London/KARACHI: “There has never been a farewell to sport quite like this ” – this was the unanimous view of the British media as it gave a collective round of applause to Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who called time on his inspiring international career at the end of his 200th Test.
Tendulkar, immensely popular in this part of the world as well for his exquisite batting, was lauded for remaining extraordinarily humble despite being the most followed cricketer of his generation.
“There has never been a farewell to sport quite like this, one perfectly designed to induce a billion cheers and a billion tears,” said ‘The Daily Telegraph’, referring to the emotional farewell speech that the maestro gave at the end of his journey on Saturday.
“How fitting that Sachin Tendulkar’s last performance on his home cricket field should have been among his very finest, even if it came not with a bat but with a microphone.”
The newspaper went on to highlight the 40-year-old’s emotional hold over his millions of his fans, many of whom were moved to tears while listening to the speech, during which Tendulkar also found it hard to keep his composure.
“As all around the Wankhede Stadium eyes were being dabbed, the little man just stood on the grass, transfixing those followers one last time, only for once in silent, emotional thrall as he gave a wonderful speech charting one of sport’s most fantastical careers. ‘My life, between 22 yards, for 24 years,’ as he put it so perfectly,” it wrote.
“A full-house was already celebrating that life with delirious acclaim…the crowd had whooped with delight at seeing the first never-ending, moveable guard of honour for a tearful Sachin as the little master’s young teammates kept bouncing alongside him towards the pavilion like gleeful, star-struck kids.
“Yet though his worshippers wanted to honour him, it somehow felt typical of his humility that he only cared about saluting them.”
The newspaper lauded Tendulkar for delivering a speech so clear in its message despite the overwhelming emotions surrounding it.
‘The Guardian’ paid tribute to his 24-year career by saying that he taught a generation of cricketers how to conduct themselves.
“…the game itself mattered little. In a nation defined by crowds, this was all about one man. In an emotional valedictory address, Tendulkar, 40, said what so many across the country felt: ‘It’s hard to believe my wonderful journey is coming to an end’,” it said.
“Tendulkar’s extraordinary talent only partly explains his extraordinary stature in his homeland. His 24-year international career has charted India’s rise. From relatively modest origins in Mumbai, it was practice as much as his prodigious raw ability that brought the diminutive teenager rapid fame.
“…despite stardom, wealth and success, Tendulkar remained humble, professional and grounded, a self-made man who put in the hours. This, as well as his aggressive domination of international star bowlers, was key to his popularity,” it added.
The newspaper noted that Tendulkar became a symbol of unity in a diverse country.
“Tendulkar, adored by all communities in his homeland, represented a vision of unity that many Indians today fear may be imperilled as a divisive election campaign season looms,” it said.
Meanwhile, over the Indian border in Pakistan, Tendulkar’s durability and consistency set him apart from his contemporary greats and he was “indisputably best batsman of the world” at one stage, a Pakistani daily wrote in its editorial tribute to the just-retired cricket legend.
Tendulkar’s awe-inspiring career ended yesterday as he bid adieu to the game after playing in his 200th Test.
“During an international career which spanned a scarcely believable quarter century, Sachin epitomised consistency. He ended his career as the highest ever run getter in both Tests and ODIs and his 100 international centuries will surely never be matched,” said The News International editorial titled ‘Sachin’.
“Sachin Tendulkar never had the swagger of a Lara, the grit of a Waugh or the languid stylishness of a Sangakkara but he possessed the one quality that no one else could match: durability,” the editorial said.
The newspaper chided his detractors, saying, “it has now become fashionable to take a contrarian view of Sachin, to point out that many batsmen have better averages than him and that his centuries nearly always seemed to be in a losing cause.” (PTI)