The Tale of Two Legends

Almost 11 years ago at Sharjah when Sachin Tendulkar whipped the ball past square leg to author the Part -1 of the Desert Storm epic , the excited Richie Benaud cooed in the commentary box “That’s his hundred….issh-teering India to a plaish in the finals, Wonderfoool Innigssh”. Not only India but entire world stood up to recognize the legend of Tendulkar had arrived. More than a share of the epic’s credit goes to the opponent he was playing against – The Australians at their very best and the battle within the war with the Wizard of Oz – Shane Warne. For the fascinating characters in a story makes an intriguing read. And by no measures that epic was short of mythological characters on which children stories thrive - A proud, powerful Roman dynasty against a bunch of Gaul villagers led by Asterix.

11 years hence, not even a single passionate Indian cricket follower, with even god gifted prophesying power, would have predicted that one day half of India would root for the vanquished proud Knight of 1998 Sharjah epic and wish that their very own Asterix – Sachin- be beaten in flight of that legendary top spinner, or ripping leg break and loose the battle of two greatest magicians the cricketing world has ever seen. The plot was still the same – A powerful dynasty against the bunch of rustic villagers – however, the roles were swapped. The twinkled eyed Warne leading the bunch of no hopers. And with no strange coincidence the ending was as mythical as in 1998- The underdogs usurping the carpet underneath the ruler.

What Warne meant to world cricket is evident, even today, the moment he sets his feet on the cricket field. Ali, Becker, Jordan and Sachin had that aura when they set adrenaline pumping in sporting arena. Warne doesn’t stop with the adrenaline rush, he intoxicates and hypnotizes you. The Hollywood-ian aura embodying sense of awe, passion , excitement, action, manipulation all bundled into one body with a twitch of vulnerability and bubbling optimism. Watching Warne on cricket field is almost like reading through the great gambler’s mind in a Vegas casino. He likes to play blind but with the unraveling strategy and quantum physicist mind which is almost impossible to preempt. He thrives when he knows he has one trump card in his hand against the set of Jacks and Aces in the hands of his opposition. Invariably he drives the game from onset and befuddles stunned opposition converting his crappers into trumps. More often than not he wins the battle of wits for he reads the game so well that he is always predicting three-four moves well in advance like a seasoned chess player.

What this year’s IPL has brought forth so far was distinct line of demarcation between International class players against the domestic novices. Today it defined another thin line – One between mere Greats against the Legends of the game. Between 6th to 13th over of the return leg IPL match between Mumbai and Rajasthan, Tendulkar, Jayasuriya and Warne were the protagonists of the Act. However the great Jayasuriya almost faded in the shadow of the two legends Warne and Tendulkar as if he was playing a sidekick to the contest between the two heavyweights. It was a Clint Eastwood versus Amitabh Bacchhan stuff with Aamir Khan playing a sidekick.

As it happens with the action packed movies the sidekick was consumed with consummate ease by Warne to refocus the plot on the original battle. The first delivery from Warne to Tendulkar was a loopy leg spin pitched on middle and leg which was played with deft wrists. Slowly but surely Warne drew Tendulkar forward floating one further up. And as has been the great batting maestro’s exploit in 90s, this time too he accepted the invitation and with nimble foot moved inside out to lift one over extra cover boundary – Pressure released. Rather than the battle it was the artistry at its very best from two champion Mozarts of the last two decades performing a jugal bandi.

Vintage Tendulkar threatened to thrash the mere cricketers and mortals in opposition to pulp when one last time the magician came back to perform his Impedimenta spell., Sachin responed with Confundus charm. The wily top spinner pitched on off held its line and beat Sachin on flight as he crouched to sweep one behind square. Warne knew the spell had worked as he stretched his hand to lend out the war cry. As slowly the umpire’s finger was raised, the changing times enraged the similar emotions of Asterix vanquishing the Romans – Only difference was 11 years down the line Warnie is playing the role of Asterix.