Mr Tendulkar, it is time for you to retire!!!!!!

so says Girish Rishi

I remember first hearing about a 14-year-old ace cricketer in my early days at the Podar College hostel in Bombay. Some members of the college cricket team often socialized in the hostel, guzzling London Pilsner (a local brew), after the day's practice at the nets. The conversation would quickly steer towards a critique of players on the Bombay circuit.

Getting a very objective analysis of local or national cricket at Podar in the mid 1980s was natural. Many of India's cricketing greats claimed the college as their alma mater. Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri were alumni and Sanjay Manjrekar, still in college, was predicted to make it to the India X1 soon. In those days, it was normal to see Podar dominate the Bombay Ranji cricket team line-up.

Podar, a college in Bombay's middle class suburbs, filled with progeny of conservative families found its claim to Indian cricket of good snob-value against the high profiled, flamboyant colleges in "town" and in "Juhu" where the rich and famous from the world of business and bollywood sent their kids.

In that autumn almost 20 years ago, I found one string of conversations taking place in Podar Hostel noteworthy. Those gathered -- accomplished cricket players, self-proclaimed expert commentators and watchers were unanimous about this boy genius. They had no critique, no suggestions of how this boy could improve his stance or skill. Most other players got the brunt of their criticism -- that guy flirts off of off-stump, does not handle leg-spin well, will not do well on a grassy pitch, etc.

No such comments about this particular player. The group would talk about a Sachin Tendulkar, a kid still in school, as an accomplished player. In those discussions, he often got compared to Gavaskar. The conversation seemed over-hyped, exaggerated. This expert, informal group was in awe of Sachin and predicted that he would be the Indian side's future. Mind you, this was when Sachin was not even playing for the city, let alone the country.�

Raja, a top order batsman, who had migrated from Kolhapur to the big city to play cricket happened to tour England with Sachin. Upon his return, after representing India in the under-19 side, Raja talked about three things -- the century he himself made in the olde country, the bite of the cold weather in the summer months, and this boy wonder called Sachin.

We saw Sachin play at Matunga Gymkhana, the nondescript cricketing field across from Podar College, once a harvesting field for the country's selectors. In that part of the city, budding cricketers dreamt of following a hallowed path -- from the by-lanes of Hindu Colony in Dadar playing tennis-ball cricket to Matunga Gymkhana playing for Podar and then for the Ranji team and India at Wankhede Stadium -- was the road to fame and success.

No, Sachin never went to Podar. He did not need a college to bolster his cricketing career. Most is history about this great cricketer. From those early years in the modest suburbs, he went on to become the greatest name in world cricket.

Over the years, I lost touch with cricket, Podar and Bombay. After more than a decade, I saw Sachin play at Lord's in the summer of 2002. The Master batsman failed to put up a good innings in that Test match but did excel in the series with a terrific century at Headingley, his 30th, thus passing Sir Donald Bradman's record.

But that was the past. Sachin Tendulkar is past his prime now. He failed himself and the country in the Caribbean at the 2007 World Cup last week. A player like Sachin needed to come through last Friday against Sri Lanka and get India in to the next round. Earlier, he had also put on an unimpressive display against Bangladesh. The consistency we saw in past years has evaded Sachin for a while now.�

The Indian cricket team has disappointed all -- Indians and cricketing fans around the world. Sachin is the most accomplished, seasoned and high profiled player on the team. He needs to take responsibility.�

This was Sachin's last World Cup. It would be a perfect time to announce his retirement and make way for younger players. Besides, it would also take the pressure off of other players who will be tentative about returning home after their dismal performance.

I have a feeling that if the same group that used to gather at Podar hostel more than 20 years ago got together today, there would be a difference of opinion on Sachin's inclusion in the Indian side going forward. I am guessing that this group that once was unanimous about his future prospects would find him less confident of his own performance today.

So, Mr Tendulkar, it is time for you to retire. Your best cricketing days are behind you. You will be known for your records, great batting style, bringing unparalleled thrill to your fans over and over again -- and if you do it at the right time, people will also remember you for your graceful exit.

And while I am at it, let me ponder about those who play for Podar College today -- that once fertile ground for India's future cricketers. Recent years have not seen any Podar college player make it to the India XI. I hope that this is nothing but a rough patch for the college and its best cricketing years are still ahead of it.

Bye - bye to ODI says Kumble

In the first fallout of India's embarrassing exit from the World Cup, leg spinner Anil Kumble is set to announce his retirement from One-Day cricket. BCCI sources have informed CNN-IBN that Kumble is expected to announce his decision on arrival.

While, former cricketer Sandeep Patil tipped to be the interim coach for Team India, BCCI sources added.

Patil has coached India once back in 1996 and was also the member of the 1983 World Cup winning squad. Patil surprised the cricket world by guiding minnows Kenya as coach to the semi-finals at the last World Cup.

Kumble's retirement from One-Dayers is expected as he himself told CNN-IBN before leaving for the West Indies that this World Cup would be his last.

"I think it's a really exciting World Cup and I guess it will be watched by millions and millions of viewers. It is definitely going to be my last World Cup and probably the last One-Day International series as well for me. So, definitely it is going to be challenging," said Kumble before departing for the Caribbeans for the mega event.

Unfortunately, India team lost two out of three of its first round matches. The defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka left India out of the mega event. They entered the quadrennial event as one of the favourites but managed to win just one match only against Bermuda in the group phase.

Meanwhile, Kumble just played in one match in the World Cup against Bermuda and took three wickets for 38 runs in 9.1 overs.

The 36-year-old has a phenomenal record to look back at in his 271 ODIs. He has taken 337 wickets at an average of around 31, besides, the Bangalorean is also India's leading wicket taker in Test cricket as well with 547 scalps to his name.

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