Sachin Tendulkar

When Javed Akhtar wrote O paalan hare for LAGAAN he would not have thought that the song would be a clarion call for Sachin Tendulkar to save the First test match for India against Australia. Indeed, Sachin is now in the role of a paalan hare and Sachin could emerge as the Paalanhar as against Australia he has a fantastic record, and has taken out India from the jaws of defeat innumerable number of times. With the support of the vociferous Indian crowd behind him, Sachin Tendulkar could indeed turn out to be the savior.

Besides, the situation is not that bad for India as the Indian captain is still to walk into the crease, and the old fox VVS Laxman is still waiting in the wings. Though Laxman might have had a stiff neck that forced him to bat at number 10 in the first Indian innings, he is one batsman who relishes in the crisis situation and has steered India to victory. Besides, he is another thorn in the flesh of the Aussies, as he has single handedly won number of matches for the country.

The target to be achieved is also not that daunting and there are more than 75 over have to overhaul the target. So, should one say that the Aussies sense of victory has to be tempered factoring in the consideration that Sachin and Laxman still are there at the crease? Indeed. Steve Waugh, writing on a special issue about Sachin Tendulkar in India Today had said that while he was captaining the Aussie squad his anxiety levels were quite high as long as Sachin was at the crease, and when he saw his back, he along with his team heaved a sigh of relief. This is the Sachin effect, and in conjunction with Laxman, it indeed is a heady concoction.

But the moot point is whether India would be able to sustain the onslaught of pace bowling when the match starts tomorrow? It would be relentless pace bowling tomorrow and spiced with the chattering from the back of the stumps, sledging so to say, to concentrate on the game would indeed be a real challenge. But the good point is that there would be a vociferous crowd behind Sachin to back him up, as this could be his last appearance at Mohali, and Sachin may use it as an occasion to let the world remember what a genius he was, Paalanhar so to say.

Tags: Australia, Cricket, India, Indian Sports, Lagaan, O Paalan Hare, Paalanhar, Sachin Tendulkar, Sports, Sports India, Test Match