Navjot Sidhu calls it a day

“Yes, I am a man of limitations. I was aware of them as a cricketer but I worked hard and kept improving. That’s what life is all about,” Sidhu told newsmen while announcing his decision to retire.

From a strokeless wonder (’83) to hitting big sixes, Sidhu came into his own in the ’87 Reliance Cup. He belted English off-spinner John Emburey on their tour here (’92-93) and he kept clouting another offie Muthiah Muralitharan for sixes in the ’94 Lucknow Test against Sri Lanka. Then there was that memorable 94 on one leg in the ’96 World Cup semi-finals againstPakistan where Sidhu showed what growing up to another level meant. His fielding was a supreme example.

“I never set any goals for myself. I take things as they come. I feel when one hits the pillow at night, one should have this feeling from within: `Yes, I have done well’,” he said.

Sidhu had the knack of giving a bloody nose to his detractors. His deserting the Indian team on their English tour in ’96, when he apparently had a major tiff with the then-skipper Mohammed Azaharuddin and the subsequent announcement to `retire’ from international cricket did not quite surprise people who knew him from close quarters. Sidhu’s pride was hurt.