Mohammad Azharuddin - The unfinished business!

Some people play cricket for fun, some others for passion, but there a few who have cricket written in their destiny. Cricket is their calling and they would feel home on the field more than anywhere else. One of the proud owners of those supple wrists and nimble footwork that exclusively belongs to Hyderabad, with elegance and flair in the batting, and most of all, the subtlety that enhances his reputation as a master-class batsman, Mohammad Azharuddin was a legend in his own right.

Azharuddin was touted as the next ‘big-thing’ in cricket even before he was selected to represent India. His career was fraught with snags that obstructed his progress. He could have had superior records had he not got caught in the match-fixing scandal that shook the whole nation.

To the people who have not had the fortune to witness Azharuddin in action, imagine a certain VVS Laxman mixed with the fluidity of Jacques Kallis. That is Azharuddin for you! He had a unique preference for the archaic defensive technique that he possessed. He was an artist who carved his innings rather than a modern day batsman and whose flamboyance has never taken the precedence.

Cricket is a game of gentlemen. Players from the past exercised the traditional qualities of cricket and Azhar was one of those educated youngsters whose comprehension of the game was unmatched. He was the first generation of the modern day batsman whose versatility was unparalleled.

He made his debut against England. He was an immediate success as he slammed a century on debut. It was a pretty sight to watch him bat and his credentials as an inexplicable talent were written all over his innings. He had a special love for the ground in which he made his debut. Like his successor from Hyderabad, Azhar had a soft-spot for the famed Eden Gardens, where he has scored five Test centuries. Maybe it stems from the fact that the ground is better suited for their style of play.

Azharuddin’s batting reminded much of Gundappa Vishwanath, though he was taller in stature. His frailty was the short-pitched balls which he encountered through his unique style. Apart from that odd blemish, he was a master craftsman who had the knack to shift gears at will. His record for the quickest century by an Indian in both Tests and one day internationals holds well in the top five till this date.

Whenever the name Azharuddin is being discussed, one cannot ignore the marathon innings of 120 runs he played against England at the Lords. It was crucial for India’s chances, though they squandered it through no fault of his. Azhar was blessed to play alongside two of the most distinguished legends of Indian cricket. He was the man who held the baton while Sachin Tendulkar was still awaited in the international circuit. He has the unique distinction of playing with both Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar and had the honour of captaining Sachin as well. Sachin has immense respect for Azhar as a capable batsman and an aggressive skipper. In fact, Sachin has vouched for Azhar’s captaincy many times in the past.

That was the credibility of Azharuddin, the skipper. He took over the reins at a time when India still did not possess the services of Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to a full extent. It was his expertise that led to the team’s success in the latter half of the last decade. Sourav Ganguly might have the honour of the accomplishments but Azhar demands a fair share in the team building process.

That is not all. Azhar was a master class fielder, taking more than 260 catches. He was known to be quick on his feet on the outfield and the character to emphasize the significance of fielding. He was recognized as a safe pair of hands in the slip cordon and one of the most renowned fielders in the history of Indian cricket. He would probably be on the list of top five fielders for India of all times.

Azharuddin holds a unique record for slamming three centuries in the first three Tests of his career. It shows the amount of maturity he had at that young age, scrutinizing the opponents and extracting the knowledge required to survive against a hostile bowling attack. Only a master could have dominated the opponents from his very first match and Azharuddin was certainly one. His record includes scoring a ton in his final appearance, a feat that he shares with Sunil Gavaskar, though he wouldn’t have dreamed of it as his last.

It was the toughest phase of his career. He was acquitted in a match-fixing scandal that demolished his reputation as a cricketer. He was loathed in the country for tarnishing its name and he lost the respect of his fans from all over the country. But only he knew that he was not guilty of the crime. He fought with a heart of steel till his name got cleared. The highlight of the issue was his commitment to clear his name, being a Member of Parliament (M.P.) already. He was exempted from any punishments, yet he was firm on his stand to obtain justice.

The supple-wristed Hyderbadi was a man of fate. Luck eluded him throughout his career, stranded at exactly 99 Tests. His highest score was 199, a whisker away from a double century. He had the chance to be the first player in the history of cricket to reach 10,000 one-day runs, but luck had other ideas as it pushed him out of competition. He is stranded at 9000+ runs and it is a cruel twist of fate that he did not get a chance to sign-off properly.

It’s no use asking an Englishman to bat like Mohammad Azharuddin. For, it would be like expecting a greyhound to win the London Derby!” – John Woodcock

Azhar was not only hailed, but envied by his opponents for the kind of technique and skills he possessed. A player like him is hard to come by and it would sound clichéd if comparisons are drawn anymore. He was the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ type who bridged the gap between ancient and modern day players. A complete team man, Azhar is an inspiration for the future generations to gain knowledge of basic traits as a cricketer. The commitment of the man extends till date when he offered himself at any capacity to the BCCI to train upcoming players. It summarizes the man, the player, the legend!