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What
happened to the 'V' of Sachin Tendulkar??
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A
feature on Sachin Tendulkar by Tushar Jha
 Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has warranted hosannas ever since he stepped on to the field in the international era as a cherubic sixteen year old. One and all have eulogised this archetypal genius for his sui generis display on and off the field and quite deservingly, I might add.
But off late a lot of his fans have been ranting -"He doesn’t seem to be enjoying it." As much as Sachin tries to rubbish these rhetoric's, he admits that he has changed his approach to the game. Personally I would accept whatever Sachin has to offer to us without questioning one bit. But, there is one aspect of his game that I would like to bring to light today. It’s about the V.
It was Sachin's patented shot (Or is it still??...). Showing the bowler (and of course the camera which tantamounts to showing the whole world) the 'Batmakers Label’ (MRF doesn’t make bats though...) used to be his Hallmark both off the front and back foot. I remember one conspicuous field change that most captains employed when Sachin used to be at the crease and that is- Having the mid on and mid off a lot straighter than normal to counter his thump on the ball with a dead straight bat to any delivery in his half. There are many examples in Sachin’s career where Sachin stamped his authority with his heavy piece of willow. I remember one such instance Vs the West Indies. Courtney Walsh hurled a delivery, which pitched short of good length, and Sachin rocked on to the backfoot and just punched it, which seemed more like a defensive prod. But the ball after the first bounce rose high enough to elude Walsh's extended right arm (And we know how high that is....) and sped away to the fence along the pitch. Such shots gave a lot of us so much joy and satisfaction and left us hungry for more. It used to be puissant Sachin at his mighty best.
But today these shots have become evanescent. Sachin nowadays prefers to 'work them' towards the mid wicket region. The reason is perhaps best known to him ( mental or physical ), but I on behalf of a lot of his aficionados would like to see that shot back. Pack a punch Sachin!!!!
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