The atmosphere was tense and rightly so for such a titanic clash. Some contests are more than just contests, and if ever there was one Mother of All Battles, it's the India-Pak clash. Among all the chaos and drama, the one man with the most calm head walked out as he has been doing for more than a decade, at that crucial No. 3 position for his country; a role reassigned recently after the short ball debacle. The calmness and composure were unmistakable and he started with his ever so familiar ease. He was the one who held the Innings together(yes, once again), and though there were all kinds of shots being hit by the batsmen around him, his role was clear to him more than anyone else. With utmost ease and surreal calmness, he looked for those singles and occasional boundaries. There's never been a doubt about his method and class, and he has shown once again, why he is known as THE WALL. His age notwithstanding, he gave the fight to the opposition until the end, till he was undone by some misunderstanding and was runout, probably the only way he would have got out. He has always been that kind of a guy, and you could sense it wasn't anything different at the SuperSport Park either. The nerves may have got to the others, but he stood there, a man on a mission, looking to play for the cause of the team, putting everything behind him. Records, hundreds, fifties don't matter to this man. He goes out there, puts his head down and does what he can foe the Team. It was pleasing to see him bat among all the other poor performance from the Indian team. And though his effort proved to be short as India couldn't reach home, i felt happy for the man. His commitment and determination haven't gone down an iota.
The Wall is reconstructed. Beware the bowlers!
