How do you want to be remembered Mr Kohli?

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A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom. -- Bob Dylan.

We can choose a zillion superlatives to describe your cricketing exploits, but to give an honest account of your off field persona will mean my words have to stoop to a new low.

Ever since you burst into the scene as the young energetic captain of the victorious Indian team at the 2008 U-19 World Cup in Malaysia, you have mesmerised us with your on-field exploits. You always stood out with your record-breaking feats, making each of us proud of you as an Indian.

You took the fight to the rival camp, stood up against sledging and we thought you are someone who wears his heart on his sleeve. But then your history of run-ins became more disturbingly regular with each passing day. 

Whether it was the spat with colleague Gautam Gambhir at Wankhede stadium, or the flashing of the middle finger to the Australian crowd or the hurling of verbal abuses at rival teams, it all kept adding up. Most times we smiled it off considering your extraordinary on-field exploits. 

But the recent verbal abuse hurled at a respectable newspaper journalist without provocation at Perth after a mistaken identity and your arrogance of not even apologising to him in person even after realising your mistake justifies the 'spoil brat' tag which has been hanging on you for some time.

According to reports, your invective was triggered by a report by another Indian journalist who had apparently written about your personal life. Well, the reporter had written: "In a departure from the past, Virat Kohli has been allowed to have girlfriend Anushka Sharma around" during last year's England tour.

Is writing about personal life of cricketers banned in India? Does it justify the volley of expletives, Mr Kohli? Okay, anyone can lose his/her cool, after all you are just a human being but to have the arrogance to not even apologise directly to the person who you just blasted in front of many, shows your aggression is misplaced and you actually are quite weak inside because it takes a lot of courage to admit, acknowledge, accept and apologize.

Indian team has seen many talents becoming legends. Whether it is Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly or Rahul Dravid, each of them had to face intense media scrutiny but they never ever engaged in a behaviour which was unbecoming of them as Indian icons.
Even Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is the best captain India ever had, despite his of late cold attitude towards Indian media, has never give us a reason to doubt his human qualities. Even if Dhoni weren't the best captain, he would have been remembered as someone who gave respect to seniors and juniors alike and earned respect equally. His demeanour earned him the title of 'captain cool'. However, looking at the way you are going, it would be from captain cool to 'captain namakool' for India in the coming days.

At a time when each person is clinging to his piece of debris, fighting own battles, it is paramount to strive for appropriate behaviour even in the face of extreme hazards. One who can do that becomes a true leader, who is rewarded and remembered for his action.

When Tendulkar walks into the fading sun

The Masterblaster finally walks into the fading sun, a world sighs in pain. we could see it coming but there was a sense of suspended disbelief and we wanted to avoid this moment. We wanted to play along and avoid topics of your retirement.

Sometimes we switched off the TV when the anchors discussed your future with so much seriousness. We often cursed those anchors and sometimes even swore at them: 'why can't they just leave him alone', we would say. 


But its time now and no matter how much we try, the moment of truth has arrived. Probably someone like me would tell myself that it has not arrived yet. Still the 200th test is due, still that day is due, still that moment has not arrived when the stadium stands up on its feet and bows to you for one last moment. 

You know, Sachin, when you hanged your boots in the one-dayer, I felt cheated because you didn't give me and zillions like me a chance to say goodbye but this time, at least the fans will have enough time to pacify their sobbing heart and hold their breath and surrender to that moment of truth and smile faintly but proudly when you raise your bat and walk out of the battle field, where you scripted so many memorable wins. 

I had so much to say to you but I could never tel you that. Even when I had the 
opportunity of talking to you over the phone once, I could barely speak my heart 
out to you. It was the highlight of my short sport journalism career. I, however, 
did tel you that I belong to a place called 'Silchar' and I could not hide my excitement and happiness when you mentioned about your innings which you played at the DSA ground in the 1990s. It was a rare moment for me.

I was happy because, I could tell you that your fans are not only in the metros but also in the far-fetched land of the northeastern corner of the country. Like me, there were thousands and lakhs here in my small town, who revered you and worshiped you like God, who picked up the cricket bat because they saw you on the TV one day in their childhood, playing that perfect cover drive or pull shot or your trademark straight drive.

Now when I sit down and think about you, there is another moment that comes flashing in my mind's eyes. It was first and the only time when I had seen you, sitting less than 10 feet from me, addressing a press conference during the Indian premier League at the ferozshah kotla ground. I had to get over my amazement to 
listen to what you were saying because I had a job to do. But to be frank, I didn't remember anything after that because all that I could remember was the feeling when the GOD brushed aside me and standing there less than one feet away from you, I had already frozen in time. I could feel how time slowed down at that moment and I could actually gauge your height.

I had so much to write but even now words doesn't come easy, it never does when it is about the God of cricket. It won't be an exaggeration to say that when you go, the game will lose its soul for many, cricket will lose many fans and for me, with you a little bit of me wil also lose its identity that day on your 200th test.

Retirements plans for Sachin

Fans all over the world have bared their heart and crooned their way in praise of the 'GOD OF CRICKET'.

Former skippers, administrators, actors and singers -- all have coughed out their feelings for the little legend all ready.

So much have been the Sachin-ama that I have been feeling a bit scared about the man and his lot after cricket.

Not that the beginning of the end is anywhere near, but just a spasm in my heart and a concern for the little master have pushed me to look at his life after cricket when-so-ever it is.

So, here I go! Sachin take a look and make a pick.

1. Starting a full six-month course in disguising and camouflaging for the budding lovers. Given his strature he is likely to get some international clients as well very easily.

2. Keep weilding his bat and oiling his bones till he cracks Neville Wadia's record and etch his name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

3. Not that he is a novice behind the wheels, and given his penchant of becoming the first Indian in all he surveys, he could well throw his hat at becoming the first Indian again to drive Force India's VJM02. (Not to mention his iconic status will help his cause here too)


4. Given his quality of staying hungry he must have been size zero by now. Jokes apart! He might think of writing the next edition of 'Stay hungry, stay foolish'.

5. Given his goodwill and iconic status, he can start Sachi-nayam, mixing pranayam with his cricketing acumen. In the process he can get rid of his cramps and think of making a comeback again.

P.S. Although critics feels Tendulkar is unlikely to dislodge Wilfred Rhodes from the top of the longest Test career chart. According to predictions, when the world ends in 2012, the masterblaster will be the lone survivor and then he will likely to continue playing with the ETs before hanging up his boots.