(my account of what Sachin's first test would have felt like)
The battle between two arch rivals was on. History had proven that these two countries took everything between them to the hilt, even the gentleman's game was never an exception. World's most fierce bowling attack was roaring, pouncing and trying every bit to terrify a solid batting line-up. The stage was set for a battle of nerves, a test of will against will. On that stage, on a seemingly usual morning of 1989 stood a 15 year old. Indians are no stranger to the story of Abhimanyu, a child in the midst of a fearsome army of skilled, lethal warriors. It was no different on that pitch. With Pakistan's spearhead Waqar staring down his run-up at the boy - who he was about to terrify into submission; or so he wished.
The plan was not to get his wicket, what was the fun in that. What Waqar had in mind was more sinister, like a brutal animal who likes to play with his prey till the hunted wishes to end the suffering. The first ball he bowled was a scathing bouncer that hit straight on the nose of that boy. The first blood was drawn, pain inflicted, fear created. The victory should have been complete. It should have been. If at all Waqar Younis and anybody watching that game thought for a while that this boy was done for his life from cricket, they were never more wrong. Like it always happens at the darkest hour, just the way a beaten samson rises to pack a final punch, an avatar is born to salvage all that is good, the God of Cricket was rising again.
With unnerving courage and unfathomable will power, the boy straightened himself. His short stature belied the mighty strength that had built up in his body. His innocent eyes flashed with resolve that was inspiring and humbling at the same time. Probably as a reminder of the resounding message Lord Krishna gave Arjuna on Kurukshetra or as a a reminisce of the war cries of our brave warriors of the yore, the little boy said "Mai Khelega". When asked if he wanted to quit, that fifteen year old chose to fight on. The world perhaps thought they saw a crazy teenager trying to perform some heroics. What the world was about to see was far more colossal than that. What every cricket fan on the globe was going to witness next would change the course of a game, at once turning a child into God, a game into religion and to say the least, a billion fans into ardent worshippers.
The next ball meanwhile, was being bowled to take a wicket and end a seeming misery. Waqar fired one straight yorker. The reply was a resounding straight drive down the ground for a boundary. It wasn't just four runs on the board. It was a slap, on the face of world's fiercest of attacks. An arrow straight into the heart of the devil, a sling that brought down the Goliath of haughty cricketers. This Abhimanyu had destroyed the chakravyuha. What remained was a sorry mess of doubters who thought no good can come from a small boy. Stories of Avatars in India are always on the same lines. God creating a form to show His Supremacy at the darkest hour. This unflagging young boy of 15, amidst a stunned crowd of spectators was no different. God had spoken, ever so soft in His tone yet so firm in execution. The blessing and punishment rendered to the deserving. Cricket's avatar was revealed. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar had just announced Himself!!
