Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli – Why there should be no comparison!

If there is one chant that has ever been recited at the same time throughout the Nation (way b4 the recent “ache din” in today’s scenario) it was – “Sachin Sachin… Sachinnn Sachhinnn”. Not once or twice or thrice, but every time He walked out to bat – An omniscient Yogi who lived an ascetic life on & off those 22yrds as the primal Atman (soul) of the Indian Cricket team: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

If Shiva is “the transformer” within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu then Sachin is “the transformer” within the Trimurti, the legendary trio that includes Rahul Dravid (the protector – whenever the team was threatened) and Saurav Ganguly (the creator – of the modern Indian team). Unlike the attributes of Shiva, Sachin’s most iconographical attributes comprise only of his weapon of choice – a 3lb 4oz bat which, in his fierce aspects, he would use to demolish demons (bowlers) at will, in any part of the world He wanted!

Over the years Sachin grew as a faith which was a consequence of not just the wins but also WHEN and HOW those wins happened. Along with liberalization of industry and trade in the 1980s & integration of Indian economy with the world, one of the prime reasons behind ‘growing India’ was National Confidence. It was a decade when India as a nation was recovering from the inferiority complex developed in the minds of its people as an impact of colonialism. As also quoted by Douglass North – “Belief structures get transformed into societal and economic structures into institutions—both formal rules and informal norms of behavior. The relationship between mental models and institutions is an intimate one.” Businessmen understand the value of confidence in entrepreneurial success and in creating a climate for investment; Historians too emphasize the power of self-belief in national success

It was during this era that one man made an entire Nation together identify itself as a ‘not to be taken lightly’ force. One might be able to replicate the persistence, the commitment, the dedication or maybe even the class & love Sachin had for the game but what one will never be able to replicate is belief. A belief not only in the Indian dressing room but also in another almost billion people.

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the flag bearers amongst all those who announced India’s presence on a world stage and ignited in every Indian a fire, howsoever small, a fire of self-confidence and being an Indian. Glued to the TV sets watching India win those, as Doordarshan would put it, ‘kaante ki takkar ke matches’ a new self-belief emerged among the urban Indian youth. As if a new aura floated around the nation! Emulating those flawless drives students grew on ambition, discussing the number of centuries Sachin has hit for winning cause office goers bonded (or unbounded –most times) with their colleagues, with superstition and joy families came together.  After very innings, a single feeling encompassed the entire nation and Sachin would be the talk of every possible conversation corner. Cricket was no more just a game and He was not just a sportsman. With Him having spent 24yrs at those 22yrds, most of us have traversed through all such phases leaving all our cricketing worries to only one Man who matured as an emotion in most of Indians. From ruthlessly being criticized for His failure to being the soul of expectations of a billion people, Sachin has found a place in every Indian’s heart that is irreplaceable. And once the master got into any lean patch, there was one questions which deprived many of their sleeps – “who will be the next Tendulkar” – the backbone of Indian cricket team!!

Fortunately for most ardent cricket lovers it didn’t take long to get answered. Since Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013, one Indian cricketer has commanded the adulation that the master once received. As a chant of “Koh-liiii! Kohli!” reverberates around the stadium every time this young flamboyant Indian captain comes out to bat, and the sublimity with which he hits the bowlers all around the park, people are assured that the Indian Cricket team is in one of the most dynamic and responsible hands of the sport. Like Tendulkar, Kohli has a near-flawless technique, which helps him tackle pace and spin with equal ease and India look to him every time they hit the rough, as they did for two decades with the “Little Master”. And, like Tendulkar, Kohli is rapidly becoming a darling of corporations keen to associate their brands with a player whose expressive nature has touched a nerve with India’s youth. But shall Kohli be compared to “The GOD” himself!! Hmm!!

Sachin is a cricketing GOD to India; and Kohli is nothing but his incarnation.

Sachin: Shiva :: Kohli : Hanuman (None less Godly)

To start with, the name Hanuman means “one with prominent or disfigured jaw”. Another theory says the name is derived from the Sanskrit words Han (“killed” or “destroyed”) and maana (pride); the name implies “one whose pride was destroyed”. And as for our captain, well with his near perfect bearded jawline and his chiseled physique, he already is the poster boy of Indian Cricket. But this has not come easy. Kohli got into the team early, but with Sachin and Sehwag in the team was not able to make it consistently in the playing 11, and every time he did make it, he made sure he didn’t fall short of runs. Being the new kid on the block in a gentlemen’s game, every time Kohli was aggressive on the field, he was criticized. Even the Aussies showered phrases like “spoilt brat “ etc. when he went out to bat during his life changing series in Australia. And now, even the teams around the world have realized this the hard way- you don’t mess with Kohli’s Pride. It will bring out the best in him! 
Just like Hanuman – Kohli too, an incarnation of The GOD, was an ardent devotee of his Captain (M.S.Dhoni – the Maryada Purshottam of Indian Cricket Team: will try to shed more light on this in my next article perhaps). What gets Kohli closest to being compared to Hanuman for me is his Shape Shifting attribute. Just as Hanuman would enlarge & immediately afterwards contract his body to out-wit demons, Kohli’s ease in shifting his mental focus from playing a test to playing a T20, to outwit bowlers, is reflected in his sublime performance in all 3 formats of the game.

So, how do we compare them? Well, The answer is we don’t.

Sachin, Saurav, Dravid are divine entities to whom, like Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, the team would look up to when in crisis! And like Hanuman who became so powerful having been blessed with one of every GOD’s powers, Virat Kohli took on himself to learn & inculcate all the qualities these batting greats possessed. A lot of this also has to do with the evolution of the Game itself. Cricket over the years has evolved immensely and so have the players and followers of the game. In his own aggressive ways, with utter devotion to his (former) captain and reverence for his idol, Kohli has already given the team a new energy and attitude that will define a new era in the game. Both Sachin and Kohli, like Shiva and Hanuman, are just two different perspectives with which Indians watch their TV sets. A greater love & respect for one does not mean lesser for the other.