Sachin Tendulkar might have retired a week ago but his retirement party is far from over. Apart from intending to show 199 kilograms of rose petals over the stadium during his second last Test, a specially minted gold coin with his face used for the toss on his 200th test appearance, Tendulkar also became the first Indian sportsman to be honored with the highest civilian honor India could ever bestow even before he could leave the Wankhade after his final test. But in spite of the Bharat Ratna, stands or entire stadium named after him, has Tendulkar been truly honored with the penultimate tribute?
How does one even begin to salute a man who has been carrying the hopes of a billion people for nearly two and a half decades? Virat Kohli was just a year old when Tendulkar started playing for India and therefore Kohli, the new great hope of Indian cricket, didn't think twice before carrying Tendulkar on his shoulders following India's 2011 World Cup win. But what's shouldering the weight of the stocky little master for a victory lap of the World Cup when the other 10 seemingly won the darn thing for him? Similarly how can waiving off the import duty on a flashy Ferrari, even considered a pay off compared to the selfless service the professional sportsman has been rendering in the name of the nation a week since the Berlin Wall came down way back in 1989? If a car manufacturer could present him their best, the least government of India could do was to relinquish a tax that they came up with in the first place. In the same vein it’s only right to exempt things like penalty for shifting into his new abode without taking a occupancy certificate from the city’s civic body or allowing a tax break of INR 2 Crores earned from TV commercials.
For years there was talk about awarding Tendulkar Bharat Ratna and now that it has became a reality there is nothing more that this nation can do to show its gratitude. A phenomenon like Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar happens once in light years and therefore our tribute must match the man's stature. We may never have someone who will truly replace him and it’s this very trait that we must hail. For a once in a lifetime persona we need but a gesture that is once in an eternity and therefore, we must never replace him. He has been such a conscious part of our very existence that going forward he should always be a part of, at least, our cricket team. One of the ultimate acts of reverence for sportsmen is to retire their jerseys along with them. Argentina didn’t issue Diego Maradona’s famous No. 10 shirt, which was theinspiration for Tendulkar’s love for the number as well, for years after he quit and Britain refuses to replace Bobby Moore’s jersey but these were men unlike Tendulkar.
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So, here’s what we should do for the Sachin ‘God’ Tendulkar- from here till the end of time there should only be 10 men wearing the Indian colors every time an Indian cricket team plays an international fixture. Tendulkar should be our perennial Number 10 in the tradition of a non-playing captain accompanying Davis Cup tennis teams. There were times when he was a part of the line-up but took time off while the team was fielding and this new arrangement wouldn’t be too different. Any member of the playing team could always call Tendulkar for his advise; they could ask him whether he felt like opening or coming down the order, or if he agrees with their decision to push the third man deeper fine or make the fine leg squarer, etc. We understand that this would stifle the opposition but then Tendulkar’s name is renowned to instill fears both known and unknown in the men who faced him. There would, of course, be some concessions for the other team. Every match would have a few overs when Tendulkar would ‘bowl’ and hence runs worth the then current run-rate would be awarded. In every match in order to compensate Tendulkar’s ‘batting’ one Indian batsman would dedicate his wicket to Sachin Paaji. This would also help maintain the morale of the present team, especially M.S. Dhoni who confessed that with Sachin Paaji, a part of him would be gone too. Could there be a greater honor for the man who not just redefined cricket for us Indians but somewhere became bigger than not just the other 10 who took to the field with him but the game itself. If Royal Challengers Bangalore could demand that Chris Gayle be allowed to open alone and bat from ends, then Tendulkar Forever isn’t that outrageous an idea.
Image: www.rediff.com
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