Why i don't want to be in his shoes?

He has seen it all! Victories and defeats; records and records; ups and down; accolades and brickbats. Whatever he says is analysed, Wherever he goes, he is revered, Whatever he has touched, had become gold and whenever he sneezes, millions miss a beat. Through, the last two decades of riding on the dream of a growing India, Sachin Tendulkar has lived a dream. A dream not only, he cherished as a young kid growing in the by lanes of the famed sivaji park, but also the dreams of millions of Indians. For the fast, economically rising, and courageous India, he represented the face. Simply put, he was the everything, million people wanted……Everything they dreamed.

                Yet, standing at third man that day, with just an over to go before the end of a world cup match, I would really prefer writing about him than wearing his shoes. That over decided the course of that match. India could have won that with some simple, thoughtful bowling. But, 4 balls later the match is gone out of the hands and India have lost. Lost again. He has done it all that day. Gave his everything.  Played an innings of such brilliance that Steyn and Morkel , the best in the world, looked pedestrians. Dived, stopped and ran all around the park, as if he is turning 22 next week. But the truth is, he had to walk back that day with heads bowed down, because the team lost.

                Sometimes truth can be a bitter pill and the bitter pill for Sachin that day is, He can give 110%, and still end up losing, he can score tons of runs and still might not etch his name on the coveted trophy, he might dive and stop a boundary but still there are open spaces in his team’s armoury. That is why, I don’t sometimes envy him. Had he chosen tennis, who knows, Federer – Nadal rivalry would never have happened, Had he been born in Australia, His name would have been in the world cup three consecutive times, and sadly he chose Cricket, and without a choice was born in India and that is precisely the reason why I don’t envy him sometimes.

                Lazy, Chalta hain, people like me, might still revere him, love to watch him or even worship him but to be in his shoes??? I dare not, until, probably he lifts that world cup trophy, which he so much wants and to nobody’s disagreement very much deserves……and for that to happen,  fifteen other guys, mortals, not blessed with as much talent as he has, sometimes not wanting to win as much as he wants, will have to pull up their socks.

                Pull up their socks, not only for their country, but also for a man, whom winning that cup is more important than probably any other achievement he has done in his whole life……..Probably, that might make me change my mind a bit…….