43 AnD 1!!

Match : India v/s NewZealand
ODI #3!
India into batting first and what just followed could very well be described as sheer genius.

The last time the "MeN In BlUe" toured the kiwis was back in 2002.
The series back then saw very low scoring totals and saw us succumb to one of our worst series defeats.
Came 09, and "Dhoni's Boys" are in the kiwiland and this time the anticipation of a series win was as high as it could get. Dhoni's boys seem to have beaten all odds in the last 18 months and have been successfully pulling off unusual performances, but then all said and done, God still remains the God!

He retired hurt on 162 of 135 balls just 2 and a half overs ago and I still can't stop admiring the pannache with which he played through the 45 overs of the innings!

Forget the stats, forget the injuries, forget the "if-he-scores-a-ton-India-loses" theory,forget everything else, because what you just witnessed can probably termed as the World's best batsman at his devastating best...not a very healthy combo to bowl to for the opposition and that was totally evident today...

Just when his critics stooped to worst possible levels and expressing their wish for his retirement, he went on to almost score back to back tons in the CB series finals against the Oz.

Those innings surely reminded all his fans across the country of his knock against the Australians in Sharjah in 1998!...

The field piercing square cuts and the cheeky lifts and the devastating slog sweeps...and besides all this the mere presence that could lift the rest of the squad and make them give 200% on the field...Humbly human and technically machine-like..this man is probably the most loved Individual in our country and there is no denying that!
I'll end with two quotes..1 by Sanath Jayasurya and 1 by himself...
After an IPL game in which Jayasurya was the man of the match, he said in the presentation " seeing Sachin standing at the other end, I knew I could play my shots and even if i got out, he was there to stand and stabilise the innings"
Sachin, on critics and columns written on how he has lost his "touch" and should consider retiring
"I get calls and messages after every innings where I'm told about what went good and what didn't. I have my wellwishers who tell me things,they don't go around writing"
Indian Cricket will go on for generations to come...and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will remain in the hearts of every ardent cricket fan India has ever had...Sach is life :)