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Dhoni, Federer, Yuvi, Serena, Nehra: Is 35-plus the new prime in sports?

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S Kannan
S KannanFeb 05, 2017 | 13:45

Dhoni, Federer, Yuvi, Serena, Nehra: Is 35-plus the new prime in sports?

If you thought vintage cars were good only for the short runs on the weekend, you had to sit back, and enjoy how the human versions revved up in style at home and abroad. As Indian cricket celebrates glorious series wins against England in the Tests, ODIs and T20, Down Under in Melbourne, it was time for sheer nostalgia at the Australian Open.

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One would have thought at the start of the new year, players coming into focus would be the new generation. Yet, the way action has unfolded in the cricket series at home, it was time for the men in mid-thirties to explode into brilliance.

First, it was Prince Yuvraj who turned the clock back in style with a whirlwind 150 against the Englishmen at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. For those who were wondering how the evergreen-bachelor-turned-husband would cope with the rigours of modern day cricket, Yuvraj Singh’s knock was huge.

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Prince Yuvraj turned the clock back in style with a whirlwind 150 against the Englishmen at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

On Saturday, over a fortnight after his magic knock, Yuvraj again spoke at length on World Cancer Day about how life has changed for him. When he was diagnosed with Big C, people wondered if he could lead a normal life. Yet, at 35, when young turks have not been able to dislodge the marauding southpaw from the Indian ODI squad, he has shown that age is just a number.

It was not a one-off knock or a fluke.To be in the middle and tonk the ball with such authority and arrogance is a finite pointer that as long as you are fit and ready to work hard, playing sport at the highest level is not tough.

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If Yuvraj has proved himself — not that he really needed to — MS Dhoni seems to be enjoying himself even more. Again, at 35, Dhoni is not the young Rambo but is playing with greater freedom and less pressure. Having handed over the captaincy reins to Virat Kohli, Dhoni is now in a creative mood. Creative for sure as he is able to score more freely and play in his natural style with less worries which saw him launch into one more ODI 100 and then topped it with his maiden half century in the T20.

For someone who has been around for so long, it’s strange how he had to wait till a few days ago for the T20 half ton. Carping critics have had to change their opinion on Dhoni as this man is no longer in the team because he is India captain. At 35, Dhoni is performing and looks as good as possible behind stumps. One can safely assume at the Champions Trophy this summer in England, he will be there as a cricketer on merit and not past laurels.

So, what is it that keeps the men in the mid-thirties so agile and alert? Well, if Yuvraj and Dhoni have rewritten the script, ageless wonder Ashish Nehra is still in the scheme of things. At 37, when he has had a series of injury and fitness issues, Nehra keeps bouncing back like a yo-yo.

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If you look at him from a distance, you would think Nehra looks frail. Yet, when you throw him into a T20 match, his left-arm swing and seam with nagging accuracy is a treat to watch. He has never been a great batsman but for sheer utility as a bowler who can choke the flow of runs, Nehra continues to be a national asset.

Away from cricket, on the demanding hard courts in Melbourne’s tennis arena, it was 35- year-old Roger Federer and same age Serena Williams scripting history with Grand Slam titles!

So, is 35 the new thing in the sporting arena or are these champions made of something special? Well, if just one player at 35 is excelling, you could call it as freakish. Call it the modern philosophy involved in taking care of body motion dynamics and working that much harder on fitness and motivation, the mid-30 big achievers in global sport are making you sit up. You can look at Serena in the Rod Laver arena conquer sister Venus and say, “this had to happen.” But how do you explain the return of Federer, who had been written off by even former champions.

One had to be on site in the Rod Laver facility last Sunday night to see Federer in flow. To imagine this 35-year-old man was away from the tennis courts for over six months and then comes out swinging in a best-of-five final against good friend Rafael Nadal makes you rub your eyes. Was it a replay from an old Grand Slam final or like a refurbished car, did Federer come on a fresh pair of legs and well tuned engine to turn on the power.

Federer did everything right and the biggest factor was to play aggro tennis non-stop. He was on fire, literally, as beating Nadal in a Grand Slam final requires not just stamina, but steel. Then again, when these two men compete in a final, you pity that fuzzy green tennis ball.

It’s whacked non-stop and all that you had read about geometry in Maths finds expression when these two men churn out bold and beautiful strokes.

Federer has hinted at retirement. Not because he is 35 but he simply has nothing more left to achieve. As for Rafa, he is 31 and can still keep going!

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)

Last updated: February 05, 2017 | 13:45
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