Down the memory lane - Tendulkar & Murali

The biggest attraction of Saturday for me will be the meeting of two greatest players of Cricket. Murali and Tendulkar. I am just wondering how would they approach each other in this Match. Unlike what the media would like us to believe, I don't think they would face each other like arch rivals. There would be no rivalry. No duel to be fought no point to be proven. It will be a meeting like that of two old friends who set out in life almost together and then now meet under the shade of a tree to reflect on the times gone by. Two individuals who have always seen each other in the background not really very friendly or close to each other but sharing a common link of being from the same era. It is a bit like two people in their 90's who feel deeply connected to each other solely because there are not many of their age alive anymore. Only they can understand each others feelings and emotions. 

Murali and Tendulkar were around when cricket was just a game. There stardom came fairly early in their cricketing careers and has never really deserted them since. Both have remain grounded, focussed and have shared a deep passion for the game and a desire to excel. Men of few words they both are. 

On 2nd of April they will meet each other for the last time. Backed by their countries and teams who are playing hard to give them the best farewell gift ever. But secretly I believe this will be a lose lose for both Sachin and Murali whichever way it goes. Sachin in his moment of jubilation will feel the pain of Murali's loss and likewise behind Murali's ecstacy would be a tinge of sadness for the greatest batsman that ever was or will be. Murali has a World Cup under his belt and therefore may be (just a small may be) Murali's pain of losing the cup would be healed by Sachin's ultimate triumph. But I don't think their professionalism would desert them even for a moment. Sachin will give Murali's every ball the treatment that it deserves and Murali's every ball would be hungry for Sachin's wicket. That is the greatness of these two men.

They both would need to awaken the Arjuna in them who is well guided by Lord Krishna in the battlefield (I hate to use such analogies but let me do it this one time). At the end of it all what would they think of saying to each other. May be Murali would finally hug Sachin out there in the open and say a big thank you for being such a great player and human being who inspired Murali for all these decades. May be Sachin would want to finally give up his stoical demeanour for once and walk up to Murali and say a big thank you for reinforcing his belief in the pursuit of excellence and nothing else while playing cricket.

Or it could be that Sachin would just say "Murali, you have grown a bit fat" or Murali would just say "Hey Sachin your son looks just like you". We wouldn't know. We would never know. What is most likely to happen is that they would just as quietly walk away from the field stealing a glance at each other  as they had walked into the field on their maiden encounter.

No matter what happens their presence would comfort each other. They would rest reassured by the fact that there is at least one more person on the field who shares same principles and belief when it comes to cricket. Even in their silence would be a comfort of familiarity. In the middle of all those youngsters they would meet like two old grandpas who can still remember the day Gandhiji called out for the Quit India movement. 

For me it will be a great loss. It was a great loss when Ganguly left the field forever but that one was not allowed to settle in because of the circumstances under which it happened. It was a great loss when Kumble bid farewell to the game but Tendulkar out there was a consolation. And now suddenly two of the best the very best would depart leaving a vaccum which the newer generation would never feel and mine would never forget. It is written in the Vedas - Whatever cannot be cured must be endured. Some might wonder if really the loss is so tragic as to warrant the invoking of Vedas. I don't know.

On the 2nd of April when Murali and Tendulkar will meet again nothing about them would be special and yet nothing would be ordinary just like it has never been.