iSport | For the Fans, by the Fans

So many times people explain a situation by simply saying “his face tells the story”. At the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo there was a face and a fairy tale story for all cricket lovers.

The story actually began when India comprehensively lost its first Test match to Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium a few days back. A script was born. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar had it written in his mind, body and soul. And the title read “A Hundred at SSC”.

The dress rehearsals began the moment Team India arrived at the ground and the nets got going. Extended batting sessions, throw-downs and chats; everything pointed towards something special, something divine. As the match day grew closer, the intensity in his face deepened. The eyes had already pictured the movie. The mind had already calculated the method. Tendulkar looked in all readiness for a long haul in the theatre.

He tried to include other actors as well by trying to give as many invaluable inputs as possible, but as it happens with unparalleled artists, you seldom find others on the exact wavelength. But he hoped his intensity would rub off on the rest.

As in most hit scripts there is always a build up or a background after which the ‘hero’  takes the centre stage. For two whole days the centre stage was occupied by, well, only Sri Lankan batsmen really. Contributed by ordinary bowling from India they piled up a massive score. India was looking at another possible follow on and a defeat which would cost them the Top spot in Test cricket.

But Tendulkar had other ideas. All along the two days the spotlight was on the Paranavitanas, the Sangakkaras and the Jayawardenes; and deservedly so. As the mountain of runs grew bigger and the shoulders kept dropping lower, the expressions of the Indian players had drastically changed. From hopeful, to a look of turmoil. But one expression never changed; on the face that has given us hope, pride and self belief, for the past 20 plus years. A face that said we could do it. It was as if a tiger, wounded by the previous fight, was waiting to pounce back and pounce back hard.

After a good start India lost a few wickets in no time and looked like they were crumbling, again. But the story was just taking shape and it was time to say ‘lights-camera-action’ for this Indian hero. He came in with a body language which comforted us as if there was nothing to worry about and a look of polite stubbornness to notify the Sri Lankans that there was nothing that could get him out - when India were 472 runs behind.

When he played his first forward defence, it was evident that his brain had the bowlers and the conditions already sorted out. Tendulkar was a man who had his script etched all over him. A man who knew he needed to do something he has done on countless previous occasions – get India out of dire straits.

What we were privileged to see for the next four and a half hours was a blend of solidarity, composure, eminence and supremacy. A stunning blend called Tendulkar. It was test match batting at its best, for everyone to see. His bat came down as straight as it could, timing most of the balls to absolute perfection. He held fort when it was necessary, let loose at every opportunity he was presented with and also manufactured runs from good deliveries.

Like a great artist transcends from one scene in the script to another, without losing continuity and focus, Tendulkar was remarkable at effortlessly adapting his batting style – to the different bowlers and their tactics; and his running between the wickets – to the changing partners. When old warhorses Dravid and Laxman partnered him, he was visibly slower but as soon as Raina and then much later Dhoni, came to the crease there was a spring in his step all along, looking for that extra run. Sheer theatrical finesse from the Master!

We have heard cricketers mention ‘being in the zone’ many times. But on most occasions it is difficult to express and explain to people, what that ‘zone’ is all about. One only needed to zoom in the camera towards Tendulkar’s helmet to understand this phenomenon. It was ‘method acting’ at its very best.

A double century to remember! From the fear of following-on, to bettering the Sri Lankan score, it was an innings that held Team India’s hand and pulled it out of a hole placing it on a pedestal. It would be unfair not to mention the supporting role played by Raina in a debut performance that deserves all the accolades it gets, and more. Incidentally the last time an Indian scored a hundred on debut was also when he walked into join Tendulkar.

Thank you, Sachin Tendulkar for treating us to another classic and giving us another reason to smile.