A Picture beyond Statistics

Religion and superstition are so strongly inscribed upon Indians that we tend to start everything with the name of God , be it a ‘Sri Ganeshay Namah’ or a 786. so when it comes to start blogging, what better than starting it with the God Of Cricket – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. And what better occasion than on the day he is honored with Indian Air Force Group Captain. Someone like me who has grown up with the heroics of Doga , Super Commando Dhruv & Nagraj , I see in sachin the ‘Bhokal’ factor of all these Super Heroes.

More words have been written about him than any other sports icon in India. Statistics exceed words by a million. Let me put up a new picture of Sachin which is beyond all those praising articles which appeared after his 94 centuries or all those magical numbers which are proudly attached with SRT. I am more impressed by not what he has achieved but how he has achieved. Everybody appreciates the accomplishments but what actually needs to be admired and looked upon are the efforts that goes into achieving those milestones. The importance of achievements is significant given the fact the he fulfils not only his expectations but that of a nation of a billion.

Beyond scoring runs and advertisements lets see what exactly he does. When tendulkar plays the nation comes to a halt, he has given the country innumerable occasion to smile and cheer about. When he is in flow, people forget about grinning bosses , unbearable wife, scorecard of their children , demanding girlfriends, final exams next day or be it Inflation , deficit budget ,riots ,terrorists , bomb blasts or the spilling milk on the gas. I guess after Mahatma Gandhi ( some may even disagree about him) he is the most worshipped person in the country, he has united the nation in a way no other could. Going against tendulkar may put serious questions to your nationality. After the 26/11 episode the first smile which he brought to the country was about the win over England with his Herculean efforts. Watching sachin play is a real bliss and for the cricket aficionados there is nothing so soothing than a sachin’s straight drive .

Now coming on to the most important thing which differentiates sachin from the rest of legends, his methodology and the way he goes about his work. Highest level of professionalism for the past 21 years without a slightest hint of complacency is what sets him apart.  His sport is more beautiful because it is devoid of any gimmick or blemishes. Distilled to its essence his career is simply about will. His cricket is like any other professional but  the pride he takes  to play for nation is unmatched.

He still practices more than what is expected , he still has that fire ignited within him what he had as a teenager. The earnest desire to perform the best, nothing to prove to anybody but to excel his previous best. Before going into any match or for that matter any series he does his homework well. How can anybody forget about the historic 200 in the gwalior ODI but what people don’t know the hours he put into practice before that series. Practicing hard for hours at stretch in the closed indoor stadium with the wet ball and air conditioner turned off. People often sees the accomplishment and luxury he enjoys but never bothers to look into the hardwork that goes into achieving such success. It takes more than courage to come from the fathers funeral and score a century for country. His feet are on the ground while he soars new heights of success. He never forgets why he started playing cricket in the first place and that’s what keep his feet intact. Over the period when cricketers are accused of malpractices , he never allowed those tenacious worms of glittering economics gnaw into him. He has made more money than any other cricketer , acquired more fame than anyone could imagine but is unblemished by any flaw.

He may be called the Maryada_purushottam SRI RAM of the modern age . He lives his life like he plays his cricket – based on the purest of principles: perfect balance, economy of movement , precision in decision making and the intangible quality of genius – right anticipation. You will hardly find him in any controversy or scandal. Doing the right thing at the right time. Once my friend told me if you want to be successful do things how sachin plays cricket – tackle every ball (read challenges ) to the best of your ability as they come , plan your innings and do what is right & necessary.

He may have failed as a captain not necessarily his own failure , may be he was not able to convey his belief or other players may not rise to his expectations. Sometimes things may not go as you expect them to but then he again took the wise decision of performing only as a batsman.

We can draw loads of inspiration from such a legend , who continue to inspire us in one way or other.  Like bachchan’s Madhushala , real life lesson can be drawn from Sachin’s cricket. People citing Expectation Pressure as a reason to failure needs look upon Sachin carrying the burden of a billion expectations and still performing the best.

Kudos to sachin, not for his achievements but for the accomplishments. The hardships he borne and gigantic efforts  which proved his critic wrong every time doubts loomed around his performance.

I wish if we could ever imbibe in ourselves these qualities . world would be a different place altogether.