Sun in Tendulkar With Sachin's heroic return India's hopes rise again Banga Sammelan World Banga Sammelan at the Millennium Karnataka Poll preparations

The cricket fever, which had not raised much of a temperature in Calcutta, given the dismal performance of the national cricket team in the World Cup seemed to have reached some level of recognition with the return of Sachin Tendulkar to the team and his scintillating century against the Kenyans at Bristol on Sunday. However, the city is quite aware that Azharuddin's team will have to perform beyond what even the most diehard fan would like it to for India to make it to the Super Six. Already, after the disastrous defeat at the hands of lowly-placed Zimbabwe earlier this week, Azharuddin's critics had sounded the cry for his head and to cap the almost delirious pitch to which criticism takes itself in this subcontinent, some club members in Agarpara in the suburbs of Calcutta even performed a ``shradh'' ceremony for the Indian captain with full sense of occasion as it were and with priest doing the rituals. While the taste or the lack of it in such an exercise can be debated, the incident is typical of the mania that descends on India once cricket is played at a competitive level anywhere in which the country takes part. For the time being, it will thus be cricket and cricket only. The hero has performed as he was expected; even if the team does not, that could be some consolation. If earlier occasions and examples are anything to go by, Azharuddin's team may or may not return to a tumultous welcome, but for Sachin Tendulkar, the country shall turn out in all its splendour.If for nothing else, India will remember this World Cup for one man, who after having lost his father and much of his energy travelling across two sub-continents twice in a span of hours, went out and got it for his motherland. Tendulkar's motherland is justifiably proud of its worthy son.