Ind Aus ODI 5: Heartbroken Tendulkar Despite His Heroics

Perhaps the Indian team was paying a tribute to Sachin Tendulkar by reminding him of the days when everything rested on his shoulders, and the end of Tendulkar’s stay at the crease meant the end of the match as far as India were concerned.
For India, the equation was simple. For India to win, Tendulkar needed to stay till the very end. It may seem like demanding too much of a man who batted nearly right through the innings. But once has to put things in perspective.
When a cricketer has been batting in such scintillating fashion, it is but natural that the focus of the rest of the batting line up wavered, mesmerized by the man. The opposition was of course not amused, even though the appreciation for the man’s deeds would sink in later.
The partnership that Tendulkar got together with Suresh Raina proved the deciding factor in getting India incredibly close to Australia’s total of 350 in the fifth ODI of the India Australia ODi series in Hyderabad.
But with just nineteen runs needed, harakiri prevailed and the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar for 175 runs off just 141 balls set the cat amongst the pigeons. Unprepared for the final flourish, Ravindra Jadeja conducted a couple of mock drills before Australia found a way to catch him out in his desperate run out attempts. And in that, perhaps once again Jadeja makes a name for himself infamously to write in for a long lengthy discussion for later time.
But with the wicket of Tendulkar, all hopes rested on Praveen Kumar to use the bat to good effect. Perhaps an inch into the crease, the story would have a different ending. On this day, for a second time in this series,India came within touching distance of victory and yet would hold themselves guilty of not having finished the job.
This loss by three runs has robbed the smile of Sachin Tendulkar’s face. And the Australians will think, we just about managed to get out of jail. How? Don’t ask!

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