One ball, one act of brilliance, a few fractions of a second-and it is all over. Sachin Tendulkar is out. The scoreboard at the Wankhede displays ‘Thank you for 24 years of Sach entertainment’. Silence takes over a capacity crowd as if life has come to an end all of a sudden. Then there was a quick recovery on behalf of the Wankhede crowd as they all stood up to salute the best batsman of the modern era. Sachin turns around in his long walk back to the pavilion and greets them raising his bat. It was really a moment to savour.
However the start was of the day was a complete contrast. The seats went full long before the play had begun. People from different fields have come in. Tendulkar began the day with some elegant trademark shots. He played all the shots that he has got in his kitty. He reached his half-century with an exquisite straight-drive. But just when it looked like that something special is coming there was this ball from Narasingh Deonarine; pitched outside off, little bit of turn, Sachin trying to steer the ball to the third man edged it. It flew off the bat to the first slip where Sammy was there to pounce on it and it all came to an end. Sachin is out for 74 with India well ahead of the visitors’ first innings score. His innings was knit with 12 boundaries which included some brilliant off-drives, on-drives, cover drives, square cuts.
India has now taken a lead of close to 100 and the situation is such that the possibilities of Sachin coming to bat for the second time in the match are very less. West Indies batsmen have to do something really special to force India bat for the second time. The fans will surely pray for the West Indies batsmen as they want their idol to come to bat for one more time. If that does not happen this will be Sachin’s last appearance as a batsman.
Thank you Sachin. We will miss you; The whole world will miss you; Cricket will miss you!
Tags: Mumbai test Sachin in 200th test Sachin out for 74 Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar final test Wankhede
