Bowled Over!

"Arey ball pakad thik sey " ( gather ball properly ),"Out ho gaya (that is out)"... These and few more are the lines which my sister used to tell me that i used to shout while sleeping. My subconcious mind followed and fulfiled my dream, in my dream, which i would have loved to make through in reality. I still remember those nights when a cricket match would be scheduled for next day and i would sleep with a hope that I will close my eyes and puff...it will be morning with blink of an eye, as i never liked waiting to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat. Reaching early home for a day night match, waking up early for matches in Australia and its Trans-Tasmania neighbours, burning mid night oil for ODIs in Toronto and West Indies and even leaving home early for Chemistry class with actual motive of watching an hour of Sachin's batting at a mechanic's shop ( my mother had sent television in hibernation as i had my board exams). I have done all these things and much more to see ' God of Cricket' bat. These are few things that each fan of Sachin has done. I remember praying for your century, i remember watching match at neighbour's hous when you had hit Caddick for a six over deep mid wicket, off a sizzling pull shot, i remember crying profusely when you were dismissed twice or thrice in nineties, within a month. I remember all the beautiful moments that you gave to millions of your followers. What I don't remember is whether I had ever imagined you taking retirement from Cricket. Such questions regarding retirement always seemed usless to me. But now it is one reality we all have to accept in 2013. The reality that there will be ODIs but there will be no Sachin Tendulkar. Even after waking up on 25th December, i was hoping that Santa will give me one gift and Sachin would confirm about continuing to play ODIs too. But that was something which didn't happen. Retirements are usually very emotional moments, for players as well as for their fans. Today morning, Mr Cricket a.k.a Mike Hussey retired from international cricket. He was lucky to have such a well scripted end for his career, as him team went on to win 3rd test while he was on crease, thus completing 3-0 white wash over Sri Lankans. However, this is something which Sachin's fans could not witness. He rightly judged that euphoria around his last ODI would have been too huge, which may be he did not want at this moment. Thus deciding to hang his boots without playing any more ODIs. Only hope that keeps all such fans going is that may be he will play lot many Test Matches for India and this decision of his would help prolong his career. Once again, his retirement from Test Cricket is something which cannot even be thought about and god willing, he will not take a decision which would leave all his fans ' bowled over'.