New Delhi: There was a time when the second Indian wicket in a Test match was greeted with a huge cheer in every parts of the country. That was when Sachin Tendulkar graced the game of cricket. The batsman walking back to the shades would often feel cheated and sometimes aggrieved with his own countrymen, as did Cheteshwar Pujara during the early stages of his career. On Sunday afternoon, Dinesh Karthik must have felt the same while walking back in the Wankhede Stadium. India were in their blues instead of whites and the “Sachin Sachin” chants were replaced with “Dhoni Dhoni” ones.
Not the first time Dhoni was receiving such an ovation while walking out to bat but it did bear a special significance, as the venue was Wankhede stadium, where the “Sachin Sachin” chants continued well after Tendulkar had finished his farewell speech in 2013.
Spare of though for Dinesh Karthik, who had just got out after playing a crucial knock of 37, rescuing India from a tricky situation. But the crowd was no mood to ponder on his dismissal. They were elated to see the former India captain coming out to bet.
Dhoni threatened to back that ovation with a sparkling finish but was dismissed against the run of play for 25 by New Zealand’s best bowler of the day Trent Boult. There was complete opposite scenes in Wankhede to was happening half an hour ago, there was disbelief.