Sachin Tendulkar‘s retirement match was one of cricket’s most emotional moments. The Master Blaster, fighting back tears, being carried by teammates, and bidding farewell to the pitch, left fans heartbroken. After 24 years of brilliance, Tendulkar’s legendary career came to a poignant end, marking a turning point in cricket history.
“Before the series was announced, I reached out to Mr. Srivasan, the president of the BCCI, with one special request. I told him that I wanted my final match to be held in Mumbai for a very personal reason. Over the course of 24 years playing for India, and several more years before that, I had never had the chance to have my mother watch me play live. At that time, her health was such that traveling was not possible, and she wouldn’t have been able to make it to any venue except Wankhede.”
“So, I made a heartfelt request – for my mother to be present at my final game, so she could understand why I had spent so many years away from home. I’m thankful that the BCCI understood my wish and arranged for the match to be held at Wankhede. That moment was deeply emotional for me because it marked the end of a long journey, and I knew I would never experience anything like that again.”
In his farewell match, Tendulkar scored a fluent 74 and was given a standing ovation when dismissed. As he realized it was his final appearance, emotions overwhelmed him. Tendulkar later joked that the broadcasters, by focusing on his family at key moments, seemed to be “playing with his emotions.”
“When it was my turn to bat, I tried to control all the emotions running through me as I made my way to the crease. The West Indies team showed a lot of respect, and the crowd gave me an incredible reception. My eyes were misty, but I had to stay focused on the game. But just before the final over, the camera zoomed in on my mother’s face on the big screen. Then it shifted to Anjali, then to my kids, and to the rest of my family. I couldn’t help but feel that the director – or whoever was guiding the cameraman – must have had some allegiance to the West Indies. I swear, they were playing with my emotions, deliberately bringing them to the surface when I least expected it.”