This is the speech with which Sachin Tendulkar ended his last Test Match.
All my friends. Settle down let me talk, I will get more and more
emotional. My life, between
22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that wonderful journey
has come to an end, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank
people who have played an important role in my life. Also, for the first
time in my life I am carrying this list, to remember all the names in
case I forget someone. I hope you understand. It's getting a little bit
difficult to talk but I will manage.
The most important person in my life, and I have missed him a lot since
1999 when he passed away, my father. Without his guidance, I don't
think I would have been standing here in front of you. He gave me
freedom at the age of 11, and told me that chase my dreams,
but make sure you do not find shortcuts. The path might be difficult but
don't give up, and I have simply followed his instructions. Above all,
he told me to be a nice human being, which I will continue to do and try
my best. Every time I have done something special, showed my bat,
it was [for] my father.
My mother, I don't know how she dealt with such a naughty child like
me. I was not easy to manage. She must be extremely patient. For a
mother, the most important thing is that her child remains safe and
healthy and fit. That was what she was most bothered and worried about.
She took care of me for the last 24 years that I have played for India,
but even before that she started praying for me the day I started
playing cricket. She just prayed and prayed and I think her prayers and
blessings have given me the strength to go out and perform, so a big
thank you to my mother for all the sacrifices.
In my school days, for four years, I stayed with my uncle and aunt
because my school was quite far from my home, and they treated me like
their son. My aunt, after having had a hard day's play, I would be half
asleep and she would be feeding me food so I could go again and play
tomorrow. I can't forget these moments. I am like their son and I am
glad it has continued to be the same way.
My eldest brother, Nitin, and his family, have always encouraged me. My
eldest brother doesn't like to talk much, but the one thing he always
told me is that whatever you do, I know you will always give it 100%,
and that I have full faith and confidence in you. His encouragement
meant a lot to me. My sister, Savita, and her family, was no different.
The first cricket bat of my life was presented to me by my sister. It
was a Kashmir willow bat. But that is where the journey began. She is
one of those many who still continue to fast when I bat, so thank you
very much.
Ajit, my brother, now what do I talk about him? I don't know. We have
lived this dream together. He was the one who sacrificed his career for
my cricket. He spotted the spark in me. And it all started from the age
of 11 when he took me to Archrekar sir, my coach, and from there on my
life changed. You will find this hard to believe but even last night he
called to discuss my dismissal, knowing that there was a remote chance
of batting again, but just the habit we have developed, the rapport we
have developed, since my birth, has continued and it will continue.
Maybe when I'm not playing cricket we will still be discussing
technique.
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, but when I look back at all these things in my life, I
would have been a lesser cricketer.
The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife,
Anjali. Those were special years and it has continued and will always
continue that way. I know Anjali, being a doctor; there was a wonderful
career in front of her. When we decided to have a family, Anjali took
the initiative to step back and say that 'you continue with your cricket
and I will take the responsibility of the family'.
Without that, I don't think I would have been able to play cricket
freely and without stress. Thanks for bearing with all my fuss and all
my frustrations, and all sorts of rubbish that I have spoken. Thanks for
bearing with me and always staying by my side through all the ups and
downs. You are the best partnership I've had in my life.
Then, the two precious diamonds of my life, Sara and Arjun. They have
already grown up. My daughter is 16, my son is 14. Time has flown by. I
wanted to spend so much time with them on special occasions like their
birthdays, their annual days, their sports day, going on holidays,
whatever. I have missed out on all those things. Thanks for your
understanding. Both of you have been so, so special to me you cannot
imagine. I promise you [that] for 14 and 16 years I have not spent
enough time with both of you, but the next 16 years or even beyond that,
everything is for you.
My in-laws, Anand Mehta and Annabel, both have been so, so supportive loving and caring. I have discussed on various things in life,
generally with them, and have taken their advice. You know, it's so
important to have a strong family who is always with you and who are
guiding you. Before you start clapping, the most important thing they
did was allowing me to marry Anjali, so thank you very much.
In the last 24 years that I have played for India I have made new
friends, and before that I have had friends from my childhood. They have
all had a terrific contribution. As and when I have called them to come
and bowl to me at the nets, they have left their work aside to come and
help me. Be it joining me on holidays and having discussions with me on
cricket, or how I was a little stressed and wanting to find a solution
so I can perform better.
All those moments my friends were with me. Even for when I was injured,
I would wake up in the morning because I couldn't sleep and thought
that my career was over because of injuries, that is when my friends
have woken up at 3 o'clock in the morning to drive with me and make me
believe that my career was not over. Life would be incomplete without
all those friends. Thanks for being there for me.
My cricket career started when I was 11. The turning point of my career
was when my brother (Ajit) took me to Achrekar sir. I was extremely
delighted to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in front of the
television and he watches all the games that I play. When I was 11/12,
those were the days when I used to hop back on his scooter and play a
couple of practice matches a day. The first half the innings I would be
batting at Shivaji Park, the second half, at some other match in Azad
Maidan. He would take me all over Mumbai to make sure I got match
practice.
On a lighter note, in the last 29 years, sir has never ever said 'well
played' to me because he thought I would get complacent and I would stop
working hard. Maybe he can push his luck and wish me now, well done on
my career, because there are no more matches, sir, in my life. I will be
witnessing cricket, and cricket will always stay in my heart, but you
have had an immense contribution in my life, so thank you very much.
My cricket for Mumbai started right here on this ground, the Mumbai
Cricket Association (MCA), which is so dear to me. I remember landing
from New Zealand at four o'clock in the morning, and turning up for a
game here at eight o'clock just because I wanted to be a part of Mumbai
cricket, and not that somebody forced me. That was for the love of
Mumbai cricket, and thank you very much. The president is here so thank
you very much, along with your team, for taking care of me and looking
after my cricket.
The dream was obviously to play for India, and that is where my
association with BCCI started. BCCI was fantastic, right from my debut
they believed in my ability and selecting me into the squad at the age
of 16 was a big step, so thanks to all the selectors for having faith in
me and the BCCI for giving me the freedom to express myself out in the
middle. Things would have been different if you had not been behind me,
and I really appreciate your support. Especially when I was injured, you
were right with me and making sure that all the treatments were taken
care of, and that I got fit and fine and playing [right] back for India.
The journey has been special, the last 24 years, I have played with
many senior cricketers, and even before that there were many senior
cricketers with whom I watched on television. They inspired me to play
cricket, and to play in the right way. Thanks to all those senior
cricketers, and unfortunately I have not been able to play with them,
but I have high regards for all their achievements and all their
contributions.
We see it on the mega-screen, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav, and Anil, who is
not here, and my team-mates right here in front me. You are like my
family away from home. I have had some wonderful times with you. It is
going to be difficult to not be part of the dressing room, sharing those
special moments. All the coaches for their guidance, it has been
special for me. I know when MS Dhoni presented me the 200th Test match
cap on Day One morning. I had a brief message for the team. I would like
to repeat that. I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and
proud to be part of the Indian cricket team and serving the nation.
Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation
in the right spirit and right values. I believe we have been the lucky
ones to be chosen by the Almighty to serve this sport. Each generation
gets this opportunity to take care of this sport and serve it to the
best of our ability. I have full faith in you to continue to serve the
nation in the right spirit and to the best of your ability, to bring all
the laurels to the country. All the very best.
I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank all the doctors, the
physios, the trainers, who have put this difficult body together to go
back on the field and be able to play. The amount of injuries that I
have had in my career, I don't know how you have managed to keep me fit,
but without your special efforts, it would never have happened. The
doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean I have called them from
Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi, I mean wherever. They have just
taken the next flight and left their work and families to be with me,
which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all three of you for
keeping me in good shape.
My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager. We
unfortunately lost him in a car accident in 2001, but he was such a
well-wisher of cricket, my cricket, and especially Indian cricket. He
was so passionate. He understood what it takes to represent a nation and
gave me all the space to go out and express myself, and never
pressurised me to do this ad or promotion or whatever the sponsors
demanded. He took care of that and today I miss him, so thank you Mark
for all your contribution.
My current management team, WSG, for repeating what Mark has done,
because when I signed the contract I exactly told them what I want from
them, and what it requires to represent me. They have done that and
respected that.
Someone who has worked closely with me for 14 years is my manager,
Vinod Nayudu. He is more like my family and all the sacrifices, spending
time away from his family for my work, has been special, so big thank
you to his family as well for giving up so much time for my work with
Vinod.
In my school days, when I performed well, the media backed me a lot.
They continue to do that till this morning. Thank you so much to the
media for supporting and appreciating my performances. It surely had a
positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers as
well for those wonderfully captured moments that will stay with me for
the rest of my life, so a big thank you to all the photographers.
I know my speech is getting a bit too long,
but this is the last thing I want to say. I want to thank all the people
here who have flown in from various parts of the world, and have
supported me endlessly, whether I scored a 0 or a 100-plus. Your support
was so dear to me and meant a lot to me. Whatever you have done for me.
I know I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, prayed for me,
done so much for me. Without that life wouldn't have been like this for
me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that
time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories you have left with me
will always be with me forever and ever, especially "Sachin, Sachin"
which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing. Thank you very
much. If I have missed out on saying something, I hope you understand.
Goodbye."
So Sachin's 200th Test match comes to an end. The end of a truly great playing career.
The test was wholly dedicated to Sachin by BCCI and dubbed as SRT200. Thanks to BCCI's efforts of a grand farewell - the Test and the period preceding it was maniacally covered by news agencies. It all culminates with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar getting the Bharat Ratna.
Will I be lynched for saying that the coverage and BCCI should be equally commended for Sachin's Bharat Ratna as Sachin's efforts on the field?
