MUMBAI // When the dust had settled and tears momentarily dried, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar separated from the pack of security guards, officials and photographers, and walked to the middle of the Wankhede Stadium all by himself.
When he reached the pitch, he bent down in supplication, and touched the soil with both hands, giving thanks. Tendulkar, who for 24 long years enthralled and inspired millions, was paying the ultimate respect to the game that had allowed him to be the man he is.
Time did not quite stop for the little man out in the middle, but as they had done over the years, a packed stadium and countless others watching on television held their breath. It was a Tendulkar moment, the magnitude of which sunk in.
On Saturday, a nation wept with Sachin as he bid farewell to the game he loved like life itself.
At the Wankhede Stadium, fans cried in the stands, and Sachin’s wife Anjali, who sported outsized sunglasses to try to maintain a modicum of calm, broke down, and even a kiss from daughter Sara could not console her.
“My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that wonderful journey has come to an end,” began Tendulkar, after the crowd calmed down just enough to allow him to be heard.
The first person on a list Tendulkar carried, but scarcely referred to, was his father.
“My father gave me freedom at the age of 11, and told me that I should chase my dreams, but not look for short cuts. I have simply followed his instructions,” he said. “Every time I have done something special and showed my bat, it was for my father.”
Tendulkar wondered how his mother had coped with such a naughty son, and said the aunt and uncle who had housed him for four years so he could be close to his school and cricket were more like parents to him.
Nitin, Sachin’s eldest brother, was characterised by unconditional support and Savita, the sister, still fasted when he batted. Ajit, the brother most famous for identifying the spark, and nurturing it, was a co-traveller.
“Various things we agreed upon, my technique, and so many technical things which I didn’t agree with him, we have had arguments and disagreements,” said Tendulkar. “But when I look back at all these things in my life, without them, I would have been a lesser cricketer.”
Anjali, who was perhaps the most emotional person at the ground, was sent over the edge when Tendulkar said she was the “most beautiful thing to happen to me” and added, “You are the best partnership I’ve had in my life.”
It is a good thing Tendulkar was on the field when Anjali was interviewed on television, for her words were no less poignant. “I can imagine cricket without Sachin,” she began, in a soft voice. “But I can’t imagine Sachin without cricket.”
To his children, Sara (16) and Arjun (14), Sachin apologised for not being around as much as he would have liked, and promised that “the next 16 years or even beyond that, everything is for you”.
To go through the list would be futile, and do injustice to one of the most stirring speeches witnessed on a cricket field. Coaches, teammates, physios, trainers, doctors, managers, reporters, photographers, all felt Tendulkar’s light touch, but the best, as always, was saved for the fans.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
“Time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories will be with me forever and ever, especially ‘Sachin, Sachin’ which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing.”
The crowd responded as they knew best, chanting in one voice with a fervour and energy that surpassed any previous cheer.
When West Indies, who began the third day at 43 for three, collapsed embarrassingly to lose by an innings and 126 runs in less than half the scheduled duration of the match, the chanting was not as loud as when Tendulkar walked away.
And, retirement or not, you can be sure you have not heard it for the last time.
Anand Vasu is the managing editor of Wisden India
sports@thenational.ae
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
ENGLAND TEAM
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
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Squads
Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.
India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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