subject: A cup Which Tendulkar Might Not Have [print this page] By Himanshu Shekhar By Himanshu Shekhar
The long and intensely fought six match ODI series (the seventh one was washed out) between India and Australia has come to its logical end, but not before settling two very serious questions grappling the world of cricket.
All those who doubted the health of the game are left with no covers.
Huge turn-outs in the stadiums and scaling TRP ratings have re-emphasized the fact that ODI cricket match is in robust shape and any debate on its future must now come to an end.
The fact that two best teams of the world were fighting it out for the battle of supremacy ensured that all were entertained with some high voltage thrillers.
What happened the other night in Hyderabad (How can an Indian forget Tendulkars 175?) was beyond any ones imagination and it seemed that GOD himself had come to the rescue and was just about to answer a billion prayers.but Alas! It was one wish which remained unfulfilled.
One false shot from the Little Genius (if anyone has a new adjective to describe Tendulkar, do send it to Zeecric.com) left the nation shell shocked. It was HEARTBREAK of gigantic proportions and the grief it brought was also never seen before. Hardly ever has an Indian felt so bad, after India snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
It was one win which India had to achieve at least for Sachin. On a day when the little champ deserved a bottle of champagne and freedom to party like a rock star, he was left explaining the reasons for Indias colossal defeat (not so colossal in numbers as the margin was only 3 runs, but in terms of the wounds and scars it left).
India not only lost the match, but it also lost one of Indias most noted Hindi journalists and a popular sports writer cum fan Prabhash Joshi.
The veteran journalist had a cardiac arrest minutes after Tendulkar took the long walk back to pavilion and the passion for the game got the better of him.
One of Indias news agencies, UNI wrote the other morning, Tragic end to fifth ODI: India loses Prabhash Joshi.
What could he do more for an Indian victory?
Anywayjust like every script doesnt have a fairytale end, Tendulkars titanic effort met a Titanic-like end.
But the clock has moved since then. Australia has proved that the more deserving team won the series. A team compromising Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Gambhir, and Harbhajan succumbed against the Kangaroos who had lost Lee, Johnson, Hopes, and Siddle mid-way through the series.
The results have thrown up conclusions which might not be that pleasing for Team India. This writer of yours is being brave enough to put it down in black and white and is ready to take the ire of over zealous fans in all its good spirit.
