I try to take the same approach to life as you are encouraged to do when editing Wikipedia – be bold. My prediction that Sachin Tendulkar will not reach 100 international centuries could leave me with egg on my face but at least I have dared to venture my thoughts on the matter.
A combination of instinct coupled with watching most of his innings over the last few years leads me to believe that he is rapidly approaching the end of his career. His timing has been perfect throughout his time at the top and I don’t expect him to linger on once he realises he has nothing more to give.
Had Suresh Raina learnt to play the short ball better or Cheteshwar Pujara not suffered an injury I think he would have gone already. Virat Kohli has long been my tip to be a future Indian captain and has already proved to me that he is a classy enough player to cement a spot in the middle order – either at Tendulkar’s or Laxman’s expense. Dravid, for now, remains a key component at number three and is not likely to be shifted even if that would appear to be Kohli’s natural position. His time will come.
While Tendulkar’s physical fitness is outstanding, he has succumbed to injuries more frequently in recent years and is now facing severe pressure to reach his landmark ton – a pressure that may soon begin to weigh heavily on not just him but the team.
During his 91 against the West Indies late last year, he played faultlessly before, when he was within sight of a century, he played a poor shot as he was clearly trying to force the issue. He played a most un-Tendulkar-like innings and I see it happening again. Alternatively, a bad injury will give one of the youngsters (and I haven’t even mentioned Rohit Sharma yet) a good run in the team and there will be no way back for the Little Master.
The more ‘failures’ he produces, the more the pressure will grow but eventually the runs will dry up. As sure as the passing of time, no batsman can continue to churn out the runs – some are able, through lack of alternatives or reputation, to cling on but others are either swiftly replaced or recognise their decline and head off to the IPL before their legacy can be damaged.
Tendulkar’s legacy cannot be harmed and for me, his status will be all the more legendary, if, like Bradman before him, he were to fail attempting one last shot at extending his record beyond his peers.