200

200

The most important number in India on 24th February, 2010 in India.

->Its the number of runs Sachin Tendulkar scored against South Africa yesterday in a ODI.
->It was probably the sound decibal level at the Gwalior Stadium where Sachin scored the runs.
->It was....awesome

I know no one wants to read yet another blog about why Sachin Tendulkar is the next best thing to God in my country but its the sheer awesomeness of the guy which makes me write this, and nothing else. Just nothing else.

When I was watching the highlights last night I was almost in tears when I saw Sachin sending almost every other ball to the boundry. Yes, the fact that I had two beers down my throat helped but a cricket match never brought me on the verge of tears ever...even when intoxicated (except the one time when Kumble had the Pakistani team for dinner/10 wickets in an innings...i had a lump in my throat)...but last night was different...

The South African dressing room must have been silent last night. Except for the din coming from outside...not because they underperformed or could have done better. But for the fact that they could do nothing, absolutely nothing against one man who stands just five feet, five inches tall and never even hurls an abuse on the field. One man decimated the best bowling attack in the world. Just one guy.

200 runs in one innings of an ODI. TWO HUNDRED RUNS....GODDAMMIT CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT.....

I don't worship Sachin Tendulkar like many in this nation. I believe he is human and is capable of folly. I believe he also gets angry and sad and frustuated sometimes. I believe he can mess things up just like most of us do sometimes. But all that changed last night.

For bringing a smile to my face countless number of times (and for the tears last night) and for being an inspiration to me and constantly reminding me of the fact that actions are louder, more potent than words, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, take a bow. God bless you sir.

And in the words of Po (Kung Fu Panda): Legend tells of a legendary cricketer whose cricket skills were the stuff of legend....