One for my Prince - DADA

Me back to blogging after a hiatus of 2 months. You may think the timing of this is not so perfect –considering the title of this particular blog – but, to me, there hasn’t been a better time when whole of the world stopped critiquing DADA as he is no more part of the cricketing journey.

They praised, criticized, lambasted, glorified and what not. They said he is ‘the god on offside’, most elegant, cannot play short stuffs, arrogant, immature; the list goes on.
I am not going to discuss all those nonsense here. To me, DADA, inspired me like he has for millions of other Indians.

My generation saw the little master at his best; a ‘wall’ being built, a wristy hyderabadi giving way for another one – rather unfortunately, a fighter flighted the enemies with his googlies and the first genuine speedster after the Haryana express.

I saw him first during the 91/92 tour of the Australia where he played couple of ODI against the Aussies and the mighty Caribbeans. He was 19, just out of junior college, at that time. The same time the Master hit a flawless 110 at the bouncy Perth in a loosing cause and 148* at the Sydney dust bowl to set-up a draw against the Aussies that comprised of rookies, Warne and McGrath .

Everybody forgot him after that tour. He was a born Prince. A Prince, from our bed time stories, will be a fighter and warrior if he has to defeat his enemies. His enemies were not so many then. Still he fought. Fought for an entry into the national team. He got into the team due to some lustrous performances and the rest is history. Scoring over 10,000 runs in ODI and 7,000 runs in Test match cricket, he is a legend in Indian cricket

The match-fixing scandals of the late 90s exposed the weakness of cricket against mafias and the dons. Indian team required a leader. Sachin can never be a good leader though is a greatest batsman of all time. You can’t argue with me about that. It required a strong personality and the prince-DADA, a born leader was given the responsibility.

There are only a very few in the history who are born leaders and they are admired the most. He is a one among them. There has been never a doubt in my mind about that.

A leader should be courageous, arrogant when needed to be, support his team and stand by it, disciplined, intelligent and brutal – on and off the field. DADA reflected all of these. Before he was at the helm, we were soft spoken and deliberate. But after his captaincy, we started to see our opponents into their eyes. He made youngsters thick skinned. Next generation of Indian cricketers was born. They obeyed the laws of the field but argued the laws are to be equal. Aussies were dismissed at their own backyard with a scillinating century by DADA during the first test at Brisbane. TEAM INDIA was formed. The media hailed. He had the guts to go under the skin of the opponent captains, a very few would dare to do it. He had the knack of spotting the talents, Yuvraj, Kaif, Bhajji, Zak and Dhoni were supported and selected by him.

He always wanted his team and his contemporaries liked him for what he is made of – an Iron . His opponents envied him and always made false comments. Be it Freddie or Warne. The administrators had never been closer to him since he was frank and fought for his team, indeed he fought for the betterment of Indian cricket. We all enjoyed his successes in Australia, WC 2003, England’04, Pakistant’04.

Learning from the lustrous career came at the end of the ’05 season. The time had come; tiredness of the captaincy burden was seen. The impact – an exit door was shown by the same people whom he trusted. His Mentor became his Brutus. Complacency was one of the reason; over arrogant the other. His buddies were tight-lipped.

Though he was ousted, the fighting instinct of a Prince never left. Cameback with a bang in South Africa and continued his form till the end of his career.

Finally as he wanted, like all other Princes, he decided his fate. He took the bow when he was at his peak form. Fortunately for him, he joined in the company of Don for scoring a nought in his last innings.

Indian Cricket owed a lot to this man. He changed our way of life. We were always hooked up on to the internet, during the work, when team India played. Even when on travel, the first thing we ask when a buddy calls us was the score. The growing economy and the filling pockets made the people to go all over the world to watch team India play.

He, along with Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Kumble and Srinath, changed us. Having seen the DADA, Anil and Sri leaving now it is matter of time before we see the exit of other three. I am not sure if I will be watching cricket again. My Prince has gone back home, to lead a peaceful life. I lost my excitement. Dhoni will peak and definitely will transform India to no.1 team in the world, but he cannot give what my Prince has given to this country. He inspired us. He inspired everybody.

We salute you DADA, for what you have done to this country, as a cricketer and a statesman.