No deity to worship this time

For an entire generation of cricket fans, especially Indians, the World Cup is synonymous with a batting institution: Sachin Tendulkar. Right from his Cup debut against England at Perth in 1992 where he scored a brisk 35 to his final innings of 18 against Sri Lanka on a magical night at the Wankhede Stadium, the Little Master has been the reason why people born in the 1980s and 90s became cricket addicts.

A massive source of inspiration to many in the current team and the one that lifted the World Cup four years ago in Mumbai, Tendulkar has left such an indelible impression on almost everyone in the country. Now, it is hard to imagine that he will not be wielding the willow at a country where his Cup journey began 23 years ago.

Over the last six editions, Tendulkar, more often than not, had shouldered the Indian team single-handedly. He seldom showed the weight of a billion hopes but gracefully flourished on the pitch to bring about unbridled joy for us.

While the 1992 edition was a launch pad that he used so effectively, slamming three half-centuries, Tendulkar’s rise as the batting force of his era was witnessed in the 1996, 1999 and 2003 editions. With the World Cup happening at home in 1996 and Tendulkar the face of Indian cricket, fans waited with bated breath for something special from the Mumbaikar who didn’t disappoint either.

Starting with a blistering 127 not out against Kennya, Tendulkar was in sizzling touch throughout the tournament, scoring 70, 90 and 137 in his next three innings as a dream began to unfold. Although that turned into a nightmare at the Eden Gardens when he was stumped for 65 against Sri Lanka in the semifinal, Tendulkar has rarely faltered in the big stage.

While the 2007 edition may be considered a letdown, not entirely due to his failings, Tendulkar’s impact on the World Cup is unparalleled. Such was his hunger, passion and determination to be the best, he even put aside the death of his father during the 1999 World Cup held in England.

After hearing about the personal tragedy, Tendulkar returned home but quickly returned to slam a 101-ball 140 not out against Kenya that brought a tear to million eyes.  Having scored the most runs, most fifties and most centuries in the World Cup, Tendulkar has played many innings of high quality -- like his brazen assault on Pakistan in March 2003.

Played out a million times on television and watched equally on loop time and again, Tendulkar’s demolition of the feared pace trio of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis was a sight to behold. In a mood from the word go, Tendulkar unleashed his full repertoire of strokes at Centurion with stories emerging much later that Akhtar apparently didn’t want the ball in hand till Tendulkar was at the crease.

While the Rawalpindi Express did eventually get him out, Tendulkar’s 75-ball 98 -- containing 12 boundaries and a six – set the tone for a fine victory.

Gems like those is what made us addicted to cricket, more so to Tendulkar. From the mid 1990s till the turn of the last decade, Tendulkar was Indian cricket’s identity. He spared no bowler. Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq…. all of them had felt the heat of Tendulkar’s willow.

It’s hard to imagine a World Cup without Tendulkar, someone who inspired the Virat Kohlis, Rohit Sharmas and Suresh Rainas. It’s the first time in a long time, Tendulkar will be watching the World Cup just like all us, from the confines of home or a studio.
But the gravity of his absence would only be felt when India step out to play Pakistan on February 15 at the Adelaide Oval.