SACHIN RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIA’S LOSS (25th Oct 2009, 2000 Hrs)

SACHIN RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIA’S LOSS (25th Oct 2009, 2000 Hrs)

Yes, Sachin Tendulkar is responsible for India’s loss because he failed miserably by scoring just 14 runs consuming more than double number of balls (29). Was he worried about his own records more than playing for the nation? Yes, it is true looking at the way he was playing, while Australia stuck to their plans and Sachin succumbed to their game plan. In fact, Sachin should be sent at No. 10 and Indian think tank should send Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar to open the innings. At least they will score…

Looking at the comfort level Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar (mind you, they are tail-enders) were hitting boundaries and sixers against the mighty Australian bowlers, one wonders, how and why a renowned batsman like Tendulkar couldn’t managed to score a ball a run. While Praveen Kumar scored valuable 40 runs in mere 32 balls and Harbhajan Singh missed his half century by one run (49) in just 31 balls, one cannot deny the fact that Sachin’s 14 runs in 29 balls set the base for India’s loss. Imagine, what would have been the score if Bhajji and Praveen’s valuable contributions (89 runs in 63 balls) are taken out, India would have lost by huge 89 runs. It would have been a great shame considering that world’s best batsman was playing for India…

I am sure if Dravid would have been in the team in place of Sehwag (just 13 runs), Jadeja (just 5 runs), Virat Kohli (30 runs) or Raina (just 9 runs), India would have won the first ODI comfortably. However, Gavaskar is also to be blamed for staking big claims of Sachin’s greatness even before a ball was bowled… what is the use of such greatness, which will make India loss a match? Sachin is playing just for his individual records and not for the country and that reflected with his fear to score freely in the match.

Sachin should make way now for a younger talent, who will be more passionate to prove his mettle and play for the country rather than playing for individual records. If Dravid, Ganguly and Kumble can be dropped from the team, why the Indian selectors still sticking with Sachin, who plays one great innings and then flops in 10 innings? Sachin should now realise the fact that he has become old and should step down gracefully rather than go on and on just for his individual records. Do hope, the selectors wake up from their fixation about the GREAT PLAYER, who doesn’t perform when the country needs him the most… Failure, failure and failure… how many more matches will India lose because of Sachin? Time for a change now!