16th October 2010

Try to find a link between Indian-Australian Cricket teams and Rafa Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry; now, how terrible are you feeling to connect link between uncommon similarities and great associations of these wonderful athletes.

Indeed, India-Australia cricketing Rivalry over a decade has been showcasing the Rafa-Roger rivalry for the cricket lovers who have less interest in Tennis sport across the globe. Australian team and Roger Federer's fading authority versus Indian team, Rafa Nadal’s emergence and achievements over a period of time are worth some of your attention to these thoughts.

Where the Invincibility becomes vulnerability, greatest becomes great and Champion becomes challenger, the recognition for the authority goes demanding, which is hard to digest for the respective fans and followers but history tells you great players and great teams do give themselves a pause at some point of time and the successor takes over to become a Champion.

In lifetime, for our generation of sport lovers, it is hard to forget the memories of the way Australian cricket team had dominated in late 90’s and 2000’s or the God of tennis Roger Federer’s supreme  dominance on tennis world in 2003-07 seasons. They were invincible and played like undisputed champions and looked unconquerable whenever they walked into the field or court.  

When Roger was playing in his sublime form, he did look like GOD and no player on planet had clue how to beat him but to bow down and take their band off. His game was and is flawless, elegant, efficient and authoritative; he was one of the best examples of INVINIBILITY in the history. Australia had wonderful champion players, who made their team one of THE greatest cricketing team of history which is hardest thing to achieve in team sport. I always enjoyed and felt privileged to experience, how players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Mathew Hyden made winning games ridiculously look simple. Being Indian team fan, I hated them on field for beating India but deep in my heart somewhere, I admired them and knew the truth and I am sure you would not disagree on that, after all it is a sport.

Run through the game when a pinch of opportunity is offered at crucial point is what great champions do when they are in prime but, current Australian team in recent times and Rogers’s performances in French, Wimbledon and in US OPEN shown that quality is fading.

Whereas, Indian team and Rafael Nadal could able to stand tall and show the determination to succeed to travel the distance to be champion, which is making them the best in the business and tough to beat. In terms of achievements, it is hard to compare but still I believe team India has lot to prove to the critics than to RAFA and I am sure, they know it better than we do.

As the challengers now the champions and roaring to perform; inspired and daring to dream to be the greatest, Indian team have achieved a lot in last 2 or 3 years under MS Dhoni’s captaincy they could able to stay at no.1 ranking in tests for almost 2 years, if they are to be registered in the greatest of teams they have to show the character and authority for longer periods and in different conditions across the globe; They have all the potential and ammunition in the arsenal to do it, most importantly now they started believing in their abilities. And, the warrior Rafa who achieved a lot at young age of 24 to register among the greatest players of all time has to keep working and winning to be compared with the GREATEST EVER Roger. 8 more grand slams would be extremely difficult for any player to achieve but he has it him to achieve it.

But, as the time passed and tides have changed; Champion have became challengers, they still are competitive enough to be on the Top; however, the question remains same; are you winning enough to claim your greatness at the moment?

Sports are about the great action, emotions, passion, excitement, spirit, entertainment and reality and the reality is that, sport can get as cruel as it is (Roger’s AO’09 final is one such moment); it gives the players the moments of glory to cherish for lifetime and some denying and heartbreaking moments of exquisite Agony; and to me, the true sportsperson are the one, who treats both moments with same spirit and pride. The most important thing in sport is not winning but to perform to best of your ability at every point on the field or court. If you do the later right, champions become LEGENDS.

The true champions stand tall, believe in themselves and deliver under pressure. Once, the transformation of challenger to Champion take place, it brings the expectations and pressure of performing and staying on the top. And, greatest players and teams are those which could able to sustain the pressure, stay focused on goal and on Mount EVE for longer periods.

However, everyday, the challenge for proved greats and proving champions remain same irrespective of achievements; and only, time can predict not the analysts, what lies ahead weather greats rearise or champions cruise to greatness.

Prasad K