3rd November 2008 will forever be marked as a day when India’s second greatest test player, and India’s best bowler bid adieu to international cricket. To many, Kumble was a thorough gentleman. To his opponents he was a fierce competitor. To his compatriots he was simply Jumbo. I like to call him the Silent Killer, or simply Killer. He had the knack of picking up wickets whenever required. There would be an air of anticipation as soon as Kumble got the ball in his hands. For the better part of his career he was India’s Lethal Weapon.

Anil Kumble, age 38 years, has left international cricket amid emotional scenes today at the Ferozeshah Kotla. I, for one, had this feeling at the start of this match that this series would be Killer’s final. Even though he had failed miserably in the last couple of series, Anil Kumble will forever be remembered as one of India’s greatest champions. Who could forget 10-out-of-10. Not me as I was there to witness the one of the finest moment’s in Indian cricket. I still remember that match. Pakistan openers Afridi and Saeed Anwar were smashing Indian bowlers to a pulp. The crowd wanted Kumble. They knew if anyone could pick up a wicket then it was him. And Jumbo did not disappoint. In fact he went 9 more steps further by becoming only the second player in Test cricket history to take all 10 wickets in an innings.

Kumble’s departure has created a big void in Indian cricket. There is no one who could match up to this great man’s commitment. We may all be euphoric about Amit Mishra’s 7 wicket haul in his debut match or salivating at the prospect of young Piyush Chawla’s impending return to Test cricket. But make no mistakes that Anil Kumble can and will never be replaced. He is a once in a lifetime cricketer who used his guile and his temperament to pick up over 600 wickets. Not like Muralitharan who has used a defective elbow, or even Shane Warne who bowled with magical turn.

A salute to an Indian bowling legend. I never got to see Bishen Bedi or the famous Indian quadruplet, but I have been honored to see the career of Anil Kumble. That is good enough for me. Three big cheers for Killer, Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray.

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For years we have seen our team to be the worst in fielding, on paper and on Live TV. The bungling old players have had over a decade of playing experience, yet there has been absolutely no improvement in their fielding. Yes they are good in catching, and catches win matches. But catches don’t come every other ball. Every single run counts in ODI cricket, and every time the ball is placed to Ganguly and Dravid, the batsmen always take an extra run.

Well what about running between the wickets. It would be an understatement to say that both Ganguly and Dravid are the worst runners in the Indian squad. Saurav Ganguly has played 311 matches. He has been part of 145 losses. He has been runout 13 times averaging 34.92 every time. Almost once every 11 matches that India have lost. Almost always after getting a good start. Overall he has been runout 23 times. Dravid, on the other hand, has played 333 ODI matches. He has been involved in 160 defeats and got himself runout 20 times. That is once in every 8 defeats. He averages 30.65 and just like Ganguly gets himself runout after getting a good start.

And this does not include the number of runouts that happen to the other batsmen. One of the biggest crimes while taking a run is NOT to slide the bat when completing a run. Ganguly literally “plonks” his bat when he reaches the other end. How many times has he been given runout due to this. That is something he has ignored for his entire career. Same goes for Dravid. Or for that matter even Virender Sehwag. But Sehwag is a better fielder than these two and is also a useful bowler in the shorter format of the game.

Lets talk about the players that ARE coming to Australia.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Current age: 26 years

Matches: 96
Runs: 2838
Highest: 183*
Average: 43.66
Strike rate: 94.72
100s: 3
50s: 17

The Indian skipper hasn’t had much to say in the ongoing test series as far as batting is concerned. His wicket-keeping has definitely gone to a whole new level ever since he became a captain. He is said to be the main reason behind Ganguly and Dravid’s exclusion from the team. He will now have to back himself by leading this group of youngsters to a historic win in the Triangular series. His form since he became captain hasn’t been too bad although this series will be a true test of his character, both as a captain and as a batsman.

Yuvraj Singh

Current age: 26 years

Matches: 195
Runs: 5573
Highest: 139
Average: 36.90
Strike rate: 86.61
100s: 8
50s: 34

The vice-captain of the Indian team. He is Dhoni’s deputy and the two definitely share a terrific record when batting together. He is a proven match-winner and his athleticism in the field has been a boon for India. Once he gets set in, he knows how to finish a match. His record of playing match-winning innings is perhaps even better than Tendulkar’s. He has a good average against Australia and Sri Lanka, however, its his bowling that will be the key during the middle overs.

Virender Sehwag

Current age: 29 years

Matches: 178
Runs: 5231
Highest: 130
Average: 31.51
Strike rate: 96.88
100s: 8
50s: 25

Definitely one of the surprise elements in the squad. Sehwag, not too long ago, was considered to be the successor to Tendulkar and the man who would lead India’s next-gen cricketers. He has a terrific cricket mind and more often than not his suggestions/decisions pay off. His batting strike rate is more than enough to shake the very best bowlers in their knees. To maintain almost a run-a-ball strike rate for over 5000 career runs goes to show how devastating he is. Just like Yuvraj, his bowling will be very important for India.

Sachin Tendulkar

Current age: 34 years

Matches: 407
Runs: 15962
Highest: 186*
Average: 44.33
Strike rate: 85.50
100s: 41
50s: 87

Not much to be said about this legend. He is back to near-peak form with the bat. Needs to continue tormenting the Aussie and Sri Lankan bowlers. Should open the innings with Sehwag to launch a counter-offensive on the opposition bowling. Will most likely be out to prove everyone wrong about his performance declining with age. Sachin Tendulkar. Just the mere mention of his name sends goosebumps among the opposition bowlers. Should end this tour by winning the ODI series for India.

Dinesh Karthik

Current age: 22 years

Matches: 26
Runs: 330
Highest: 63
Average: 22.00
Strike rate: 69.75
100s: 0
50s: 2

Karthik will most likely sit out during the entire series. He is more suited to Test cricket than ODIs as his strike rate will point out. The Indian selectors should have brought in Mohammad Kaif instead of Karthik for this series. Karthik is definitely one of the better fielders in his side, however, he is short on form and confidence at the moment after being side-lined for the entire test series. The only way he can get a chance is if Gambhir, Uthappa and Sehwag do not perform or Dhoni gets injured. No doubt a player for the future, however, his selection in this squad leaves a lot of question marks over the selection criteria.

Robin Uthappa

Current age: 22 years

Matches: 25
Runs: 607
Highest: 86
Average: 30.35
Strike rate: 104.65
100s: 0
50s: 4

The future of India, this young fire-brand is changing the way Indian youngsters will play cricket in the future. Believes in one theory only – Wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. His strike rate is exceptional at the moment. He will definitely be one of the kids to watch out for in the ODI series. Has a smart brain stacked into his small frame. Loves to go on the front foot and will love batting in Australia with the ball coming onto the bat nice and easy. Is not afraid of pulling or hooking the ball in the air to get maximum runs. Definitely in the mould of Sehwag rather than Tendulkar. Robin will most likely bat in the late-middle order and will have to do the job of finishing off the innings/match. He has shown a lot of potential in that area in the recently concluded ODI series against Pakistan. Robin needs to convert his starts into a three figure score. He is also one of their most energetic fielders and has a very good throwing arm.

Gautam Gambhir

Current age: 26 years

Matches: 37
Runs: 1043
Highest: 103
Average: 30.67
Strike rate: 75.14
100s: 2
50s: 6

Gautam Gambhir is on the verge of becoming another enigma like Ajit Agarkar, unless he pulls himself together and starts making more consistent contributions with the bat. He has started doing that once he established himself from the Twenty20 World Cup onwards. The confidence that he now has in own abilities is very heartening as he is a very good opening batsman with the right technique to take on the best bowlers. Loves to go after the spinners. Is a very good outfielder and good runner between the wickets. He was always going to be in the squad, its only a question of if there is a spot for him in the playing XI.

Suresh Raina

Current age: 21 years

Matches: 36
Runs: 612
Highest: 81*
Average: 26.60
Strike rate: 72.68
100s: 0
50s: 3

If there is anyone who should be permanent in the Indian team just for their fielding capabilities, then it is this young boy. Raina fell away last year due to a drop in form and injuries. However, he has bounced back with some healthy contributions on the domestic circuit and has been rewarded with a place in the 16 man squad. Raina is by far India’s best fielder, easily eclipsing Yuvraj, Kaif and Karthik. He is a livewire in the cover position and will change the game with his direct hits. It really is his destiny to lead India in the future, however, he will need to contribute consistently with the bat. Not that he can’t, Raina’s real strength is his ability to bat under pressure. He has all the elegance of a left-handed batsman and add a street-smart thinking mind, you have another match-winner in your hands. And he is only 21 years of age.

Rohit Sharma

Current age: 20 years

Matches: 4
Runs: 61
Highest: 52
Average: 20.33
Strike rate: 82.43
100s: 0
50s: 1

Here is another bright talent for India. In just 4 matches, he has scored a 50+ total and that too batting lower down the order. He is another good fielder for India and he has already proven his match-winning abilities in the Twenty20 World Cup. Rohit may not get a chance to play in the XI as there is way too much talent already in front of him, but to be included in the squad is a definite morale booster for this youngster. He may not be flashy as Uthappa or elegant as Raina, but he is a smart cricketer who has the technique to succeed in the international arena. Just looking at him playing, I feel that the future of Indian cricket is indeed in safe hands.

Irfan Pathan

Current age: 23 years

Batting

Matches: 85
Runs: 1137
Highest: 83
Average: 24.19
Strike rate: 79.39
100s: 0
50s: 5

Bowling

Matches: 85
Wicket: 127
Best: 5/27
5w: 1
4w: 3
Average: 27.81
Strike Rate: 32.80
Economy: 5.08

He may not admit it, but Irfan Pathan is definitely the all-rounder that India has been hoping for over two decades, ever since Kapil Dev retired. His comeback to the Indian team started with the Twenty20 World Cup win. Always a dangerous bowler to the right handers, getting the ball to come in being his most lethal delivery. Irfan has also added a very good slower-ball to his arsenal and has started hitting the late 130k to early 140k speed limits. He can swing the ball both ways and has a lovely yorker. He is also no mouse with the bat opening the innings for India in both ODIs and Test matches. He is a street smart cricketer who has gone through a rough patch recently. However, it seems that’s exactly what he needed after being on the top of the world not too far back. Excellent fielder, Irfan Pathan is India’s biggest find after Tendulkar, simply because of his all-round capabilities. He may not be the master of everything, but he sure is on his way to becoming the best all rounder in cricket.

Harbhajan Singh

Current age: 27 years

Matches: 161
Wickets: 181
Best: 5/31
5w: 2
4w: 2
Average: 33.46
Strike Rate: 48.00
Economy: 4.18

Whenever the “Turbanator” bowls, something almost always happens. Harbhajan’s achiles heel is his aggression. The sardar from Jalandhar has a fiery temper and is always a different bowler as soon as he picks up a wicket. His economy in ODIs is exceptional. His average, however, does not do justice to his natural talent. He has erred too much by bowling fast and flat in recent times and has failed to extract the turn that he is capable of. This series will be a competition between him and young Piyush Chawla for the lone spinner’s spot in the Indian team, unless the team management decide to go with two spinners, a strategy that would be really useful against the Australians. If he gets cleared of the racism charge, he will have a point to prove to himself, his team and to the Aussies. Still very young and with tons of experience, Harbhajan will have to lead the spin-department of India into the future and this series could just be the beginning.

Piyush Chawla

Current age: 19 years

Matches: 13
Wickets: 17
Best: 3/29
5w: 0
4w: 0
Average: 31.64
Strike Rate: 39.10
Economy: 4.84

At just 19 years of age, Piyush is the youngest player in the Indian squad alonwith Ishant Sharma. With the art of leg spin bowling dying after the retirement of Shane Warne, Chawla is hot property at the moment. The youngster has already shown class in England. He isn’t afraid to give the ball some air and continues to learn with every match. His biggest moment was when he got Sachin Tendulkar out to a wrong ‘un in a domestic match. That wicket showed the talent this youngster possesses. After Anil Kumble retires, Chawla will have to lead the Indian spin attack with Harbhajan Singh. The latter will have to play the mentor’s role. Chawla is also a handy batsman and he surely going to get a spot in the first couple of matches in the playing XI.

S Sreesanth

Current age: 24 years

Matches: 34
Wickets: 50
Best: 6/55
5w: 1
4w: 1
Average: 32.48
Strike Rate: 33.6
Economy: 5.78

‘The Aussies should be worried I am coming’ – Just one statement to tell you what Sreesanth is all about. Sreesanth is the new face of young, confident and aggressive India. Even more hot-headed than Harbhajan, Sreesanth will not take anything from the opposition. In fact he will most likely give back the same with twice the interest. He is definitely not afraid to lock horns with the best batsmen. His tussle with Hayden and Symonds will be a treat to watch in the ODI series. A natural wicket-taker, Sreesanth will have to channel his aggression for the benefit of the team. His trademark talking to himself has earned him the respect of a lot of commentators who are impressed by his fiery approach to bowling, perhaps the only Indian who is so fired up even before the start of the series.

Rudra Pratap Singh

Current age: 22 years

Matches: 38
Wickets: 48
Best: 4/35
5w: 0
4w: 2
Average: 31.70
Strike Rate: 36.3
Economy: 5.23

Rudra Pratap Singh will have the job to lead he Indian bowling attack with Pathan and Sreesanth. This young boy from Uttar Pradesh has accomplished a lot already in his short career. The key member in India’s win over Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup final, RP Singh has been showing tremendous form in the recent test series against Australia. A bit shabby in the outfield, RP Singh is also handy with the bat. Suffering a hamstring strain in the Adelaide test, he may not be a starter in the ODI series. This may pave way for Praveen Kumar to get his second ODI. RP Singh is definitely an asset for India as he can get the bowl to move in both directions and is very tight in his line and length.

Ishant Sharma

Current Age: 19 years

List A

Matches: 12
Wickets: 19
Best: 4/34
5w: 0
4w: 1
Average: 25.26
Strike Rate: 32.50
Economy: 4.65

Ishant Sharma has already shown a lot of promise in the ongoing test series against Australia. This lanky youngster from Delhi has had the better of the tussle with one of world cricket’s premier batsmen, Ricky Ponting. His rise to the Indian team has been very quick and the beanpole should reward the selector’s faith with a strong showing in the ODI series. With RP Singh looking uncertain to start the series, Ishant could very well be one of the bowlers leading the Indian bowling attack.

Praveen Kumar

Current age: 21 years

List A

Matches: 37
Wickets: 63
Best: 5/32
5w: 2
4w: 1
Average: 22.19
Strike Rate: 29.90
Economy: 4.45

Not much to say about Praveen Kumar regarding International experience. However, his List A stats as per above, are extremely impressive to say the least. Playing for India A regularly meant that it was only a matter of time before he was included in the national team. Praveen Kumar has a terrific batting average for a tailender and could well give Irfan Pathan a run for his money in the all rounder department. Not much is known about his fielding abilities though. His bowling will be his strength and he is known to be a match winner.

All in all the Indian selectors haven’t done a bad job at all. The potential of this batch of youngsters is phenomenal. This is the same team that won the Twenty20 World Cup, so I wonder why there is such a hue and cry this time around. None of Dravid, Laxman or other players’ supporters are crying foul except for Ganguly’s supporters. But the people from West Bengal have always been extremely passionate and defensive about their idol so this does not come as any surprise. The best way to silence them would be to put up a strong showing in the ODI series.

If we take Sachin out of the equation, here are some averages to ponder about this current squad:

Age: 23 years

Experience: 62 matches

Batting average (excluding bowlers): 29.57

Two bowlers (Ishant and Praveen) have yet to take wickets in ODI cricket. Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh are the most experience bowlers for India with only Harbhajan playing over a 100 matches. So, yes, the team is low in experience and this is where senior players like Sachin, Yuvraj, Sehwag and Dhoni will have to play a crucial role in guiding the talented but less-experienced youngsters. There is a lot to like about this squad and one thing is for sure, Indian cricket is going to see some very exciting times.

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1. “So how’s your wife and my kids” Former Aussie wicketkeeper Rod Marsh to Ian Botham.
2. “Hell, Gatt, move out of the way. I can’t see the stumps!” Aussie legend Dennis Lillee after stopping in his run-up to Mike Gatting during the opening match of England’s 1994-95 tour.
3. “You can’t f……. bat!” Merv Hughes to England’s Robin Smith in the 1989 Lords Test. Smith quips right back at Hughes after he cracked one of his ensuing balls to the boundary. “Hey, Merv, we make a fine pair. I can’t f…. bat, and you can’t f…. bowl!”
4. “F… me, look who it is. Mate, what are you doing here? There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”Mark Waugh to Jimmy Ormond. “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my family.”
5. “A cricket tour in Australia would be the most delightful period in your life…if you were deaf.” Said by bodyline fast bowler Harold Larwood, so sledging has being going on for decades!!
6. As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him. “Looks like you spent it eating,” Cullinan retorted.
7. Merv Hughes & Javed Miandad in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan. Hughes was less than impressed when Javed called him a “fat bus conductor” as the pair squared up to one another. A few balls later, Hughes got his man and as Javed walked past, could not resist shouting “Tickets, please!”
8. Merv Hughes was one of the greatest exponents of the fine “art” of sledging. Once during a tour game in South Africa Hughes was bowling to Hansie Cronje . It was an especially flat wicket and Cronje was hitting Hughes for fours and sixes all over the place. After the umpteenth boundary, Hughes headed down the pitch, stood near Cronje, let out a fart and said: “Try hitting that for six.” It was five minutes before the guffawing stopped and play could resume.
9. Greg Thomas was bowling to Viv Richards in a county game. Viv missed a superb out swinger, and Thomas said “It’s red, round and weighs about 5 1/2 ounces.” Next ball Viv hits Greg Thomas out of the ground for a 6 and replies,”Greg, you know what it looks like. Go ahead and find it!”
10. Ravi Shastri v/s the aussie 12th man Mike Whitney. Shastri hits it and looks for a single…Whitney gets the ball in and says “if you leave the crease I’ll break your f…ing head” Shastri: “if you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn’t be the f…ing 12th man”
11. Steve Waugh…Last Test…comes up to bat…PArthiv-”so this is your last test…show us some of those famous slog-sweeps of yours.” Steve- “Respect Me…For when I made my test debut You were still in your nappies”
12. Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall : “Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?”
13. In an England v Australia Test during early 1960’s Trueman was fielding close to the gate from the pavilion. As a new batsman came out he turned to shut the gate, Trueman said “Don’t bother son, you won’t be out there long enough.

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Ponting’s response – “Hang on. We’ve just won the World Cup. Can’t you give us one minute?” – after adding “a swear word into that request, which the police officer did not appreciate at all.” Any person would be offended, and definitely saying things like this to a cop is not the best of things to be doing in a foreign country. In Ponting’s own words, “He stepped towards me, and my teammates moved in behind me, as if a real stink was about to take place. I think they threatened to lock us up for the night, and we soon realised that we weren’t going to be permitted to finish our ceremony.”

The ICC Player of the Year admitted that he failed as his country’s ambassador and will do well to not repeat that same mistake again.

In other news, Ponting has urged his team members to not allow Muralitharan to break Warne’s record as the most successful test bowler in history on Aussie soil. Ponting believes that his team has the capability to take on Murali. Further to this, Arjuna Ranatunga has asked Murali not to travel to Australia.

“I told him (Muralidharan) I wish he wasn’t touring Australia because of the amount of trouble he has had,” Ranatunga told The Australian daily.

“But he wants to go. It was up to him to decide. My personal opinion was that he shouldn’t go,” he added.

“I think Murali is tough enough to go through that and take whatever he gets.”

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Below is his career statistics, but figures don’t always tell the entire story. The game of cricket has truly lost a legend. From the incident that saw him almost maul a fan in Toronto, to his captaincy and Pakistan’s shocking ouster from the 2003 World Cup, the man has been involved in a lot of things.

The above stats are even more mind-boggling considering Inzy’s complete lack of a fitness regime. Hopefully, he will still be attached to the game as he still has a lot to offer.

Image source: Cricinfo.com

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That’s Indian Cricket for you.

How many times have you heard in a stadium, spectators chanting:-
“Sachin, Sachin, Sachin…” or “Sourav, Sourav, Sourav…”, include new names as well Yuvraj and Dhoni?
Some say “Sachin is God”, others say “Sourav is my hero”. Pretty women say “Yuvraj is sexy” and “Dhoni you are awesome”. This is the fame these cricketers have earned.

We always used to complain that India’s biggest possession “KOHINOOR” diamond is in erroneous hands. People say that India lost that GEM sometime in the dust of history.

I say, India never recognized its true Gem, forget about losing it. I say, “KUMBLE YOU ARE THE REAL KOHINOOR INDIA EVER POSSESSED”

Yes, it certainly is Anil Kumble.

I am not saying this just by a Cricket Fan’s perspective. My words are truly balanced, not biased.

Cricketer, born in Bangalore, India. He is only the second man to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, with 10 for 74 against Pakistan in Delhi in February 1999. A leg-spinner, he bowls faster than most spinners. He made his first-class debut for Karnataka in 1989–90, first played for India in 1990, and has been a regular ever since. He played one season for Northamptonshire in 1995, taking 105 wickets. Till now, he had taken 566 wickets in 118 Tests (average 28·73) and more than that a “very special” test match Century under his belt, 110* against England.

What you ask more? Are these facts not enough to make you achieve immortality?

Those who say ‘NO’, you may be right. Try reading more. You will get your answer by yourself.

For those who agree with me, should wait. This is not the end. Anil Kumble’s career is not all about stats and figures. It has got something more to advice, something more to convey.

This is what his fellow cricketers have to say:-

“Tough” – Rahul Dravid
“Extremely, extremely tough & a great team man” - Sachin Tendulkar
‘Big red wood of Indian cricket” – Murali Karthik
“He is always coming at you, one can never relax”- Steve Waugh
“It (10/74) couldn’t have happened to a better cricketer”- Shane Warne

I remember that Antigua Test of 2002 against West Indies, he was heavily strapped up, with bands going around his jaw, over his head and across the back of it, a mummy like Kumble ran in and in quick tempo, scalped the wicket of Lara. It was a classic Kumble delivery, ball not turning much, skidding through, trapping the batsman in front of the stumps. Wowlaaa! Lara OUT!

This is the kind of competiveness and optimism Kumble has preached throughout his life and continue pursuing the same. The never-say-die attitude along with his desire to succeed at all level makes him a living legend. No one in history has won more matches for India than Anil Kumble. Kumble’s prodigious talent just keeps on multiplying by every match by match. His exceptional performances outside India came into limelight when he powered India to memorable wins in Headingly, Adelaide, Multan and Kingston, using an improved googly, bigger sidespin and more variation in flight and on the crease.

In August 2007, he went past another great Glenn McGrath’s 563 wickets to become the 3^rd all time highest wicket takers in the most prestigious format of Cricket i.e. TEST MATCHES. The same test also witnessed a lethal being transforming itself to immortality by securing the FIRST TEST MATCH CENTURY that took 17 years and 118 matches. Even the great men of his era like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne did not able to accomplish this feat.

He pounces on the opposition batsman like a hungry lion do so to a feeble deer. Grasp him with the scruff of the neck and ultimately force him to lose his wicket. In other words, Kumble dominate the batsman ball after ball until the batsman loses his patience and in process of trying to dislocate the ball of immaculate line and length, give up the hard earned wicket.

After so many years of true service to Indian Cricket, its time for all of us to make way for this prestigious shining star of India so that it can notch up to the highest possible level where it can be remembered for years and years to come.

Read more about my own Winning 11 on my Blog- Aarambh.

Check out the video of Anil Kumble 10 Wickets

Click here to view the embedded video.

Image sources:- www.cricinfo.com, www.kumble.com

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“When you are travelling also in between, sometimes it is not enough. Specially when you had played a day-night match. when you get to the next place, there is literally one day in between where you go out practice and play a match.”

“So it gets difficult on the body. Just one of those things on which you have to focus during the recovery sessions. Thats what we as a team are doing. But its not that easy,” said Tendulkar.

It would be surprising if Sachin quit from ODIs as he has been scintillating form in the tour so far. He has smashed bowlers of all shapes and sizes to all parts of the ground. Grossing 548 runs in only ten innings, with four 90s, at a strike rate of 84.3, Sachin is far from quitting.

The reason in his rich form could also be because he has been reunited with his partner in crime, Saurav Ganguly, at the top of the order and with no Sehwag in the side, the responsibility for smashing the opposition opening has fallen back on his experienced shoulders. A responsibility that he relishes. No wonders he has started playing exactly like he should be. No wonders I am back to being Sachin’s fan – ssshhh don’t mention this to my mom or brother, they will eat me alive, hehehe.

You go Sachin, the whole of India wants you to succeed. We are all passionate about one man and that is Sachin. Yes we have criticized you a lot in the last couple of years, but that’s because we all love you and want you to succeed. When the “force” of over a billion people is with you even Luke Skywalker can’t be messing with you.

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Click on the image for the video (opens in new window)

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Alternate Link if above video is not working:

http://www.dailymotion.com/kunalnanda/video/x2n6eu_sachin-tendulkar-a-legend-of-the-ga_sport

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