A perfect partner:Chetan Chauhan

One always needs a partner whose eye contact,body language and sheer presence makes you assured about yourself.

If one needs to make it big in life, you should have a partner who is always there for you in thick and thin situations. 

That’s exactly what Chetan Chauhan was to Indian Cricket and Sunil Gavaskar.

With Gavaskar, Chauhan redefined the definition of opening partnership and went on to become one of most trusted lieutenants of Indian Cricket.

For Chauhan, Gavaskar was his leader, partner and by all means a mentor for whom he almost infamously left the cricket ground in Melbourne when to later’s amusement, he was given out by the umpire against Deniss Lillee.

If Gavaskar retired as India’s leading test scorer with 34 centuries, Chauhan got into oblivion without scoring a single century. That probably remains his most highlighted achievement of his career. However it speaks volumes for his consistency,commitment and contribution towards the game.

But there was so much more about Chauhan than Gavaskar. He was a typical khadoos opening batsman, putting a heavy price on his wicket and not to get bogged down against top class bowlers. Wish only those eluding centuries came his way too 😔 

Chauhan went to become an able admistrator, an honest lawmaker and still had a long political career in front of him when COVID caught him off the guard only to succumb to his trademark of not converting a good start into long innings.

Chetan Chauhan ! You will always be remembered as early pioneers of Indian Cricket who made the world take a note of India’s supremacy and will be regarded as one of the best opening batsmen, the country was ever blessed with.

RIP Chetan Chauhan 🙇‍♀️ 

Images Courtsey: Dainik Bhaskar

 

Take a bow 🙇‍♀️ Legend MSD

A stalwart bids adieu and one wonders whether we treat this as one of the saddest days of Indian Cricket or congratulate media for finally achieving its goal by consistently taking up a cause for MSD farewell.

Gavaskar had once famously said,

“Retire, and let people ask WHY? Rather than getting asked WHEN?”

Media seems to pick up this cause of ‘WHEN’ as soon as they see someone falter even once and are happy to take expert role to write a cricket obituary.

As MSD retires from International Cricket, luckily for the fans, the world has a window in form of IPL and hopefully we see him around for few more years to come.

As a typical fan of the BIG 5, MS was always an outsider for many amongst the cricket followers and one wondered whether the long haired raw teenager had the potential to carry heavyweights under his leadership and boy ! 

He brought the glory home for the first time in 2007 World Cup 20-20 and then made it a habit to take the podium position whether it was IPL, Champions Trophy or that coveted 2011 World Cup which made India erupt in loud cheers and tears for the Master Blaster Sachin.

The time flies, a career that started as a rusty teenager is about to end as a legend. We might have seen one of the best ever keepers and skippers of India bidding adieu to the game we loved and he lived.

Each legend gives us something to learn but Dhoni gave us patience, cool head, difficult mind to read and most importantly an ideal leadership one should idolise and aspire for.

Thanks Dhoni for giving us those wonderful years and bringing those amazing moments for all the cricket fans, the world over.

Take a bow 🙇‍♀️ ‘The Real Keeper of Indian Cricket’ 🙇‍♂️ 

Image Courtesy: Economic Times

Disclaimer: The article is personal tribute to a glorious cricketer and does not intend to comment about the ups and downs of the Indian Cricket.