Savagely Criticized for his Continuous Loss of Form

India have convincingly won the Nottingham test against England by 7 wickets their 29th test victory abroad in 75 years. This victory gives the visitors an edge over the home team in the current 3 test series. Among other things what makes this Indian victory more important is the return of batting form of Sachin Tendulkar. It was the little masters resolute innings of 91 runs studded with 12 glittering fours around which Indias big 481 run total was built. In fact not only Sachin but the entire Indian batting lineup with the exception of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the three medium pacers [Zaheer, R.P.Singh and Sreesanth] rose to the occasion and made useful contributions towards Indias match-winning 1st innings score. Obviously victory would not have been possible with out the spirited bowling by man of the match Zaheer khan and co. But a special mention of Sachins return to form is being made, as it augurs well for the current Indian team, hopefully for at least a couple of years more.

The former master-blaster was subjected to severe criticism for some time till recently for the uncertain batting form over the considerable period of time. Many critics all over the world and many back home cried for his head. Even some great past masters, and the list included the likes of great Ian Chappell and former Pakistani wicket keeper Moin Khan said that it was high time Sachin called it a day and that he [Sachin] wanted to remain in the team for wrong reason! Such harsh criticisms must have had pained Sachin to no end. But he remained calm and perhaps made up his mind to give a fitting reply to his critics through his bat.

Mercifully, post world cup period till date has been rewarding for Sachin. Granted that he is not the same master blaster as the world has seen him in the nineties. Certainly the worlds greatest batsman of our era has mellowed down considerably. It is also true that the masters reflexes are no more the same as they used to be a decade ago, when he used to thrash the worlds best attack with disdain. Now the runs do not flow from Sachins willow as smoothly and as effortlessly as they used to before. Instead he has to labour hard these days to build his innings. But that is no problem so long there is that insatiable hunger for runs in him. Perhaps this hunger prevented the Don Bradman of our times to call it a day after that disastrous world cup performance.

Sachin knew it and strongly believed that the day had not yet come for him to bid adieu to international cricket. So, unlike some other contemporary great cricketers, Sachin did not hurry to announce retirement from any form of international cricket. But there was no stopping the critics and the cricket fans who constantly demanded that Sachin be dropped from the Indian team and the national selectors obliged by, resting him along with Saurav Ganguly during the Indo-Bangla one day series that followed immediately after the world cup.

Sachin returned with a bang in the test series which was held immediately after the one day series clouting two separate hundreds in two tests. These efforts earned Sachin man of the series award. The Bangladesh tour was followed by tours of Ireland and now of England. This time the national selectors did not dare to drop him or rest him. He was chosen for both the one day matches and test matches. One-day matches were played against Ireland and South Africa. Two sterling knock of near hundred [99 and 93] put Sachin firmly in the Indian one-day squad. He was again adjudged man of the series. This time in the one-day international series and that too against a team like South Africa!

Sachin has carried on his good form with the bat to the test series against England which follows the series in Ireland. One wishes that this golden touch remains with the golden boy of Indian cricket not only in the next test and the one day series against England but till the end of his active cricketing days.

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