Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell was one of the most emotional moments in Indian cricket, and the magnitude of the event overwhelmed the Master Blaster himself.
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement and farewell match will always be remembered as one of the most emotional events in world cricket history. Watching the Master Blaster struggle to hold back tears, being lifted on the shoulders of his teammates, walking back to the pitch to pay his respects one last time, and then quietly disappearing into the dressing room, never to return in India’s jersey again, was enough to bring tears to everyone’s eyes. For nearly 24 years, Tendulkar had entertained the cricket-loving people of India, and suddenly, it all came to an end, with Tendulkar walking into the sunset, bringing down the curtains on his extraordinary career.
When Sachin’s retirement was announced, Indian cricket fans had only one destination in mind – his last two Test matches – the 199th in Kolkata and the 200th in Mumbai. After Sachin was dismissed for 10 runs in the only innings India batted at Eden Gardens, all eyes turned to Wankhede. The Master Blaster had requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to organize his farewell Test at his home ground. This wasn’t for himself or the fans alone, but for his mother, Rajni Tendulkar.
“Before the series was announced, I contacted the BCCI President, Mr. Sreenivasan, and made one request. I said I wanted my last match to take place in Mumbai for one reason. In all these years – I played cricket for 24 years for India and more before that – my mother never came to watch me play at a stadium. She hadn’t seen what I left home for all these years. So I requested that my last wish be fulfilled – my mother should be there to see me play. The BCCI graciously accepted my request and organized the match at Wankhede. That match became a very emotional moment for me because, after all these years, it was my last match. It’s never going to happen again,” Tendulkar said during an event celebrating 50 years of Wankhede Stadium.
On the day of the match, Tendulkar looked calm and composed as he walked out to bat, playing a fluent knock of 74. He might have missed out on a century, but on November 13, 2013, Wankhede witnessed vintage Sachin as he played a brilliant half-century. When he edged Narsingh Deonarine to slips, the entire stadium stood on its feet to honor the man who had been India’s pride for decades.
During the closing moments of the match, as Sachin realized that his cricket journey was ending, emotions overwhelmed him. The broadcasters made it even harder for him to control his feelings.
“When it was my turn to bat, I fought back all my emotions and walked out. The West Indies team showed great respect. The spectators gave me a fantastic reception. My eyes were moist, but I had to focus on my game and bat well. Later, as the match neared its end, I saw my mother’s close-up on the big screen. Then the camera showed Anjali (my wife), then my kids, and all my family members. It was hard to control my emotions at that moment. I even wondered if the director or cameraman had a West Indian passport because it felt like they were making things tougher for me by showing my family and playing with my emotions,” Sachin said.
It was a farewell filled with love, respect, and countless memories – a fitting tribute to a cricketing legend who inspired generations.
