This is not going to be a big post because it is Dada!
If I have to write, I will end up writing a book on how this guy has an impact on me. There are so many great moments he has given me that If go in deep, There will be no end because more than memories it was the feel.
When Dhoni taught me how to rule, It was Dada for me who taught how to lead. Though Dhoni's Indian team did win more, the basement for the rise of the team was set under him.
Again, I watched Dhoni when I actually knew more about the game but It was Dada who taught me what the game was.
I might be like three years old, I was that kid who never used to go to school if I didn't hit two or three balls. My mother used to bowl to me with that sponge ball and with a small bat I used to play indoor cricket.
I went to school in rickshaw those days, and the rickshaw uncle would wait for me till I hit. It was the time when Sachin and Dada used to open for India. I was instantly attracted by Dada's play at that age and started to play left and bowl right like he did. It was indoor, terrace, street cricket after all.
There started the attraction towards him. When I was like three years old.
Before Sehwag, it was Dada who was the attacking batsman.
All those sixes and fours especially every single shot he played, especially on the off side. I know, I'm not the only fan of it.
I remember how I ran to shop to get those labels of him for my notebooks. I still have that collection of cricket cards which came free with chewing gum.
I was around 11 years, It was that time when the cricket playing cards were a thing. Ganguly's 183 were one among big scores and it was like "card Ganguly kudu kudu, most of the times"
I never knew that people had those middle name. Chandidas was the first I knew and I used to say like, "Chandidas super ah aadaran la" to my street friends and confuse them. "Hey yaaru pa adhu sollu" they used to beg and I utilized it most of the times making them give stickers, cards to me though this is making me laugh now, it was a great achievement back then.
He became the captain soon and India was introduced to aggression. When he became the captain, India wasn't even a "team" and a huge failure when it came to overseas matches while other teams like Australia were at their best.
We never stood a chance against them those days. It was not a competition of the "equals". It was not until his captaincy, the favorite five or six legends I should say, grew and his finds are the players who are taking care of the team now.
2000 to 2005 saw the real growth of the team. It can never be easy to form a team, take them from 8th position to 2nd considering the quality of the opponent. Like how people go crazy for India's achievements now, it was more than that those days.
I mean, those days, winning was something unheard of for the team. We were completely a failure. When someone showed that aggression and passion towards the game, making the team to win for the first time, taking the team to a world cup finals, you can only admire him.
Yes, We have almost all the Cups now but that doesn't feel the same. For me, I feel that the quality of the opponents wasn't the same.
When Flintoff took off his shirt at Wankhede, It did hurt as a cricket fan but some revenge is sweet. Taking his shirt off at the Lord's has to be the best moment for me. I remember shouting and celebrating with the same aggression.
He did give me that void feel when he retired. Cricket which I watched and worshipped those days wasn't the same now. I miss that aggression, I miss how players were afraid to sledge. I miss how he made Steve Waugh wait for the toss. I miss those cricketing shots. I miss how team India grew and Every match we played was thrilling. I miss those tension filled India vs Pakistan contests. I miss how the match was those days, how I used to celebrate every win. It doesn't feel the same now. I miss that dominance. I miss Him.
There are times when I sit and watch matches just because he is the commentator.
His voice, his smile, his aggression, his dominance, the way he writes off his critics, his press conferences where he was always been straight forward with his answers, the way he used to adjust moving left before hitting the ball offside, his bowling action, his gamble decisions, how he backed up Dhoni, how he promoted Sehwag to open, how he decides to bowl every time the team needed a wicket. His opening stands with Sachin.
It is almost 10 years now since his retirement, I don't think he lost even a fan till date. Once the king is always the king.
Whoever comes and lead the team, I will love them but not as much as I love Dada. For me, He is the best captain, my favorite captain.
To sum up everything, this line from the bookie shows how he was to the team.
Once when a bookie was asked whether Dada was also involved, he replied, "We want him. But no one has guts to approach him."
A champion is not always someone who never fails but someone who comes back stronger. After his drop in form and drift with the coach, he was down and out but he never gave up, came back stronger, played some wonderful matches.
I know I have been blabbering something all these while but I mean, You cannot normally write about a person who gave you that feel which you cannot explain with words. If it isn't Dada, I don't know if I would be an ardent cricket fan. Sachin was/is my favorite but Dada was something different to me which again, just like every other fan, I cannot explain.
Happy Birthday, Dada.
with love,
Your follower!
Comments
Post a Comment