A 100th century to save a match

If ever there was a time to prove his greatness, it is today. Not that he needs to, but this a time gifted to him by the gods – by god – a stage of such immense perfection is set; of such perfect challenge, such sublime anxiety; a stage on which to culminate a career which needs no culmination, and yet which could achieve an immortality unheard of… undreamt of… A 100th century to save a match for his country; to save the reputation of his team; to save the spirit of a game which has been tested and tarnished to the extent of near extinction. If he can bat throughout the day, and score his 100th century, and save the match, and keep the series alive, and keep Test cricket alive, he will be an immortal among immortals. ‘You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…‘ [caption id=“attachment_173758” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Sachin can save us today. Only he can. Getty Images”]  [/caption] He is at the crease again – gritty Gambhir… badnaam Gambhir – with him. All left-handed jolts and jabs, on the brink of extinction but he walked in and played calm and confident outside the off-stump, and Ganguly in the commentary box must have thought he was watching his own shadow. And when Sehwag fell, it was as if Gambhir knew he had to do it – and he did. But, in the end, the other batsman will have to score his 100th to save the match. He knows it, the Aussies know it, we know it… He must stay aggressive and yet in control; he must be both technical and inspired; he must be both calm and cautious, aggressive in intent but relaxed in execution. In short, he must be all of what made him great and when the wickets fall at the other end, as they must, Laxman must pull back the years and the tears and the fears, and bat as only he can. And Kohli must carry on from his first innings, where he looked so good – and then Dhoni must be great, and the tail must wag war if not wage it. But, it comes down to him; him in the second innings – his bugbear, as his critics will point out. His second innings average is so much lower than first innings average – the numbers will be trotted out, the comparisons made – the price of greatness. But today, he can prove them all wrong – silence them forever. The Aussies will cut off his runs on the off – choke them – and then he gets that little bit too aggressive, too tense, just a little, and he drives too hard and there is an edge and those Aussie hands in the slips are like buckets. 23 years ago, the great Vengsarkar – who should know, who did now – said of him at the age of 15: ‘He will play for India – pukka – but he has one weak point… outside the off-stump, he hits the ball too hard – he will be out, caught, outside the off-stump, again and again, throughout his career.’ 99 centuries he has scored – and at least 99 times he has been caught outside the off-stump – But today, let him save the match for us. Vengsarkar himself will be watching – and wishing – and wondering… And he will take us home, he will, if there is a god in the skies, and justice on this earth, and it does rain in Mumbai in the summer time, he will… he will…