Mumbai, May 13: Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to make his IPL debut at the ripe old age of 35, could even be having a quiet laugh on how a few failures in such an event could set tongues rolling all over again. It is an irony that some of the best Test batsmen of this generation: Sachin, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman will be gauged by their success in the T20. Such is the hype around the tournament that a non-performer here is already being labeled as a forgotten player.

There can be no faulting the likes of Laxman and Dravid if they are ruing the launch of the IPL at this stage of their career. It is not necessary for them to play a defining innings after having proved themselves again and again in the toughest of tests. Sachin could, however, see this as one more opportunity to silence critics who continue to question his place in the one-day team despite his heroics in Australia.

T-20 does not suit the alignment of a few batsmen as they find the going tough in the traditional variety. Where Sachin has a distinct advantage is that he is a naturally attacking batsman who creates run-scoring opportunities rather than wait for them. Sourav Ganguly is built the same way and hence he has had some success. Coming back from an injury, he may not find the going easy but with Sachin it is just not the runs he scores that matter.

The little champion brings with him to the crease a certain aura that one can associate only with a few who have graced the game. The approach of the opposition changes when Sachin is in the team. In the case of the IPL, it is those who have played before with Sachin who must now do the hard thinking on how to keep him quiet at the crease.

Having taken sufficient time to recover from his groin strain, Sachin is taking the field again on his own terms and not forced by any corporate pressure. The fab four in general and Sachin in particular should not be judged by their performance in the IPL. It will only ridicule what they have done for the country.

Sachin’s entry has made so much news and that itself in an indication of his star power in world cricket that continues to glow brightly even when there are so many other luminaries that are lighting up the IPL circus.