Tendulkar is human, admits a few!

By John Cheeran
For every opinion there is a counter opinion.
Even then the reaction from the Former Cricketers Club to Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments on Indian cricket’s icon Sachin Tendulkar has been slow in coming and feeble in its nature.
May be I’m mistaken, but so far I haven’t heard anything from stalwarts such as Bishan Singh Bedi, MAK Pataudi and Kapil Dev on the issue.
I’m yet to hear anything from that astute observer Sunil Gavaskar, himself a Mumbaikar and the dean of Bombay School of Batting. May be Gavaskar is sharpening his pencil for his next column. Like a tactician he wants gauge which way the opinion wind is blowing.
And above all why Ravi Shastri is silent?
Shastri had defended Tendulkar in the past with vim and vigour. I find these gentlemen’s silence on the subject eloquent.
It can be that Manjrekar, in the first place, is free to air his own views, but at another level, an admission that he has talked sense.
May be they are admiring Manjrekar’s courage of conviction, for which these stalwarts were renowned for during their playing days.
Interestingly, former India opener Chetan Chauhan has said star players should be able to take criticism in their stride. Let me quote Chauhan. "There is nothing wrong with his comments. He is a former player and a commentator and follows cricket closely. Everyone cannot be a sycophant and praise you always. Former players have to give the correct picture. If players commit mistakes, one should point out.
"Although my opinion is different -- Tendulkar is a great player, there is nothing wrong with Manjrekar`s opinion.
"If a player is failing to perform, it has to be written about. He has to make way for someone who is performing because it is the team which should come first and not individuals.
But in his hour of distress Tendulkar has found a few men to sing his praises.
Former wicketkeeper and selection committee chairman Syed Kirmani said it was unfair to make comments without ascertaining the facts.
"Be it senior cricketers or commentators, it is wrong on their part to write without going into the fact of the matter.
"It is unfair that people write columns on assumptions and presumptions. If one knows for fact that Sachin faked injuries, he can write with authority. Without knowing the reality, one should not express his opinion or views to the extent of hurting one`s feelings," he said.
Former coach and all-rounder Madan Lal said Tendulkar is criticized either way.
"It is sad that Tendulkar is criticized if he does not play when he is injured and also when he plays with an injury," he said.
"Manjrekar's comments are not in good taste. It is not the right thing to say about a player just before a series. Sachin is such a big player, he is the best judge of his injuries. You do get hurt by such comments, after all Sachin is also human," Lal said.
Yes, Madan Lal. Tendulkar is human.
That’s the key point in the debate initiated by Manjrekar.
And as they say, to err is human. Tendulkar is no God and he is subjected to the same frailties as other men and women.
Manjrekar only told Tendulkar to be realistic, correct his mistakes and make most of the fast receding opportunities.
Now it’s your call, Tendulkar.