End of an epoch: Sachin bids emotional farewell to cricket, awarded Bharat Ratna
Updated
New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS): Sachin Tendulkar ended his fairytale cricket reign in style at the Wankhede Stadium here Saturday , hours after which he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
Before the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced the Bharat Ratna, Tendulkar's teammates presented him a gift of an innings and 126-run victory over the West Indies in a shade over seven sessions. With it India wrapped up the series, winning the two Tests in a little over five days, the time normally allotted to one Test.
Tendulkar, 40, the most accomplished cricketer in world cricket finished his illustrious career with a fair clutch of world records in his kitty. He has 15,921 runs from a record 200 Test matches at an average of 53.58 and 51 centuries.
Tendulkar finished his ODI career December last year just minutes before the team for Pakistan was announced. He has scored 18,426 runs from 463 ODIs with an average of 44.83 including 49 centuries. He was also the first to score a double hundred in the 50-over format.
As the day began, it was just a matter of when the West Indies would be bowled out with the visitors reeling at 43 for three in the second innings, trailing India by 270 runs.
The crowd was getting impatient to the see the Test end and moment finally arrived at 11.47 a.m. Mohammed Shami castled No.11 Shane Shillingford and the Wankhede Stadium erupted.
Tendulkar rushed from the deep, where he was fielding and grabbed a stump. The entire Indian team lined up on either side of the pitch and gave him a guard of honour.
The giant screen flickered "legends never end" and the cameras soon panned on his family. His wife Anjali and daughter Sara were emotional. Son Arjun, who was a ball boy for the match, patted his elder sister.
It was a journey that touched many a life. For Tendulkar, himself it was hard to believe that his glorious run had finally come to an end at the venue he started.
But Saturday, the Wankhede reverberated with chants of 'Sachin...Sachin...Sachin, and it will continue to hum in Tendulkar's years lifelong.
“Sachin, Sachin which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing. Thank you very much. If I have missed anyone, I hope you understand. Goodbye,” said Tendulkar.
All throughout the celebrations, Tendulkar tried to hide his emotions under his floppy hat. The TV cameras tried all angles, yet Tendulkar tried his best to hide his emotions but just couldn't as one intrepid cameraman caught his moist cheeks.
His teammates, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, took turns to carry him on their shoulders around the stadium for one last time.
It reminded many of April 2, 2011, when India won the World Cup and the batting great was carried around in a similar fashion.
After all celebrations ended, he walked back to the 22 yards of the Wankhede, touched the pitch as if to seek blessings for his retired life.
Full text of Sachin's farewell speech
All my friends, settle down let me talk, I'll get more and more emotional. It is hard to believe my life between 22 yards in the last 24 years is coming to an end. I would like to thank all the people who have helped me in my life to get here. I have a list in my hand, please forgive me if I miss out on a few names.
First, I want to thank the most important person in my life, my father, who left me in 1999. Without his guidance I wouldn't be standing in front of you. He said "chase your dreams, don't give up, the path will be difficult". I miss him today.
My mother, I don't how she dealt with such a naughty like guy me. She took care of me to be healthy. She started praying for me even before I started my career and I think those prayers gave my strength.
In my school days, I used to stay with my uncle and aunt as my school was far away. They treated me like their son. They gave me enough food that I can play well.
My eldest brother Nitin, he used to tell me, I know you'd do everything right and I have the confidence in you.
My first cricket bat was presented to me by my sister Savita. A Kashmir Willow bat. She continues to fast when I bat.
Ajit (brother), I don't what do I say about him. It all started from the age of 11, he took to Ramakant Achrekar sir my coach. And my life changed. Even last night, Ajit called me and we were discussing my dismissal. Various things we agreed upon, my technique. I have had a lot of chat with him. If I had not done that, I would have been a lesser cricketer.
The most beautiful thing happened to me when I met Anjali in 1990. I know that being a doctor there was a big career in front of her. But she decided that I should continue playing and took care of the children. Thanks for bearing with me for all the nonsense I've said. Thank you for all that you have done and it is the best partnership I have had in my life.
Then Sara and Arjun who are two precious diamonds in my life. Daughter is 16 and son is 14, time has flown by. I wasn't able to be with them for the birthdays, annual days and sports days. Thanks for understanding all that, both of you have been so special to me. I've not spent enough time with you but I promise you the rest of 16 years and beyond is for you.
My in-laws (Annabelle and Anand Mehta) have been supporting. I discuss various things with them, we have a strong family and thank you for allowing me to marry Anjali.
There have been a lot of friends who have supported me. Leaving their work and coming to bowl at me when I called them. I thought my career was over when I was injured, but my friends called even at 3 AM and made me believe that it was not over.
My career started at 11. My brother took me to Achrekar sir and that is the best thing to have happened to me. Sir would be taking me on his scooter all over Mumbai to ensure that I get enough match practice. On a lighter note, he has never said well played to me so that I don't get complacent.
My cricket started right here at this ground (Wankhede Stadium). The dream was obviously to play for India. BCCI was fantastic, they believed in me at the age of 16 years and selected me.
I have played with many senior cricketers, thanks to everyone for helping me out. I see, Rahul (Dravid), (VVS) Laxman, Sourav (Ganguly), Anil (Kumble) who is not here and my teammates, you guys are like my family. It is going to be difficult without that dressing room, sharing those special moments.
When Dhoni gave me the 200th Test cap, I just said, we are all proud to be here as a team and I believe that you guys will serve this country in the right spirit and to the best of your abilities. I believe in you and all the best for your future.
Thanks to all the doctors, physios, without your special efforts, I couldn't have been fit. I don't know how you all kept me in good shape.
My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager. Without him I couldn't have achieved all this. All those sponsorship deals etc.. thanks for your support. I miss you.
My manager Vinod Nayudu, he's more like my family. He's given me so much time leaving his family to work for me.
In the school days when I played well, the media backed be a lot. You've been doing that till now. Thank you to all of you, all those photographers.
I thank all the people who supported me a lot. Whether I scored a 0 or a 100. I have met a lot of people who do all sorts of things for me, thank you for all that you have done. Chants of 'Sachin...Sachin' Especially, 'Sachin... Sachin..' that will be reverberating in my ears till I breath. Thank you very much. I am sorry if I have missed out on anything. Good bye.
Tribute: Cricket may not see another Tendulkar
There might come many a great batsmen but there will not be another Sachin Tendulkar. Many of his records might someday be broken, seldom will one see anyone play with such dignity, humility and credibility - above all for 24 years. If anyone comes even remotely close to it, he would be a tired man.
An image untarnished by controversy, a career full of records and great memories of vintage cricket - that is Tendulkar's legacy.
The outpouring of emotions at the Wankhede here Saturday was clear to see as Tendulkar bid adieu to the sport he has excelled in for so long. There wasn't a single dry eye in the stadium as the little master gave a heart-warming speech full of emotion to say goodbye.
It did not take long for the pundits to spot a genius in Tendulkar after he made his international debut in a Test match in Karachi Nov 15, 1989. He was 16 then. More than two decades later, he has gone on to become one of the greatest batsman the world will ever see.
Twenty-four years and a day from his debut, the five feet five inch genius has called time on a glittering international career. With 15,921 runs from 200 matches at an average of 53.78, Tendulkar has most batting records under his belt in Tests as also in the 50-over format.
He holds the record for the maximum number of appearances and is the highest run-getter and century maker in both versions. He has turned out in six World Cups at a stretch, playing a key role first in finishing runners-up in 2003 and winning the Cup, he so badly wanted to, in 2011
The 'Little Master' turned big to hit 100 centuries -- 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs -- and also the first man to score a double century in the 50 over format.
Tendulkar has tormented many bowlers and finishing the careers of some, but what he did to one of the best spinners in the world will stay etched in everyone's memory.
Tendulkar took Shane Warne apart in Sharjah and the legendary leg-spinner paid the best compliment when he said he had "nightmares" at the thought of bowling to the genius after his desert onslaught.
The hallmark of Tendulkar's batting has been his ability to improvise and unleash unorthodox shots like the paddle sweep, which helped him to churn out high scores consistently despite wear and tear of the muscles with age and constant pressure cooker situations that mark international cricket.
"It is hard to imagine any player in the history of the game combining classical technique with raw aggression like the little champion does," is how cricketing legend Sunll Gavaskar described Tendulkar.
An abiding image of Tendulkar would be a hundred he scored in the 1999 World Cup match at Bristol. Ramesh Tendulkar, a novelist and professor, who had deeply inculcated in his son the virtues of modesty and humility, died when India were in the midst of the Cup campaign.
Tendulkar flew home to attend his father's last rites, and returned to the tournament, beating the Kenyan bowlers into pulp scoring 140 off 101 balls, and dedicated the innings to his father. On completing the hundred, Tendulkar looked skyward, saying a prayer to his father, and has done likewise after reaching every milestone of his glittering career ever since.
"These were the moments of my career I always cherish. My batting with Sachin in one-day internationals at the top was a huge learning experience," former India captain Sourav Ganguly once said.
But the greatest adulation for the Mumbaikar came from the the legendary Don Bradman -- considered the greatest batsman of all times. Sir Don once asked his wife to take a look at the Indian as he felt Tendulkar played like him. It was Tendulkar's technique, compactness, and shot production that endeared him most to the Aussie, according to Roland Perry, who authored the book 'Don's Best'.
So great was the reverence for this man that everytime he was dismissed, cricket buffs switch off the television sets, taking it for granted that without a major contribution from him India cannot hope to win.
Tendulkar has emerged as one of the greatest icons in the country, having carried the aspirations of more than a billion people for over two decades.
He is adored by fans in every part of the country, sponsors and endorsers were ever willing to bet their last penny on anything he did, and budding players know who to look up to as their role model.
Mentored in his early cricketing days by his elder brother Ajit, Tendulkar later honed his skills under celebrated coach Ramakant Achrekar.
Tendulkar's talent oozed right from his school days, and partnered by his friend Vinod Kambli the duo made the cricketing circles sit up and take notice after an unbroken 664-run stand in a Lord Harris Shield international school game in 1988.
In recognition of the laurels he brought to the country, Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha as an eminent personality by then president Pratibha Patil -- the first sports personality to get the honour.
One of his greatest characteristics is the ability to stay away from controversies. With all the success he has achieved, Tendulkar has through his career remained grounded and played the gentleman's game in its true spirit.