I am not a big fan of sports but I like stories. I have not watched a game of cricket in the last five years not even the ‘wham bam thank you ma’am’ version, IPL. I don’t know why though. Perhaps I started seeing cricket as an ideological state apparatus. I am not going to talk about that though. I will however, talk about Sachin. I cannot judge him as a match winner; I don’t even know all the records he holds; I don’t know the numbers. Sachin though belongs to cricketing fans and non-fans alike. 

When I was growing up Sahara cup (correct me if I am wrong) coincided with the Half Yearly exams and sneaking out to watch scores was a welcome respite from studying. When India played well studying was temporarily suspended. I remember sitting with clasped hands praying for a Sachin century before a geography paper as though my destiny was tied to his century; as though it would help me remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites. I don’t remember whether he scored that century though I do remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, so maybe he did. 

Then you grow up. You become cynical. You see cricket as colonial/capitalist oppression. You however, remember your Sachin moments. I have biryani, cricket and Sachin moments. I remember the World Cup finals loss in 2003, after which we did not have the biryani we prepared. I remember Sachin getting out in a high stake chase and Yuvraj Singh stepping in and winning the match after we had switched off the television, which is what we 90s people did if Sachin got out. 

Like I said though I don’t like sports I like stories and Sachin is a story. I know the sense of loss when you turn the last page of a good book, the feeling of watching the last Harry Potter film and Sachin retiring is a similar feeling - a great story coming to an end. Therefore, I write this post when I should be working on my dissertation instead; the tribute of a cricketing non-fan who doesn’t know whether Sachin was stronger on the off-side or the leg side.