Can Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli live up to the expectations?

Bangalore: The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar it began the day Ajit Tendulkar, his elder brother decided to take him to Ramakant Achrekar to make him learn cricket. Tendulkar was 11 years old then and today, after 29 years when we look back, we can see that the man did exceedingly well for himself in international cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar conquered every other milestone of batting that was there in the history of cricket and set new standards for the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.  A journey that started in Pakistan came to an end in the shores of Arabian Sea, leaving the country in tears with every other guy feeling for the man who gave his heart and soul to the country for the past 24 years.

There are no short cuts to success and Sachin Tendulkar proved that hard work, determination and dedication are the key to make your dream come true, something which each one of us can learn from him.

Wankhade Stadium was not only testimony to the great man’s last Test match, but also a wonderful turnover of responsibilities, faith and dreams in the young shoulders of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan to take the country forward as Tendulkar slowly walked back to the pavillion one final time.

It will not be easy to fill in Tendulkar’s boots and nobody should even try it. Most of us have not even seen a team without that name at No 4 for India. But the good news is that the young brigade seems to be ready for the fight and Indian cricket looks to be in safe hands.

Rohit Sharma has taken to Test cricket like fish to water and is longer a flash in the pan. His innings in Kolkata and Mumbai just about came in the right time which showed us that Tendulkar’s departure can also be an opportunity for a youngster. His maturity and patience to build an innings will hold him in good stead in the years to come.

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara has been in the Test squad for quite some time and have already proved that they are good enough to keep the famous Indian middle order intact after the exodus of Tendulkar, who was the last of the fabulous four which included the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

While there is an air of sadness of not seeing the Little Master again, which also marks an end of a generation, but along with it there is a sense of hope and freshness which comes with the advent of some very special young players who were probably inspired to take up the sport by none other the guy who bid adieu to the sport at the Wankhade in Mumbai.