The stage was set. The crowd was shouting at the top of its voice. The captain had handed him the weapon. The target was staring him right in the eye. He ran the longest run-up any bowler ever had. Good length delivery outside the off-stump. Edge and taken!The speed - 149 kmph. The opposition had lost its mainstay. He had taken off with both hands outstretched and the world now knew - Shoaib Akhtar was back!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! - four wickets in three overs.
It was the 35th match of the IPL - "Cricket ka Karma Yudh! "- and so far no one, despite the presence of such great names, had set any stadium abuzz like he did. Big names need a big stage and what better than a fully packed Eden Gardens with such a fervid and zealous audience. The build up to the game was intense as the two sides - Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders - had not faced each other even once though the tournament was more than half way through. It was touted as the match that would decide the fourth semi-finalist as Rajasthan, Chennai and Mohali looked certain to grab the first three spots and it was also said that Shoaib could be the difference. And that he was!
After limiting Knight Riders to 133, the Daredevils would have thought that the game is theirs for the taking and you couldn't blame them as before yesterday's match Viru had done well while chasing. Their top order had looked very impressive while scoring heavily against every opposition unlike other teams that were coming up with a new opening pair almost every game. But, this game was about to turn on its head.
Some players have special association with comebacks. I remember two or three occasions when Sachin came back from an injury and marked his return with a hundred! And how can I forget to mention our very own - Dada, Sourav Ganguly - while writing on comebacks. I am simply in the awe of this man. I had appeared for six interviews for each of the Indian Institutes of Management (ABCLIK) from Feb 1 to March 20 this year and in three of them (BCK) I mentioned Sourav Ganguly. Why?
Because whenever I watched him on TV last year, I saw determination and passion standing right in front of me. The 'Pepsi' ad where he said "apne Dada ko bhule to nai" , had become one of my favourites. We knew that he was a talented left handed batsman. We knew that he was more than handy with his medium pace. But, he gave captaincy a new definition. Indian captains weren't known to be aggressive and you can take a moment to gather the ones before him and their approach to the game. Kapil, Azhar, Sachin - they represented the gentlemen phase of the game. But, with the turn of the century, Youth had become the buzz word of our nation. Now, it was 'in' to express your emotions whatever they were. And so, the balcony at the Lord's had made its place into the history for a new reason altogether. :P
But that is not what it's about. Much has been said about the calibre and the class of Sourav, Shoaib and Sachin. Rather, this is about being out of action after all that fame and then fighting all odds to make a come back and an impressive one at that. Sourav did well against South Africa on his return to Int'l cricket but, to see again those 100 plus opening partnerships between him and Sachin against Engalnd was special. Then, his form peaked in the series against Pakistan where he scored his maiden double century and ended the year with 1000+ runs in both formats of the game. Sourav had become an inspiration for the youth of India. And it wasn't over then. His innings of 87 in the third test match at Kanpur can be easily rated his best as he displayed immense skills to handle the deteriorating pitch against more than capable attack of South Africa and now he is leading the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, bagging two back to back man of the match awards for his elegant strokemaking and tight bowling. He was jumping like a school boy in the game and made a comment during the presentation as well for the national selectors who have thrown him out of the national ODI side for being lethargic on the field - "I hope they are watching this". I am sure they were while the crowd sang - 'Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo re!' symbolising the spirit of the man.
Shoaib was in news last month again for the wrong reasons as PCB had banned him for five years and his participation in IPL was out of question. But, he did make his debut yesterday after the relaxation given to him for a month. Another legend of the game, fighting it out to come back and then giving one of his best performances. Stuff of an Epic. Ain't it?
And today yet another protagonist will make his debut.
Ladies & Gentlemen, presenting to you all, the captain of Mumbai Indians - the legend himself - Sachin Tendulkar!
Another day. Another comeback?
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