Sachin and Wankhede deserved South Africa, not West Indies

How we wished today that West Indies were a side capable of playing better Test cricket… When Darren Sammy arrived in India — he spoke with great confidence about how his side had won six matches on the trot. He, however, forgot to mention who the wins had come against — two against New Zealand, two against Bangladesh and two against Zimbabwe. But against India — Sammy’s side has come a cropper. They have lasted three days in Kolkata and look likely — but for a miracle — to do the same in Mumbai too. As stage-managed as this farewell has been — Sachin deserved a better opposition. [caption id=“attachment_1232389” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Couldn’t the BCCI have invited South Africa to play these two Tests too? BCCI[/caption] One of life’s great rules is that you gotta take what life throws at you. But surely, the BCCI might have invited some tougher opposition; surely we would have relished that 74 more if it had come against the likes of Dale Syern and Morne Morkel. Yes, yes. The BCCI didn’t like Cricket South Africa and they had a tiff and they slinged mud at each other. But does the fan really care? Yes, the idea of a farewell match on his home ground is outstanding but you can’t clap with one hand. Couldn’t the BCCI have invited South Africa to play these two Tests too? But no, we are the bullies and we have to show them we are right. We have to punish them and in turn, the fans are being punished too. As things stand — the West Indies have one bowler — Shane Shillingford and Sammy is doing his best to bowl him till he crumbles. Shillingford bowled 55 overs in Kolkata and he bowled another 43 in Mumbai — no other bowler got to 20. He is probably thankful that West Indies lost by an innings at the Eden Gardens and look likely to do the same at Mumbai but we aren’t. So as we saw Tendulkar get his runs, then Pujara, then Kohli, then Rohit — the only thought was that we were being robbed of watching Tendulkar at his best… as he did in Lahli in his last first-class game… as he did in Chennai against Pakistan all those years ago… as he did against Australia on so many tours… as he did against England at Eden recently. When Tendulkar was dismissed — there was surprise. But then we are always surprised when he falls. Some things are not meant to be and Tendulkar was certainly not supposed to get out to Narsingh Deonarine. He was, however, supposed to get to his fifty with style and he did that with a delectable straight drive. At the start of the series, there was a promise of four innings — West Indies might deliver only two and that thought is tinged with immense sadness. So after Tendulkar was dismissed — the crowd cheered for the West Indies. In probably a worldwide first — the home crowd cheered for the opposition team. There have been times when you applaud the opposition great but this really was unparalleled. They cheered every wicket, they cheered Tino Best, they cheered catches, they cheered the West Indies… all because they wanted to watch Sachin Tendukar bat again. They offered Dhoni advice — “Declare, Declare.” Thought up plans of how Sachin might get another bat — “Our only hope is Gayle, he is the only one who can score runs fast enough. Sachin needs three hours of Gayle.” They dreamt up a Steyn running — “Imagine Steyn running in… the rhythm of it all and Sachin, at the other end, under pressure. The best deserve the best.” And when nothing else worked — they prayed… not for India but for the West Indies. But going into day three, West Indies trail by 270 runs with 7 wickets remaining and they need a partnership of Laxman-Dravid proportions to even make a fight of this. Now that, in our heart of hearts, we know if a feat beyond this West Indies. Still, we hope for a miracle… we wish it. It’s been known to happen around Sachin… only this time we wish it for the opposition.