In a country where cricket is more than just a sport, Sachin Tendulkar is more than just a cricketer—he is an emotion. Many consider him as ‘God of Cricket’ too. And during the Naman Awards, where he was honoured with the BCCI’s CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the Master Blaster shared a memory that still tugs at the heartstrings of every Indian cricket fan.
His farewell in November 2013 at Wankhede Stadium was a moment that is still in the hearts of every cricket fan. “I’m speechless when it comes to those moments; those moments are never planned. I think it’s a story written from above,” said Sachin, reflecting on his final match.
The MS Dhoni story
As the game drew to a close, MS Dhoni and the Indian team had something special in store. “‘Paaji, aap thoda dur raho, hum kuch plan kar rahe hai’ (Sachin, please stand somewhere away, we are planning something for you),” Dhoni had said. And then came the iconic guard of honour, a tribute reserved for the rarest of legends. That moment was when reality struck the Master Blaster. “That is when you kind of realise that the end is near. After this moment, I will never walk out on the field as a current Indian player,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of that final goodbye.
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Words of wisdom by Sachin Tendulkar
For a man who gave Indian cricket over two decades of pure magic, the game itself remained his greatest teacher. “Without cricket, all of us wouldn’t be sitting in this room. See, for me, it has been the ultimate gift of my life,” he said, addressing the current generation of cricketers. His message was clear: cherish the game, respect it, and never lose focus. “There will be distractions. Don’t let them disrupt your career. Value everything we have and look after your game,” he advised, offering wisdom that extends beyond cricket. The numbers—200 Tests, 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs—tell one side of his story. But moments like these, where his humility and passion shine brighter than his records, define Sachin Tendulkar.
“Without cricket all of us wouldn’t be sitting in this room. See for me it has been the ultimate gift of my life. We have bat and ball and if there is no solid grip over that you start losing grip over bat and a ball. Kind of slowly start losing grip over your career also. I should not be giving you advices and stay focused whatever, but there will be distractions. Don’t let them disrupt your career. Value everything that we have and look after your game. It is about we all have managed when we did not have anything. It is important to value when we have everything and behave in the appropriate manner to take the game forward and the country’s name. You all are current cricketers. There is plenty of cricket left in you just go out give your best and make the most of this opportunity because you’ll only realise once you’ve stopped playing cricket where you were a few years ago,” he added.
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