The final countdown begins

There was a phase, and it lasted pretty long, when Sachin Tendulkar was the be-all and end-all of Indian cricket. He used to be the main plot while the game itself got reduced to a mere side show. A good knock, and preferably a three-figure score, by the master batsman served the whole purpose of watching a match while a win was treated like a bonus. As India’s latest batting star, Cheteshwar Pujara, admitted recently, many would switch off their TV sets the moment Tendulkar got out. However, with the emergence of some of the finest batsmen the world has seen and the gradual diminishing of the dependence on Tendulkar’s broad shoulders, the focus slowly shifted back to the game. In a welcome change, a win came to assume more importance to Indian fans than a mere good outing by Tendulkar. With the 40-year-old set to retire from the game after the two Test-series against the West Indies, it appears that the clock has been turned back. In normal circumstances, a Test contest against the current Caribbean side would not have attracted so much attention but with this being Tendulkar’s farewell series, interest has reached a frenzy. The series seems merely incidental now. Everyone, even with a passing interest in the game, wants to be part of this historic moment and there has been a never-seen-before clamour for tickets and complementary passes. In their effort to make it a memorable moment, the Cricket Association of Bengal have left no stone unturned -- the gigantic Tendulkar cutouts that can rival that of South Indian film stars stare you in the face, a wax statue by sculptor Susanta Ray stands out as an expression of unalloyed love for India’s most popular sportsman and a display of rare collection of pictures with friends and families takes you through a nostalgic trip. Songs composed to celebrate the occasion, a special coin for the toss and tickets with Tendulkar’s image embossed on them are just a few indicators of the magnitude of the event. The Mumbaikar does deserve every bit of adulation that he is receiving but it shouldn’t be lost on anyone that India have a series to win. A look at this West Indian line-up shows that this is by far the best Caribbean side to tour the country in a long time. Two years ago, when they played a three-Test series, the Darren Sammy-led team lost 0-2 but much as the score-line would suggest, it wasn’t a lop-sided affair. On several occasions, the visitors pushed India on to the backfoot but their lack of big-match temperament did them in. Since losing that series, West Indies have gone on to win six Test matches and are back in India with more experience and enhanced confidence. With the return of the Jamaican duo of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, the Windies batting wears an intimidating look while India’s perennial scourge Shivnarine Chanderpaul lends assurance in the middle-order. Throw in Darren Bravo, the classy left-hander in the Brian Lara mould, and the promising Kieran Powell and Narsingh Deonarine, and the Indian attack may be in for some tough times. Like West Indies, for India too this is the first Test series since March this year when they vanquished Australia 4-0. Ahead of the testing South African contest next month, this is a good time for the hosts to build on the gains, especially for openers Shikhar Dhawan and M Vijay, and Rohit Sharma, if he gets a look-in, has a great opportunity to extend his one-day exploits to the longer version. Indeed, a lot is at stake for India but it remains to be seen if they can cut out all the distractions around them. "It’s something that was expected,” said skipper MS Dhoni when asked about the buzz around Tendulkar’s retirement. "We’ve all been mentally prepared for it. As far as these matches are concerned, less distraction is better. Once the game starts, the team isn’t entertaining anyone. In that sense, we are sorted.” While one expects the men in white flannels from either side to shut themselves from all the hype and hoopla surrounding the series, it is inevitable that Tendulkar, irrespective of how he fares with the bat, will be the central theme of this hurriedly-arranged clash. Deccan Herald