On the Write Line

‘It’s finally done’, that’s what the master batsman, Sachin Tendulkar must’ve thought after reaching this seemingly impossible milestone. It somewhat seems surreal- this magical figure. An unreal number. But what transpired between the 99 th  and the 100 th , we, as his ‘devotees’ know it, thanks to the media. The quest went on from being one that’s celebrated to being a petty pursuit. Talks of his retirement started making rounds in cricketing cliques. Whatever the case maybe, the sheer weight of this feat is too heavy for anyone to shoulder. The context for Tendulkar’s 100 th  hundred will always be remembered- today, tomorrow, forever. Just the way, we all remember man’s first landing on the moon. The numbers will be difficult to replicate, let alone surpass. This is our generation’s 99.94.  After deliberating over this feat, one thought Tendulkar’s career almost seemed destined to end in a Bradmanesque way- imperfect. In less than four months-...

By the time the Fourth Test got underway at Adelaide, every Indian cricket follower must have had a feeling of déjà vu. Thanks to the way the first two days of the test unfolded. At some point, one got a feeling that the events in this series have passed through a photocopier.  The conditions to start with; were typical of Adelaide. Heat was unrelenting. The pitch was dry. The Indian fielders chased their share of leather in this sweltering heat. And the Australian batsmen went about their way scoring runs at will.  India cannot take refuge in the fact that the weather and the pitch didn’t suit them. Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting ensured they removed these external conditions out of the equation; as they went on to share a marathon 386 run partnership. Indian bowlers did manage to get early inroads in the Australian batting, with 3 for 84. But the honeymoon for the visitors ended there. After that, it was the same Indian side that was brui...