The Hero

Tomorrow, the ICC Cricket World Cup comes to a close. It’s a fairly limited sport in terms of the number of nations that play test cricket. Barely any following if compared to football. But in those 10 nations and for the several followers across the world, there is one man, who has been there and done that. One man, in front of whom time stands still. 20 years and more, his peak never seems high enough.

He has several records to his name. There may be very few things he has not achieved as a batsman. 200 runs in a one day international match. His technique is simply flawless. Old school cricket lovers love him for his discipline and technical perfection. Those born in the era of ODIs and T20s love him for his shots and timing and plain brilliance on the field. Till he is there on the pitch, no opposing team can rest their guard down. His mere presence simply takes the pressure of the other 10 players of the Indian cricket team!

But there is more to him than that. Much more. The reasons as to why he is the national Hero of India are innumerable and countless. More than anything else, he is a role model. He is the person, mothers want their sons to grow up to be. Everyone simply RESPECTS him. Even when match fixing scandal rocked the cricket world, there was no blot on him. When he says that the Harbhajan did not say something derogatory, ICC and the world took him for his word. His standards of ethics are a benchmark. 

He carries the hope of more than a billion people. He has been doing that for consistently more than 20 years. He is the reflection of the emerging economy that india is. Strong, resilient and confident. He doesn’t live a flamboyant lifestyle. He is the Great Indian Middle Class Dream. Humble roots and great achievements. That is the reason why people love him. Because he is one single man, who embodies all of this and who is still there.

And this is his last world cup. We know he wants to win it. His emotions may not show that, but we know it. The World Cup is the biggest and the missing trophy on his mantelpiece. His several team mates have grown up watching his game. They want to win it for him. More than a billion prayers will be there for him. And maybe it was destined that he wins it in his home. Mumbai will explode when its favorite son will give this nation the joy. The 100^th century is nothing in comparison to winning it and winning it at home. Please team India, Lets Do it this time. The guy deserves this. Ohh wait… We refer to him as ‘God’. But he is best known as…

Sachin Tendulkar.