MOJITO

Its been 15 years since i started watching cricket. It was during the 1992 World Cup i started watching cricket. In fact, i didnt have any other option, coz, all my cousins are hardcore cricket fans. Kapil Dev and Azhar were the only players in the tournament whom i have heard of. I came to know that Sunil Gavaskar, the only other player who i know has retired already some 5 years back. Only during the India Vs Pakistan match, i came know there is a player called Sachin Tendulkar got Man of the Match and he plays very good. Azhar was my cousin's favourite and so he was my favourite too. I asked this question to almost all my cousins. Is Sachin a better player than Azhar. 'No' was the answer from everyone. One cousin put it in a clear sentence. "Dei. Azhar vandhu namma Elangovan(enga area'laye periya batsman) maathiri, sachin vandhu namma chinnu(another cousin, plays good but not better than elango) maathiri. That explained everything to me. In the mean time India was expelled in the first round of the world cup.

I was never a big fan of sachin until the 1996 World Cup happened. After seeing all his beautiful knocks in that tournament, i was no more a azhar fan, i became a big fan of sachin. Then came the1998 season.Wow,he scored a centery in almost every alternate match. I became a bigger fan of him. I dont know how many times i would have switched off the TV, when sachin got out. I dont know in how many Sachin Vs Ganguly and Sachin Vs Lara discussions i would have got involved. Being said this and seeing Sachins performance for the past 4 years, am i really that big fan of sachin today??? His last significant performance to win a match for India was almost four years back. Ind Vs Pak match in 2003 world cup.

Let me ask some questions and see what would have been my answers 4 years back and now.
1. Who is the best batsman of current generation.
4 Years Back: ithu oru kelviya? Obviously Sachin
Now : Ennaathu? Sachina? Appo Ponting'a ennanu solrathu.

2. Why Sachin does not perform in big matches.
4YB: Didnt you see 1998 Sharjah Cup final against Australia. Isn't world Cup the biggest among all matches. World Cup'la sachin's performance/records therinjuttu pesuda vendru.
Now: No comments. About recently concluded World cup, lesser said the better.

3. Why does he act in so many advertisements.
4YB: Do you remember Minnale dialogue. " Ennala mudiyuthu odakkarein, unnala mudiyaati moodittu po". Similarly, "naanga matchla adikarom, athanaal ad'la nadikkoraom, unakenna?"
Now: Athaane!!! Why does he do so many advertisements?

4. In Test matches why doesnt he perform while chasing a target in 2nd innings.
4YB: When he scored that brilliant 100 against Pak in chennai, you guys were not able to score remaining 15 runs and win that match. Ellathayum naangale panna mudiyuma??
Now: ada pongappa..1st inningsla adikkave vazhiya kaanom. Moreover, he was booed in his own fort Mumbai, ithula naa ennatha solla.

I still dont have the guts to say I hate sachin,, but definitely i am not that big a fan of him i used to be.
I wanna write about one thought that always comes to my mind. Sachin announces his retirement, he plays his last match in Mumbai, he scores a martch winning knock(not necessarily a 100) and walks back to the pavillion to a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Wow!!! Will that happen. Lets hope. yeah.. HOPE is the word.