This was the message that Sachin Tendulkar had posted on his social media handle when Virat Kohli ended his T20I career on a high. Virat and Sachin - Two greats but their path to fulfillment has been almost similar. Both legends had to undergo plenty of trauma. They were greats, yet something was amiss. They needed one stamp to seal their greatness. In the case of Sachin Tendulkar, it was a World Cup. More than 15,000 runs in both formats, yet the World Cup eluded him.
In a different era, Virat Kohli had already filled the boots of Sachin Tendulkar. His run-scoring consistency had reached astronomical levels. Tests, ODIs and T20Is, he was scoring runs for fun. An average of 50+ in all three formats, a feat few cricketers have achieved. Yet, the difference in this era was that it was a T20 era. An era of T20 leagues that was changing the landscape. For India, to have not won a T20 World Cup trophy especially after the proliferation of the IPL, seemed to be an outlier. For Virat, the T20 World Cup eluded him.
Sachin Tendulkar - From pain to fulfillment
Sachin Tendulkar was the golden boy that changed the entire landscape of cricket. He had arrived at the stage in the 90s when India was grappling with self doubt. It was a nation that were Tigers at Home, Lambs Abroad. To make matters worse, the country was not faring well economically and socially. Amidst the doom and gloom, Tendulkar gave the nation belief.
In 1992, he had scored consistently in tough conditions but India failed as a unit in the World Cup. In 1996, Tendulkar had scored runs consistently against every team. Yet, in the semifinal at the Eden, his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw India crash out and the fans shaming themselves. In 1999, he lost his father but he came back and did the job. India may have failed but Tendulkar had shown grit.
In 2003, India had reached a final of a World Cup. For a nation used to a decade of underachievement, this was an occasion. But, sadly, they encountered an Australia side on top of their game and were blown away in the final at Johannesburg. When India were dumped out in the 2007 group stages, it seemed some things would never be fulfilled. The sight of Tendulkar and the team staring into the abyss left a profound impression.
In 2011, it was the last dance for Tendulkar. For India, they were determined to ensure that they would give their legend a hero's farewell. Somewhere, a miracle was unfolding. India got over the line against Australia in Ahmedabad and they felt the cup was coming back. On April 2, when MS Dhoni launched a six off Nuwan Kulasekara into the stands at the Wankhede, Destiny was fulfilled. When India had ended a 28-year wait, Tendulkar was carried on the team's shoulders
One of the players who carried Tendulkar on his shoulders was Virat Kohli, who was about to make a big splash in Indian cricket. He stated, "He’s carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, it was time we carried him."
Virat Kohli - 5 stages of pain but redemption
It was the era of the T20s. Social media had exploded. There were fan bases that were divided among several personalities. The environment, rather than fostering a healthy fan base, had developed toxic. One person's failure was delight for the other fan bases. Amidst the entire toxicity, Virat Kohli forged his path to glory.
In 2012, Kohli shone against Pakistan but one loss meant India were out. Kohli was carrying the burden of the nation in 2014 and 2016, only for moments of inspiration from Sri Lanka and West Indies to derail them in the final and semifinal respectively. It was surprising that Virat Kohli did not achieve anything in 2016. It was the year where he redefined greatness. Tests, ODIs and T20Is, he was dominating unlike anything. In the IPL, his 973 changed the entire dynamics. Yet, he was not winning the trophy. In the 2016 T20 World Cup clash against Australia in Mohali, his heroic knock of 82 redefined brilliance.
As captain, it was perplexing to see India underwhelm so much in the 2021 T20 World Cup. At the same time, for his franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, things were going from bad to worse. In 2022, his Melbourne, yet another 82. This time against the arch-rivals Pakistan. "Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground." Those 11 words represented the other-worldliness of Kohli. However, the humiliation against England put that into the backseat.
In 2024, amidst calls that whether he merited a place in the side and with his strike-rate in question, Kohli was in the team for the West Indies. 6 matches, he had failed as an opener. But, bigger the game, bigger the occasion is the mantra that Kohli has always followed. In Barbados, he had hit a 50 off 48. It was being dubbed selfish. 26 runs off 11 balls towards the end. India had reached a par score. The bowlers stepped up, South Africa imploded and on the sixth attempt, Kohli had won the T20 World Cup.
Virat and Sachin's same path to destiny
Both Virat and Sachin are greats. They have changed the landscape of cricket. Both have had to undergo the long route of trauma to get validation of their greatness. An ICC win, in accordance with the era they played in, was vital. Tendulkar got it with the 2011 World Cup win. Many forget that Kohli is a two-time ICC winner in 2011 and 2013. Yet, because T20Is dominated the era, many wanted him to win the T20 World Cup.
April 2 and June 29. Two days that will always be remembered in the history of Indian cricket. It was the day two greats had met their destiny. It was a six that ended 28 years of pain in 2011. It was a six that ensured Kohli and Sachin had their date with providence.
This article is written by Siddharth Vishwanathan.
