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When I opened the newspaper on 24 December 2012 and read the large print, all I could think was –No. That was all going round and round in my head buzzing like angry bees, torturing me, tormenting me. Sachin was retiring? This was not how it was supposed to be. There was supposed to be advanced notice and at least one last match. I tried to remember the last ODI Sachin had played. My brain went into overdrive and my heart skipped a beat as I realized that the last time was the Asia Cup. He scored a 52. How was this fair, this sudden ending to an epic saga? No last match. No chance to savor every run, every smile, every humble bow, every punched straight drive. No chance to say goodbye to my hero dressed in blue. I knew I had to write an article for him. But how do I write an article for a man whose cricketing career itself is 6 years older than myself and still counting (test matches)? That’s the odd thing about love – it’s hard to capture the feeling and put it down in words. And if I find it so hard to describe what Sachin means to me, how do I put down what he means to billions of other people, in the subcontinent and outside?My relation with Sachin is according to me not just an ordinary "fan-celebrity relation", instead its a love story with no sad moments.. an absolute love affair.Sachin has been everything to me. He’s a blanket of assurance – I always felt safe knowing that he would come in to bat. All the best moments of my life have been some of his – him scoring hundreds and two hundreds, him hitting sixes, watching his straight drives, him hitting a century of centuries, the pride in his eyes as he held that world cup, the humble smile when he reached a century of centuries. Exquisite memories for an exceptional man.
I can’t say I’ve needed Sachin for 23 years, I wasn’t even born then. But ever since I was about 8, I remember adoring Sachin and always being in awe of him. Everything this wonderful man does has never failed to amaze me. Sachin was my idol and I was his fan long before I knew the ABC of cricket. I’ve never been the one for letting go easily. But I will, one day, let go. However, I remember always needing Sachin Tendulkar to re-assure me, to inspire me and to provide me with something supernatural – magic. Because that’s what these past 10 years with Sachin have been for me – magical. For a young boy who was driven with logic and reasoning every step of the way, the existence of something as magical and enigmatic as Sachin Tendulkar just gave me the faith to believe that I could achieve anything. Like Sachin had.
Sachin has always been there to rescue India.
P.S : This post just the love of Ayush Bansal for Sachin Tendulkar and does not intend to harm any one intentionally or coincidentally.
Photos and Videos by Aditya Goel
