| Author | Message | ||
     Manoj Side Hero Username: Manoj Post Number: 3716 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 122.164.166.63 Rating: N/A |
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin. asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F20 13%2F11%2F15&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=3&EntityId=Ar00301&AppNa me=1  Murali Vijay lingered at the crease, hoping for a reprieve. The crowd, though, had made up its mind. There was only one man they had gathered to watch and, unfortunately for Vijay, it wasn’t him. Seldom can an Indian batsman have been as enthusiastically cheered off the pitch in India as Vijay was. The hope of watching Sachin Tendulkar bat on the very first day, which seemed to disappear when M S Dhoni won the toss and opted to field, had unexpectedly come true. Then a compact figure was seen making his way down the stairs, and the noise rose to a whole different level. A chant familiar to every Indian who has watched cricket made itself heard once again, punctuated by hands clapping, and seats, boards and empty bottles banging, all in rhythm. Sachiiiin, Sachiiinnnn. The crowd stood as one and roared as Sachin made his way to the crease. In a rare gesture, the entire West Indian team lined up to create a path for him; in an even rarer gesture, even the two umpires joined the ‘guard of honour’, one on either side. This was, after all, no ordinary occasion. The designated neutral men felt compelled to pay respect to the god of cricket. deenemma umpires kooda guard of honour anta..keka ehe..True Legend.. |
