Sachin’s batting yesterday was very reminiscent of the 2003 Pakistan WC innings he played. Maybe not as aggressive but he batted with a freedom quite rarely seen these days. And India’s run chase too reminded me of that match- an attacking start by Sachin with some support, Sachin falling when we still had a fair distance to go and a non-jittery finish through a sensible partnership.

But the big story of the game will be how Sachin got out in the 90s, yet again. There will be discussions on how the pressure of consistently getting out in the 90s has caught up with him. Or how he consciously slows down when he reaches the 90s and this sudden loss of momentum builds pressure leading to his dismissal. Well, we’d not be entirely incorrect in our hypotheses. Even a man who has more experience of going past the 100 mark than anyone else in the history of the international game can get nervous. And the two shots that he played to get out in the 90s in this series did indicate a man who wanted to get the load off his shoulders. The fine tickle to 3rd man on 99 and the reaching out drive on 97 - not characteristic of Tendulkar especially given the way he had batted throughout the innings.

But the media and “fans” would do well to leave Tendulkar alone. At the fag end of a glorious career, when we see glimpses of what he is still capable of, we should enjoy every performance that comes our way. I would rather watch Sachin bat with the kind of freedom he displayed yesterday than plod his way to one more century. In any case, I am certain he will find answers to the nervous 90s, life, universe and everything (couldn’t resist the last one, sorry!).