In India, Cricket is a religion and Sachin Tendulkar is its biggest deity. For the past few years he has been plagued by injuries and bad form and people were starting to write him off. It was also no surprise that during this phase, Indian cricket also went on a downward spiral. From the high of the 2003 world cup (India –Runners up, Sachin – Man of the series, not a coincidence is it?) to a lowly rank of 7 in the International One Day international rankings last month. Sachin was completely away from the game for the last 6 months nursing a Tennis elbow and people said his days are over.
And then 2 weeks back he made his comeback to international cricket. He made 93 and 70 not out in the first two matches; India won four matches on the trot. Coincidence? Could be, but there is no denying the positive influence this guy has on the team. And of course the media has been quick to point out things along the same lines as I have written. But also I saw an interesting TV news piece about Sachin s comeback which was regarding his Jersey number and that’s what I am writing on
Sachin usually wears a number 10 jersey and this series he has been seen wearing a number 33 one. The TV report I allude to was an interview with an astrologer who it seems had advised Sachin to don the number 33. He was talking about stars, planets, lucky charms, lucky numbers and said that number 3 would sum up to healing and good luck and so 33 means double healing and double good luck. As good a cock and bull story as I have ever heard.
Sachin obviously believes in this and so is wearing it, but he knows that if he plays a bad shot he will get out, like how he got out in the fourth match. So, what irritates me is the importance given to this whole numerological mumbo jumbo. People went as far as to attribute his return to form entirely to the numerological effect. Give me a break.
He started playing 16 years ago when colored clothing was used only in Australia. By the time India started having cricket under lights and with colored clothes; he must have scored thousands of runs and become the world’s best batsman while still being about 20 years old. Numbering of the jerseys stared much later and by the time Sachin started sporting the 10 jersey (inspired by football and not by astrology) he was the best ever One Day cricket player and as Tony Greig put it ‘the closest that ever came to Bradman”. And now after 17 years, almost 25 thousand runs and about 70 centuries in International cricket, Sachin’s return to form is due to number 33. There is no substitute to hard work. Numerology, Astrology, lucky charms etc are a matter of faith and superstition that is for each individual to decide and are just emotional supports. The problem is when they are given importance much more than what they deserve and are construed as the be all and end all of things.
Wondering what he will do while playing Test match Cricket dressed in white Flannels. Maybe get out after scoring 33 runs, lucky number isn’t it?
And then 2 weeks back he made his comeback to international cricket. He made 93 and 70 not out in the first two matches; India won four matches on the trot. Coincidence? Could be, but there is no denying the positive influence this guy has on the team. And of course the media has been quick to point out things along the same lines as I have written. But also I saw an interesting TV news piece about Sachin s comeback which was regarding his Jersey number and that’s what I am writing on
Sachin usually wears a number 10 jersey and this series he has been seen wearing a number 33 one. The TV report I allude to was an interview with an astrologer who it seems had advised Sachin to don the number 33. He was talking about stars, planets, lucky charms, lucky numbers and said that number 3 would sum up to healing and good luck and so 33 means double healing and double good luck. As good a cock and bull story as I have ever heard.
Sachin obviously believes in this and so is wearing it, but he knows that if he plays a bad shot he will get out, like how he got out in the fourth match. So, what irritates me is the importance given to this whole numerological mumbo jumbo. People went as far as to attribute his return to form entirely to the numerological effect. Give me a break.
He started playing 16 years ago when colored clothing was used only in Australia. By the time India started having cricket under lights and with colored clothes; he must have scored thousands of runs and become the world’s best batsman while still being about 20 years old. Numbering of the jerseys stared much later and by the time Sachin started sporting the 10 jersey (inspired by football and not by astrology) he was the best ever One Day cricket player and as Tony Greig put it ‘the closest that ever came to Bradman”. And now after 17 years, almost 25 thousand runs and about 70 centuries in International cricket, Sachin’s return to form is due to number 33. There is no substitute to hard work. Numerology, Astrology, lucky charms etc are a matter of faith and superstition that is for each individual to decide and are just emotional supports. The problem is when they are given importance much more than what they deserve and are construed as the be all and end all of things.
Wondering what he will do while playing Test match Cricket dressed in white Flannels. Maybe get out after scoring 33 runs, lucky number isn’t it?
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