This comes at a time when, under hushed tones, sections of the media are baying for your blood...People who have never held a cricket bat are calling you out to hang up your boots out of a misplaced sense of media marketing and "breaking-news". And they seem to be doing it without any remorse, thinking only of the TRP ratings for their channels.
Suddenly, everyone has forgotten all that you have brought to us. For a very few, playing to win matches for your country is one aspect but you have given us much more. You have shown that qualities like pride, hope, courage and, dedication do really exist and have tried to encourage us to inculcate them in our daily lives. Each time you step onto the field, to represent your country, you have shown us that these qualities can be applied beyond the boundary ropes, in our lives. I can only think of our brave soldiers, besides you, who invoke these qualities as they stake claim to our security by offering their lives. Sadly, most of us are not made aware of the sacrifices they make to protect our sovereign integrity. So, we have to make do with you...
Suddenly, everyone appears to be questioning your integrity for a new "headline" to pop up every few minutes. Panic buttons are being pressed, one moment, the media claims that the team has let millions down while the very next moment, individuals like you are being singled out. Have they forgotten the number of times you have bailed the team out in the past? Have they forgotten the immense discipline you have displayed while making so many personal sacrifices for the team?
Suddenly, people want to infuse brash, callous. young blood into the team at your expense. Do they not realize the depth of the void this would create? Do they not realize, for these modern-age players, to carry your mantle forward, they need tutelage from you? Do they not realize, for all the combined laurels you have brought to the game and country, you have earned the right to call it a day and ride into the sunset?
A few of us would like to remember you for the humility and grace with which you have conducted yourself. We have tried to ape your game sometimes in our colony games but on most other counts, we have tried to live our existence based on the ideals and values you have set, for respect, charm, discipline are qualities not learnt or developed, but are in-built into the Indian middle-class strata of the Seventies and Eighties. The few of us cannot see ourselves identifying with the current "next-generation" of players and perhaps, no amount of their valour can change this view.
Amidst all this furore for your heads, you have maintained dignified silence. Please consider this earnest request to throw in your towels because the cynical world does not need you. It does not recognize the purity and innocence of your selfless services. This gentleman's game, which you have held so closely to your hearts is vanishing and as it's last dying breed of custodians, it will only be prudent for you to do the same. Retract from all of us into the darkness...for the remaining few of us, will accept this with a heavy heart. We may or may not have succeeded in emulating some your qualities in our lives but we are ready to acknowledge this our personal shortcoming to thank you for all you have done for us....
With utmost respect...
