Tendulkar8217;s homage to father has Kenya in grief

BRISTOL, MAY 23: Sachin Tendulkar looked at the skies as he entered the ground. Instead of his usual brisk walk, he had a thoughtful stri...

BRISTOL, MAY 23: Sachin Tendulkar looked at the skies as he entered the ground. Instead of his usual brisk walk, he had a thoughtful stride to the wicket. When he completed his half-century he looked heavenwards first and then acknowledged the applause from the crowd. He repeated the act when he reached his hundred and when he struck the last ball of the innings over the midwicket fence for a six, he once again looked at the skies before walking back towards the pavilion with a scorching 140 to his name.

It may not have been the greatest innings Tendulkar has played, it may not have been the best bowling attack, but it was special. Very special as he was to say later. He could not have given his father a better tribute than a hundred which the crowd at Bristol will cherish and Tendulkar will never forget. Accepting the Man of Match award, Sachin dedicated the innings to his father. 8220;Both were equally important occasions for me,8221; he said commenting on his return to the World Cup by cutting short hismourning after his father8217;s death.

Sachin8217;s innings was one which may have given India the much-needed morale-booster dose that could inspire them to better things in the last two games of the group.

For India, beating Kenya may have not be in much doubt but the manner in which Tendulkar mauled the attack and Rahul Dravid nibbled at them was just the tonic they were in search of, the poor Kenyan attack not withstanding.

Interestingly, there was some confusion over where Sachin would figure in the batting order. In the morning, word was that he8217;d bat at number 3; just before the match began, it was changed to number four. It took the team management two defeats to change their mind and decide not to open with him.

At Leicester, Zimbabwean coach Dave Houghton had said on the eve of the match that, given the seaming conditions in England, he8217;d be happy to see Tendulkar open the innings 8220;as it gives my team the best chance to get him out.8221; The Indian coach, Anshuman Gaekwad8217;s reaction to this statementwas: 8220;Tendulkar will open in this tournament. We are not going to hide the world8217;s best batsman in the middle.8221; The defeat against Zimbabwe and Ramesh8217;s good innings in Tendulkar8217;s absence changed all that.

It was obvious that the little maestro was steeling himself to play an innings that would be a special tribute to his father. That he translated his dream into reality speaks of Tendulkar8217;s will and resolve. It also speaks of his genius as a batsman.