15 November 1989 - 16 November 2013. What. A. Journey. To quote Sachin's own words from his final retirement speech - his life has been between the 22 yards for the 24 years. There were atleast 4-5 moments in the game where sadness threatened my heart but I controlled myself each time before the inevitable finally happened - I cried. I cannot describe the feelings that I went through when on Day 1 MS Dhoni presented the special 200th cap to Sachin and Sachin led the team out on the ground, then there was the guard of honor the West Indies team laid out for Sachin as he walked on to bat and then that long walk when he was dismissed for 74 on Day 2 and then he turned back and raised his bat for the last time for everyone. I knew instantly that was his last innings. However that tinge of sadness grew a bit more when after the test match was won Sachin was given a mobile guard of honor right till the pavilion end and just before he reached the ropes, he wiped off the little tear beneath his cap. That moment just killed it for me. It pierced my heart and soul and I automatically cried as well. And from there on right till the end of his speech I was numb and void of emotions. In fact I lost him somewhere after he had thanked his elder brother Ajit (it really was a long speech!!!) I was reflecting back on his career and some of his notable performances which truly touched my heart and my respect for him grew that much more with these innings. He was always destined to become the greatest and the bestest ever but these innings (mostly ODIs) will remain etched in my memories forever.
- 1992 World Cup game against Pakistan - I was just about 6 yrs old and Sachin remained unbeaten on 54 that day as he ran out of partners. I remember and I am told that I was complaining and crying that it was a conspiracy to not allow Sachin to score a 100 that day.
- 1998 Sharjah Cup ('Desert Storm') against Australia - I was at my mama's place in Pune when these 2 innings of Sachin's took place. And completely against run of play Sachin qualified us for the finals and then just ripped apart the Aussies in the finals too on his 25th Birthday. The scores of 143 and 134 were one of the best attacking batting seen then by me. And every stroke played on that day coupled with Tony Greig's commentary still leaves me with goose bumps. This is my best and the most favorite Sachin memory!
- 1999 World Cup game against Kenya - This game I was sitting at my home watching and I am sure I would have taken any amount of contribution by Sachin that day. I am sure it must have been very difficult for him to have gone through's his father's funeral rites and then fly back next day and score a century no matter who the opposition is. This is the first time I saw a live example of someone who taught us the real meaning of serving the country. He gets the highest salute from me for just showing the sheer courage to come out and bat let alone scoring a century.
- 2003 World Cup game against Pakistan - I was in class X and had board exams next day but that did not stop me from watching this game. This game will be remembered for the hammering he gave to famed Pakistan bowling line up and Shoaib Akhtar in particular. His innings of 98 was packed with retribution and it took just the initial 5 overs to turn the momentum of the game in India's favor.
- 2004 Test Match against Australia - This game had come after injuries and basically lots of ups and downs in his career. India themselves were only ambitious of being #1 and had announced themselves in 1st test at Adelaide. But a lot of water had flown below the bridge in next 2 tests in Melbourne and Perth with those Bucknor goof ups and Monkeygate and all the stuff like that. Sachin had made a point to not play anything on offside. He scored almost all of his 241 runs on the leg side in that game and that takes a lot of discipline and focus to do. And moreover he denied a winning farewell to Steve Waugh hence that innings rates very high among the memories.
- 2010 ODI game against South Africa - Just 1 year before the World Cup when once again critics had started to raise the ugly question of will he be or wont be in the world cup squad - Sachin rose to occasion and answered that emphatically with almost unforeseen double hundred against Saffers. Things that stand out of that innings are 1st - I mean whenever there was a talk on who could do it - the names that always came were the most aggressive 6 hitting batsmen during that time like Gibbs, Sehwag, Watson or Gayle. Never in wildest dreams did any one think Sachin could do it because he had altered his game so much that a question of him lasting 50 overs was laughable. But he did it and he will always be remembered as the first person to break the 200 run barrier in ODIs.
Apart from these games the one other such memory of Sachin that will remain in my memory bank will be the one of him lifting the 2011 World Cup and that huge smile from him. That is joy to behold and be cherished.
Though there will be continuous debates on when he should have retired? why his retirement had to be so much papparazzi as compared to Rahul Dravid's? Each one is entitled to have his opinion and there is no right or wrong answer to these questions and totally out of control of common man's interests. So let's drop off the negativity and celebrate the retirement of a man who has given the whole country such immense enjoyment, a man who is modest and humble, a man who lived by the 22 yards for 24 years.
I wish Sachin Tendulkar many congratulations on having a fullsome career and a very happy retired life.
