It was on this day in 2013 when Sachin Tendulkar brought an end to his illustrious 24-year journey in international cricket during which he featured in 200 Tests, 463 ODIs and one T20I.
Tendulkar, who made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1989, played his last international game against West Indies at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, a Test match which India won by an innings and 126 runs inside three days. The ‘Master Blaster’ managed 74 runs before he became the priced scalp of Narsingh Deonarine in the first innings.
After the match, he made a moving speech which left cricketing fans all over the globe with tears in their eyes.
“My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that journey has come to an end,” Tendulkar had said.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories you have left with me will always be with me forever and ever. Especially “Sachin, Sachin” which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing,” he added.
In his stellar career, Tendulkar scored 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs — a record which still remains unbroken. In 463 ODIs, Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs including 49 tons and in Tests, he has 15,921 runs to his name, including 51 centuries. In his lone T20I appearance which came against South Africa in 2006, he scored 10 runs.
Recently, Yuvraj Singh in a video on Netflix admitted that he was so overawed by shaking hands with Sachin Tendulkar for the first time, in 2000, that he excitedly rubbed them all over his body.
Tendulkar was the senior pro and already the world’s best batsman when Yuvraj Singh made his debut for India in 2000.
“I was a backbencher in my class, I was a backbencher in the bus. The moment he came in, he came and shook hands with me, Zaheer Khan, Vijay Dahiya, the new guys. I remember when he turned back and went back to his seat, I rubbed my hand all over my body. I just didn’t want to take a shower because I shook hands with Tendulkar,” Yuvraj said in a video on Netflix titled ‘Stories Behind the Story’.
“In 2000, I made my debut for India. I just went with the flow and after playing for Under-19, suddenly I was playing with my heroes. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Anil Kumble, Srinath — big players in the team and suddenly I was like ‘where am I?'” he added.
The left-handed batsman who also bowled left-arm spin also termed Tendulkar as the Michael Jordan of Indian cricket and said that he has been a great role model.
“When things are not going well, you always look for advice, for a senior to guide you. I have seen his demeanour over the years and how he presented himself off the field, so I had a relationship where I could talk about life,” he said.
