Legendary India batsman
retires after illustrious 24-year international career. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar wept as he left the pitch for the final time on Saturday after his 200th Test match, ending a dazzling career spanning nearly a quarter of a century.
The master batsman, who has god-like popularity across India, waved to thousands of cheering, emotional fans and wiped tears from his eyes as he left the field through a guard of honour formed by his teammates at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.
At the age of 40, Tendulkar is retiring from the game as the world’s leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket and the only man to score 100 international centuries.
In a lengthy and poignant speech on the field after the match against the West Indies in his hometown – which India won by an innings and 126 runs to take the series 2-0 – Tendulkar thanked everyone who had supported him, from family members and friends, coaches and managers through to teammates and ardent fans.
He began by paying tribute to his father who passed away in 1999, saying that “without his guidance I don’t think I would be standing in front of you”.
The cricketer thanked his mother and other relatives individually, prompting tears from his wife Anjali as he praised her and his ‘two precious diamonds’ – their son Arjun, 14, and daughter Sara, 16 – who stood close by as he spoke.
Calling his marriage to Anjali “the best partnership I’ve had in my life”, he promised his children “the next 16 years and beyond, everything is for you.
“I know there are so many guys who’ve fasted for me, prayed for me, done all sorts of things for me. Without all that life wouldn’t have been like this for me,” he told the teary-eyed crowds in comments broadcast on Indian television.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and say that time has gone by rather quickly, but the memories that you’ve left with me will always be with me forever and ever.”
He said the chanting of “Sachin! Sachin!” would “reverberate in my ears until I stop breathing”, prompting deafening shouts of his name from spectators.
Tendulkar was then hoisted on to his teammates’ shoulders for a victory lap around the field, waving a giant Indian flag.
Soon after the match he was chosen for India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in an announcement from the president’s office, making him the first sportsperson to receive the honour.
To the disappointment of his followers, the ‘Little Master’ only batted for one innings during his last match, failing to clinch a fairytale final century when he was out for 74 on Friday.
His dismissal was met with a stunned silence followed by a standing ovation from the crowd, who had greeted his every run with thundering cheers.
Spectators nevertheless praised his last performance, which included 12 well-timed boundaries to remind them of the best that Tendulkar has produced since his international debut in 1989 at the age of 16.
During his glittering career, Tendulkar gained a reputation for humility and integrity in a country where public figures are often tarred by corruption.
He told his Indian teammates that he believed they would “continue to serve the nation in the right spirit, with the right values.
“Each generation gets the opportunity to merely take care of this sport and serve it to the best of our ability,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (14)
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Sachin Tendulkar is a great batsman the game has ever produced but despite such fame and status, his humble nature is lesson for all the people. Also, apart from his batting skills, such long career also tells about the fitness he maintained throughout his career.
Apart from the great batting skills, the long career also tells about the fitness he maintained throughout his career.
@amir and @malik
Scoring a Century, is not just chasing for records When Sachin Scored Centuries and when the team did not Win – Can we please also point out that the team consists of 11 players and the other Ten did not contribute to the score or taken enough wickets or restrict the score.
He made his records and has build his paths over the years – people have come and gone – but the temperament, performance and approach has always stuck – and that what we are celebrating in the spirit of Sportsmanship and that’s what the article is about.
Add any strong / positive adjective to his name – it matches his persona and contribution made by him in the game of cricket.
Sachin has earned his way to legend status through hardwork and humility, bringing joy to all cricket loving nations . We should all applaud him on a job well done. Standing ovation here from Pakistan.
malik, pl quote the reference and dont write crap without reference.
I really pity the Sachin haters, okay he may not have been the 'best' batsman ever but he certainly was one of the greatest who ever played the game. Lets admit it and feel good about the fact that he represents the entire sub-continent!
@malik: Younis who?
@amir:
Lara who scored a 400, when his team could have declared when he was at 200, and aimed at winning the match, is not chasing records for you. Lara by scoring 400 ensures match would end in a draw.
Only if Lara and Sachin had switched sides, you would be ridiculing Lara right now for playing for 400 instead of aiming at the 400.
By the way, when Sachin scored 200 in a one-dayer against the number 2 side in the world, he did it at more than a run-a-ball, and India won.
Your comment is a classic example of lack of perspective and biased opinions seeping into a narrative.
Lara was better than little master. He played for the team instead of chasing personal records.
Awesome write-up... Thanks Mr Jamal Khurshid.. Really enjoyed the read.. :)
To all of my Indian commentators and Fellow Pakistani Commentators: Sachin was one of the greatest ever Batsman....Nobody can deny the fact that he was a great batsman and even greater/ humble human being...I can not recall even single moment of anger or stupidity from him...He was such a gentleman....Then his amazing technique, temperament, fitness and hard work....all of these made him a legend. Like any human being he might have had flaws, he might have missed some records, he might have failed in helping India win on some occasions, he might not have been a successful captain...but still he is ,was and will remain a Legend...200 tests, 15000+ runs 51 centuries, above 50 average...these are phenomenal stats ... reaching the top is easy but maintaining it for 24 years is amazing.....
I am a Pakistani but that does not mean we should ridicule him for being from some other country....Appreciate where it is due... We salute you...Little Master......From a true Pakistani Cricket lover
I had tremendous respect for three living Indian legends ( Lata, Amitabh and Dilip), now fourth one is Sachin. They have made our lives beautiful. Thank you and God bless you.
Wasim Akram, Inzamam ul Haq and Javed Miandad all specialist and most qualified to comment on the game they played applauds the master. Anyone differing will only show how naive he/she is. As for me, I second all three and salute Sachin for the man, the machine he had been.