Sachin Debut Special: #SachinNahiHotaToh

The debut of one player completely changed the complexion of Indian cricket. On 15th November 1989, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar entered the hearts of a billion people. And as the famous words read, “The rest, they say, is history.”

But imagine an alternate reality. What if there was no Sachin Tendulkar in the history books of Indian cricket? What would cricket all over the globe look like? What would our life be like?

Here we take a look at a bleak scenario where Sachin never existed:

Cricket would not be a religion

There is a famous catchphrase in our country, “Cricket is a religion, Sachin Tendulkar is a God.” But without the Master Blaster destroying the opposition bowlers at sheer will, we would not have the same level of fanaticism amongst the masses. Who would they worship? Just imagine for a second, cricket without the chants of “Sachin, Sachin!” reverberating around your ears. A gloomy scenario indeed!

Who would inspire the current generation?

Virender Sehwag. Yuvraj Singh. Virat Kohli. What is the common denominator between all the three legends of the game? You guessed it right. They were all inspired to pick up the willow after watching Sachin Tendulkar bat. Deep down inside, they all wanted to emulate the great man and bring laurels to the nation. Without Sachin, we probably wouldn’t have witnessed an entire generation of greats flaunting their brilliance on the cricket field.

The term ‘desert storm’ would have a completely different meaning

On 22nd April 1998, the complexion of ODI cricket changed forever. The mighty Australians not only had to endure nature’s fury, but also the Master Blaster in full flight. A knock of 143 in 131 deliveries ended in a losing cause. But anyone who witnessed the occasion knew that they were watching something surreal unfold before their very eyes. To this very day, the Desert Storm remains the most famous innings in ODI cricket history. It is still highly revered and spoken of as almost a mythical event. But had Sachin not graced the great game, the term desert storm would still be spoken of as nature’s way of showcasing its wrath.

Records would have lost their significance

34,357 international runs. 100 international centuries. That is the benchmark which Sachin has set in terms of international records. That is the landmark which every aspiring international cricketer aims to break someday. But without Sachin, the bar would not have been set so high. The sheer numbers which Sachin put up are pushing the current crop of international cricketers to their very edge. And without them, the game itself would certainly be a poorer entity.

The 2011 World Cup victory would not have been so sweet

“He has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It is time we carried him on our shoulders.” – Virat Kohli

“We wanted it too badly. I’m glad we achieved it. Obviously, it was for the special man here (Sachin Tendulkar) standing next to me.” – Zaheer Khan

“We wanted to win it for Sachin Tendulkar. This World Cup is for him.” – Gautam Gambhir

“Very sorry to disappoint you, guys. It was not for my girlfriend or my fiancee, but for Sachin Tendulkar.” – Yuvraj Singh

These are just a few of the statements from an ecstatic bunch of players who were basking in the glory of winning a World Cup. Tasting World Cup glory is the absolute pinnacle of an athlete’s life. Yet, at that very moment, all the Indian cricketers could think of was how important this victory meant for the great man. The man had given it his all. For 5 World Cups prior to the 2011 triumph, he had to endure heartbreak after heartbreak. His dream was finally fulfilled. And with this so was the dream of more than a billion people.

Would the 2011 World Cup victory have tasted so sweet without the presence of Sachin? We seriously doubt that!