Debate over Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement

Anil Narendra

Former Indian Captain Sunil Gavaskar’s critical comments over Master Blaster being bowled out consecutively three times during the test series against New Zealand, have triggered a sort of war of emotions in the world of cricket over the Sachn’s retirement. In fact, problem with Sachin these days is that his morale has received some beating. His supporters have turned his critics with his being bowled out thrice in a row. His career appears to be under t threat as he has failed to make a century in his last 25 innings. His anger over questions after getting out has also added sharpened his criticism. A few weeks before, Sachin had said he would retire, whenever he feels like. He doesn’t need advice in this matter from any one, but soon circumstances started going under change. His admirers and well-wishers are also worried. Some of them have started saying that age is having its effect on him, and his earlier agility, patience, enthusiasm and concentration is no more seen these days. The great cricketer, Kapil Dev says that the age is meaningless for Sachin. There are a number of instances, which proves that 39-year Sachin is ready for retirement. Tennis player Leander Pace is winning grand slam at the age of 39 years. Ricky Ponting at the age of 38 years, Mike Hussey at 37, Jacques Kallis of South Africa at 37 and Chandra Paul at 38 years are performing well. There have been 17 players, who had made centuries between the age of 40 to 46 years. Virendra Sehwag says that Sachin’s net practice is in no way inferior to that of young players. After Virat Kohli, Sachin is the fastest runner. Sachin’s close co-player Harbhajan Singh reminds that such a phase had also come ten years earlier. During the test series in 2002 in England, he was bowled continuously in three tests at Lords and Nottingham. British media wrote that his foot work was far from his earlier one. The distance between bat and ball was increasing. Sachin’s bat replied in its own style to his critics. Sachin made 193 runs in Leeds test and 54 in Oval test. And, Sunil Gavaskar says that Sachin’s body is not keeping company. With his growing age, Sachin is loosing his energy. Adam Gilchrist is an example of this phenomenon. He failed to take some catches in Test serries against India in 2008. He himself accepted that his reflexes had gone weaker due to his increasing age and it was affecting his performance. He didn’t allow any body to criticize him and took retirement. He was 36 years then. Greg Chappell says that in view of his increasing age, Steve Waugh was told that either he seek retirement or he would be ousted from the team, while his average was 80 in last 15 innings, whereas Sachin’s average in last 15 innings comes to 37.4. David Beckham is star footballer of England, but he was not included in the Euro Cup or Olympics teams, because younger players’ performance was better than him. Saurav Ganguli believes that performance can never be improved just with the net practice. Sachin does not play T-20 matches, he only plays selected one-dayers. Big scores cannot be made in such international matches, whereas Mike Hussey plays almost all matches at the age of 37 years. He is still a match winner. Ian Chappell says that Sachin is becoming burden on the team. Sachin’s test average is falling. It is feared that he might face a situation similar to Kapil Dev’s. Kapil had taken 400 wickets. After that he had to struggle for every wicket. For breaking Richard Hedley’s record (431), he had to play 19 more tests. Ultimately, Captain Azharuddin had to tell Kumbley to let Kapil take this wicket for breaking the record. Rahul Dravid says that even today Sachin is as fit as any young player. Sachin will definitely stage a come back. We think, the decision of retirement should be left to Sachin. Renowned players like Australian cricketer Mathew Haden, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh had themselves decided when to say goodbye to cricket. The best reply from Sachin should come from his bat to silence his critics.