Growing with SACHIN had mesmerized me

 

All through our growing years, he was with us, with his scintillating stroke play, with his guts to challenge the mighties, with his indomitable spirit of game, with his smile to win hearts of millions. He made us unite, instilled the belief to win,  inspired like a role model over the years.

In return we were with him in his troubled times. When he got out on SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ’s delivery at CHENNAI in 1999, when RICARDO POWELL hit 124 from 93 at Toronto. EJAZ AHAMED was my favourite from PAKISATN till he hit 139(84) at Lahore. The 175 against Aussies at Hyderbad is still a wounded scar we are carrying along with him.

As compared to contemporary bowling, could you believe how a young boy in his teenage carved a wonderful stroke play against greats like Marshall,McDermote,Mcgrath,Walsh,Ambrose,Akram,Waqar and Donald. Growingly he showed his prowess against Akthar,Lee,Fleming,Vaas,Dillion.

My memories starts back in 1990s. We were staying at a rented house those days. I used to go to a saloon from where I read a daily named  "EXPRESS. There I read about the 114 runs in perth test and it is still vivid in my memories. Young SACHIN was leading a battle against mighty Aussies with KIRAN MORE at one end.

Then comes the 1992 world cup. I hate Mcdermote, David Boon, Dean Jones, Ian Botham, Graham Gooch as they were like Amareesh Puri and Shakthi Kapoor for me. I was so happy that my player sachin tendulkar hit 82 against NEWZEALAND. NZ were considered as the favourites(Ken rutherford was my pick of player from NZ), but later outthrowned by INZI’s onslaught.

1994 was really a resurgence for INDIAN team as they could discover a new opener.We moved to our own house in 1994 where we bought a new tape recorder with radio and  I usually keep it on the window and get a seat near to the speaker so that I wouldn’t miss the 8.45 samachar and 9 PM news when India plays abroad. Sachins 82 from 49 balls was unbelievable for me and I had seen  his jump from crease to hit gavin Larsen in Doordarshan news many times. The scene of ball flying from the bat was a treat to the eye.

I had a big confusion “who is better KAMBLI or SACHIN?? “. The former hit back to back double tons against ENG and ZIM. But SACHIN mesmerized me in 1996 WILLS world up which I consider the best of his 6 outings. He got a huge fan following since then. Jayasurya and kaluvitharana had springs inside their bats else INDIA would have won that world cup definitely. The emotional and innocent child in me still believes that. We had no doubts that INDIA would easily win when sachin hit those sixes of CHAMINDA VAAS and PUSHPAKUMARA.I was having my lunch in front of the TV and decided to went out to imitate the SACHIN in our battle field and by the time we came back TILAKARATNE and RANATHUNGE were sailing away and we could watch them from shore only. Manoj Prabhakar would never forget that match I guess. But semifinal at EDEN GARDENS was a black Wednesday. I had wished Kambli hit consecutive sixes and fours on Jayasurya and Vaas and take India home at Eden. But he had to weep along with us. 

1998 - Oh!My GOD.No words to say. It starts with a blistering 26 ball 41 of Independence cup. 9 centuries in a year that too classic,brutal,elegant.SHARJAH,TOM MOODY,KASPAROWICZ,WARNE,OLONGA.It still mesmerises....

1999-World cup was  not good by his standards.2000s showcased the master class in him and each of his innigs earned him the tag of super human. The sixes of Andy Caddick and Shoaib Akthar sramped his authority over the bowlers.

Memories are galore and pouring when we think about him as he take us into the pleasure of watching.

He made us to peep into TVs of strangers home to know how much he scored when STAR cricket and TEN sports were alien and INDIA was playing abroad.Those were the times we wait for TV shops of MG road to open to know how much SACHIN has scored.

I had seen SACHIN bowled by SHOAIB in first ball and KOLKATTA fan’s stunning silence.He had to come out and plead spectators to continue the match when he was tangled by SHOAIB for a run out. I had watched the declaration at 194 against PAK at MULTAN in front of a TV shop MG Road Ernakulam on a hot sunny day. I still remember the match against ENG in KANPUR where SACHIN and his clone(SEHWAG) cracking HOGGARD and Gough. I never felt tired watching all that 29 overs from a KSRTC bus stand.

As one of my friend said, now cricket is no more of aesthetics-. The real miss is waking up by 8 30 and preparing for a day match on a cold SUNDAY morning. The voice from stadium when INDIA bat first was always enough to increase heart beating , The rise of heartbeats when Sachin faces the initial delivery.There are some advantages too.No need to bunk classes/office.No need to stand in front of home appliance shops of town. The rise on his knees, the glance through the midwicket, the dead straight drives, the sweeps all were classy and no one could beat that.

He will mesmerize our memories for sure.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/68/68347.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lGdKDg6l5k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfXtkwv2WS8 Time frame 4.31 to 4.34.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WeZf9fFPMA.......time frame 2.43 to  3.25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUGTDk9hvNg

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/64742.html

Lantern

I felt alone, darkness and stricken when I turn back on the road started for achieving the ambitions we had long for years back. We lost our way in the shadows of luxury and posh of MNC s and forgot the payback time to our society. But there was a person waiting for us carrying a lantern that glows virtues. 

He is none other than our beloved Big Brother – Binoj.

Hope all of you remember the initiation from the three – Binoj,Munna and Ratheesh a month back and we could start off it with a happy note. We went to Kasthurbha Old Age home, Nedupuzha, Thrissur and arranged a lunch with them.

There were 27 women ready to love those who come there, but not loved by their lovable siblings, son, daughters during their old age. One of them even put me in a state of mind where I could feel the power when someone loves us. I felt blessed, loved and ashamed off the self proclaimed worthless achievements. They are more passionate than us about their life even when they had no home, no relatives, no grand daughters to love. I could control my tears in time else it would burst.

At 1 o clock they started prayer and asked my name, I said sandeep and binoj.

They prayed “Innivide ethi njngalku bhakshanam tharan sanmanasu kanicha sanjayinum vinodhinum avarude kootukarkum kudumba karkum nallathu varuthene”.

We spent time with them hearing their worries and felt by the ignorance they faced in their life. We took photographs and they were very excited about their appearance in those photos.

           

Binoj was on duty in charge of the state school youth festival website developed by his team and even deprived his sleep of as he reached room after a night out support just before my call. That’s called passion. Mine is a tiny dew drop on Mount Everest.

When we were about to leave one grand mother said that she does not want to die as there are people who still follows virtues in their minds and she wait for them which she could not see prior to this old age home. Yes guys they are waiting for you

There are many these kind of activities we can do with ease and I believe in those small things that lift our self morale. It gives a great satisfaction to me.

CSEZ canteen.....................................................

Trying to recollect the beautiful moments when we start up from seat by pressing windows L and realize that you are the only person remains to join the group down at ground floor. Sometimes that realization ends up in second floor restroom or reception itself.

From ground floor, its like a amal neerad film, guys walks in slow motion, three steps forward and two quick steps back. The CZEZ gate will be cleared in no time and wait for trailers to pass. Discussion on the various burning topics reaches its peak and hits a sudden hault by seeing the closed canteen doors. At that moment the timely comment from Paul comes "Dogs went to csez canteen and ....."

Post if u can remember.............. those occassions/dates.
Starting with Amavasi in Karkidakom(July)