Mumbai: A teary-eyed Sachin Tendulkar bid an emotional farewell to the game he considered his “oxygen” on Saturday and said it would be hard for him to believe that his life between “22 yards in the last 24 years” has come to end.
Shortly after his 200th and final Test ended at the stroke of lunch, heart-warming scenes marking his last few moments on the cricket field were witnessed at the Wankhede Stadium where he took a lap of honour hoisted on the shoulders of skipper MS Dhoni and rising star Virat Kohli.
The 40-year-old icon struggled to keep his emotions in check as he delivered his farewell speech in front of fans before going back to the pitch to touch it in reverence one last time.
“My life between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that the wonderful journey is coming to end. I would take this opportunity to thank all those people who have played an important role in my life,” an overwhelmed Tendulkar said at the presentation ceremony.
In a speech which left many with moist eyes, Tendulkar thanked his family, coaches, teammates, friends and fans.
“All my Friends, settle down and let me talk, or I will get more emotional. It is getting difficult to talk but I will manage,” the veteran said immediately after his 200th and final Test which India won by an innings and 126 runs even as the crowd chanted his name.
“I have got a list of people to thank because sometimes I forget,” he joked.
“The most important person in my life and I have missed him a lot, my father (Ramesh Tendulkar). Without his guidance I don’t think I would have been standing here. He gave me freedom at the age of 11 and said ‘chase your dream but don’t find shortcuts. the path will be difficult.’
“He told me to be a nice human being. I have tried my best. I miss him today,” said Tendulkar, who always looked heavenwards after every big knock in memory of his father, who passed away in 1999.
Next in the list was his mother Rajni, who came to watch Tendulkar for the first time in his farewell match besides other family.
“I don’t know how she managed a naughty child like me. She just prayed and prayed from the day I started playing the game. Her prayers have given me the strength to go out and perform. For four years I stayed with my uncle and aunt when in school, they treated me like their own son and I am glad that it continues even today,” he said.
My eldest brother Nitin doesn’t like to talk much but he said, ‘whatever you do, I know you will give 100 per cent’. His help meant a lot to me. My sister Savita and her family was no different. My first cricket bat was presented to me by her, it was a Kashmir willow. She still continues to fast while I bat,” Tendulkar said.
“Ajit my brother, We have lived this dream together. He sacrificed his career for me, he took me to (Ramakant) Achrekar sir first. Even last night he called me to discuss my dismissal. Even when I’m not playing we will still be discussing technique. If that hadn’t happened, I would have been a lesser cricketer,” he added.
Tendulkar then thanked his wife Anjali for being the best partner that life could have given him. (PTI)