‘Sach’ a loss!: India in tears over Tendulkar’s exit

'My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe; that wonderful journey has come to an end.'


Emmad Hameed November 17, 2013
Sachin Tendulkar breaks Brian Lara's Test run record in 2008. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI:


India cruised to an innings win on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai; the hosts swept the two-match series 2-0 but within minutes the victory took a backseat.


Thousands at the historic stadium and billions around the world watched on TV screens as arguably the greatest batsman of all time Sachin Tendulkar walked off a cricket field for the last time.

A career that spanned 24 years ended with Tendulkar delivering an emotional speech at his hometown venue.

The ‘Little Master’ thanked all his supporters and fans. He said that life without cricket is tough to fathom for now. “My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe; that wonderful journey has come to an end,”

Tendulkar, who also captained India, scored a staggering 34,357 runs in international cricket. He is the only cricketer to play 200 Tests, the only cricketer to score 100 international hundreds – a tally that includes a record 51 Test and 49 One-Day-International centuries.

He played 463 ODIs which is a world record too. The Mumbai-born, who started his career at Karachi’s National stadium at the tender age of 16, was awarded the highest Indian civilian award (Bharat Ratna), the announcement coincided with his retirement today.

His career started against a fearsome Pakistan attack comprising Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdul Qadir but he was not found out his depth from the outset, from there on the maestro never looked back going on to break almost all meaningful batting records.

Tendulkar’s achievements were lauded in Pakistan, too, with greats like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Zaheer Abbas calling him a role model even for cricketers on this side of the border.

Tendulkar concluded his speech by thanking everyone who delighted in his batting over the years, “I know I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, prayed for me, done so much for me. Without that life wouldn’t have been like this for me”.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2013.

COMMENTS (9)

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