Sachin Tendulkar: The Burden of Being a Genius

Alright, I admit that I have been critical of Sachin's batting at times over the past two or three years, but the "Meister" proved once more that "class is permanent." I had the privilege of watching Sachin's innings during the first Test match between New Zealand and India at Hamilton last week (one of the benefits of having a company that allows you to work from home), and for a Sachin worshipper like me, watching the flowing drives through cover, the oh, so delicious back foot punches through cover, the incomparable straight drives was manna from heaven.

If there is one thing that Indians like me excel at (yes, we are good at programming too), it is criticizing. When it comes to cricket and a certain Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, we more often than not go overboard with talk of, "Oh! He's past his prime!", "He should make way for youngsters", "Uska time aa gaya (translated: His times come)," etc., etc.

It pains me to read so much negative criticism for a man who has spent 20 years on the cricket field bearing the burden of expectations of 1.2 billion people who treat this sport as a religion where nothing short of a miracle will do from this 5'5'' batting genius.

I have often wondered why we are so quick to criticize, without sparing any thoughts for someone who. despite such expectations, has consistently performed for over two decades.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that one of the reasons is our inability to set and match such high expectations when it comes to our own goals in life (be it one's career or personal life). I keep remembering a dialogue from the film Kill Bill: Vol. 2, when Bill tells Beatrice Kiddo why Superman was his favorite super hero. Just as Clark Kent was Superman's take on the human race (timid, shy, weak, etc.), I think we see in Sachin a Superman, one who can cross chasms and boundaries we find impossible or too scared to cross, one who can overcome constant criticism, haggling, and challenges that we as normal people would shy away from.

For a cricket lover, he is similar to Clark Kent, and for him Sachin is Superman. Someone he looks up to to make up for his inherent deficiencies, someone who can achieve what things he can only dream but cannot somehow do.

Why can't we believe that we too can be Superman? That's a topic that I cannot write about, for I, too, find myself in the shoes of Clark Kent.

To my Superman (Sachin), I can only say, keep going! (And I know he will!)