCI is holding for cricketers right now, that seems a dream far beyond reach. And with that, I would love your attitude of all-out attack, irrespective of the burden to build up a good innings in middle order. If in your days of ultimate glory, you could single-handedly take away the match from opposition’s reach; now that India has far more match-winners in the team, you should be able to perform better than your earlier records. All said, as a fan, we understand the pressure of selectors and coach along with the demand of the current team chemistry. But in the process, we are missing ‘aamcha’ Sachin. Sachin, for us, stands as a symbol of courage and attitude. Please give us our Sachin back, please!!!

Many have commented on your retirement and as you must have noticed, almost all Indian ex-cricketers have supported you on this front. It is because they truly acknowledge your talent and believe in you. So do we thousand fans believe in you. Every time you walk onto the crease, my heart pounds. I still feel the excitement and anticipate a glorious knock from you. The moment you get out, I feel really frustrated and many a times just switch off my television. The pain you must be going through in such situations is really unthinkable of. But I personally believe there’s nothing wrong with your batting and it is the change in the nature of responsibility given to you by selectors the reason for your downfall. Shake these expectations off; go for a kill and I can bet you will regain your first position in no time. But thanks to our managing committees, I remain a pessimist on this issue.

People say that you have already played long years of cricket. They believe you have lost the motivation and enthusiasm for the game. They say you can no more win matches for India. But ask any true Sachin fan and he will chant about Sachin’s masterful strokes. He will tell you that he is rather disappointed on change in situation then the moderate performance of yours. He will fully back you for anything and everything. We are, and will always remain indebted to you for your immense contribution to the game of Cricket in India.

Having said things that were far beyond my status, I apologize if any of my feelings were not welcomed by you. But sincerely the world will suffer a huge setback, if ever you decide to retire at this age. And thanks for all the entertainment and lessons you have unknowingly distributed amongst cricket followers in India.

Waiting to see ‘aamcha’ old Sachin

Yours frantically,

Jatin