It was a long wait. With millions waiting for this glorious moment and the whole cricketing fraternity anticipating this day for more than a year now, has finally come. It took the great man Sachin Tendulkar exactly a year and five days to score the ton of tons and what a way to bring it. His first hundred against Bangladesh incidentally was his 100th international tons, and even the Bangladeshi who has been batted out of the match due to the greatest century of all times would have enjoyed every bit just the millions watching over the World.
Sachin’s reaction after the century when he closed his eyes looked up to the heavens which have been a usual sight for long now and huge sigh of relief made it quite evident that how much that means to him. There is nothing that has not been achieved by the great man and he has fulfilled every bit of his responsibility for the team and finally the time has come for his retirement has come.
In last 12 months Sachin played 11 Tests and has scored 778 runs at an average of 37.04, with a best of 94. The batting average of below 40 is not a usual data on his profile. And talking about ODI’s he hardly played any after the World Cup 2011 and the only series he played was in Australia. His best chance of getting that magical figure was against Pakistan in the World Cup semis where he scored 85. In 12 one day matches he totals up to 307 runs with an average of 25.58, way below than normal.
Ideally he should have retired from the shorter format of the game a long back – precisely after winning the World Cup, which was his ultimate dream. And even if he had never got to this milestone, that would never have made him less a good player than what he is. But he had other plans and wanted to get this magical number.
But now the time has come when Sachin should leave the playing the ODIs, which he has enjoyed playing throughout his life. His run up to 100th ton has made everyone criticize him and after seeing the great man react today, showed the relief on his face. But then a poor run with the bat and critics would start baying for his blood all over again and god forbids if he is forced out of the game then that would surely mark a black day in the history of Indian Cricket. He has played at his will, scored at his will and now should leave at his will too. There is nothing that he has not achieved and there is no one who could achieve anything more than him.
It would be difficult for him to let go off cricket but it would more difficult more him if he faces an ignominious exit like Sourav Ganguly. For decades now he has enthralled all, shouldered responsibility of the team, won matches but now the time has seriously come for him to say goodbye because after all “ All good things come to an end.
By Slashsinner
Views are personal
