I sure was looking forward to 2015. Of course, marriage and the wife were attractions; Even otherwise 2015 was special. It is the world cup year! and we are the reigning world champs.
All the excitement apart, the major disappointment of this world cup is the absence of the little man, "Sachin Tendulkar". For us, growing up Sachin defined cricket. And who else can define world cups?
India won and lost with Sachin those days; The 1996 world cup, my first, showed the reality of our generation. The stumping of Mark waugh when he was lighting up the Mumbai sky, and the hundred in Delhi against Sri lanka going in vain are fresh in our minds. And who can forget that fateful day when a sachin misjudged run led us to the catastrophe in the world cup semifinal. We cried too!
1999, England was a lost cause just because Sachin did not play one day after the loss of his father. The century against Kenya and showing his raised arms to the dead dad, were embedded in our memories.
2003 world cup! how can we forget what happened then? Those ten days were scintillating. The majestic six of Andrew Caddick, that sparkling cover drive of Wasim Akram of the first ball of the chase and that huge six of Shoaib Akthar. And then the disastrous pull shot of Mcgrath! Life was cruel I said.
The less said the better of 2007. And then came 2011. The Dhoni era had started by then! Yet, it was Sachin for us. A hundred in Bangalore, a hundred in Nagpur, that heart wrenching fifty where we suffered palpitations in Mohali and then the eruption in Mumbai. Virat Kohli reflecting what we thought. Of course, it was the Sachin Tendulkar world cup. Wasn't it?
So, 2015 here. The kohli's, Devilliers and the Sangakkara's have taken over. Cricket has increased by leaps and bounds. The big bats, and the hugely improved fielding has added attraction. Yet, it is not the same anymore. Not that romantic. It cannot be!
The romance which the bride in Sachin Tendulkar and the groom in the 90's Indian cricket fan is lost forever!
All the excitement apart, the major disappointment of this world cup is the absence of the little man, "Sachin Tendulkar". For us, growing up Sachin defined cricket. And who else can define world cups?
India won and lost with Sachin those days; The 1996 world cup, my first, showed the reality of our generation. The stumping of Mark waugh when he was lighting up the Mumbai sky, and the hundred in Delhi against Sri lanka going in vain are fresh in our minds. And who can forget that fateful day when a sachin misjudged run led us to the catastrophe in the world cup semifinal. We cried too!
1999, England was a lost cause just because Sachin did not play one day after the loss of his father. The century against Kenya and showing his raised arms to the dead dad, were embedded in our memories.
2003 world cup! how can we forget what happened then? Those ten days were scintillating. The majestic six of Andrew Caddick, that sparkling cover drive of Wasim Akram of the first ball of the chase and that huge six of Shoaib Akthar. And then the disastrous pull shot of Mcgrath! Life was cruel I said.
The less said the better of 2007. And then came 2011. The Dhoni era had started by then! Yet, it was Sachin for us. A hundred in Bangalore, a hundred in Nagpur, that heart wrenching fifty where we suffered palpitations in Mohali and then the eruption in Mumbai. Virat Kohli reflecting what we thought. Of course, it was the Sachin Tendulkar world cup. Wasn't it?
So, 2015 here. The kohli's, Devilliers and the Sangakkara's have taken over. Cricket has increased by leaps and bounds. The big bats, and the hugely improved fielding has added attraction. Yet, it is not the same anymore. Not that romantic. It cannot be!
The romance which the bride in Sachin Tendulkar and the groom in the 90's Indian cricket fan is lost forever!
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