He was Mumbai's brightest star; The next big thing happening to mumbai after the little master Sunil Gavaskar;Was often called the Vivian Richards of mumbai! It was on his stumps that the famed coach Ramakant Achrekar had placed a coin first - a sign in Mumbai cricket circles that you were the chosen one.No,No, you are wrong! He is not the now 'former' great Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He is one Mr. Gurav Anil.
When the entire country was celebrating Sachin, Gurav was lying down far far away from the Wankhede.The smell of cheap alcohol rests around him, as do years of pain in his wild, staring glazed eyes. Where did it all go wrong? Some 25 years back his biggest fans were Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. Sadly now, even his children don't talk to him.
When Sachin in his farewell speech mentioned every single member of his family as the backbone of his success, Gurav was almost cursing his family. Ironically his brother was also named Ajit! Remember Ajit Tendulkar?
Ajit, Gurav's brother fell in to bad company and police were behind the entire Gurav family from then on. Life, took the wrong turn once his younger brother became the target of the police. Finally to distance himself from police he had to move away from his place! And sadly away from cricket.
May be 'Gurrrrraaaaaav Gurraav' would have been a chant as well! Another cricketing hero could have won Bharat Ratna; could have become the cynosure of all eyes; It did not happen that way. And one major difference between Sachin and Gurav was the influence that institution called 'family' had on the two individuals.
I don't deny that there were other differences. It is said Gurav failed to score in an important match when the selectors were watching. He did not have the temperament to fight on. And there were many other factors as well.
Yet, of course yet with a capital 'Y' it was the FAMILY, the real difference.
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