When for the final time
18 Nov 2013 5:49 AM IST
‘I knew that I will never ever in my life get to do that. That’s where my life started and whatever I have today. Those 22 yards are like temple to me. When I touched the wicket and took its blessings. Main jab wicket se baat kar rahaa thaa, tab thoda emotional ho gaya tha.
Mujhe khayal aaya ki ki kabhi wapas nahi aa paaonga (I was speaking to the pitch and I got emotional. I realized, I was never going to come back). But yes, it was a correct decision,’ Tendulkar told mediapersons.
Tendulkar also said he didn’t want people to see tears in his eyes. ‘As I stood between those 22 yards in packed stadium, I knew this was the last time that I am here as a part of any Indian team.
I knew that I will never have a cricket bat in my hand. I couldn’t control tears. It was a wonderful moment and it happened very fast. It’s hard to express in words as to how I felt at that moment.’
There was a bit of silence in the room before someone asked whether one should fix the word ‘Sir’ infront of Sachin Tendulkar, he joked, ‘Mera sir (head in hindi) is at the right place.’ Asked whether a bit of sheen has been taken out of that retirement as West Indies side couldn’t even put up a proper fight, Tendulkar said: ‘West Indies are still a great team.’
I will continue to associate with cricket: Sachin
MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar Sunday said his association with cricket wouldn’t end with his retirement from international arena, but it was too early to determine what exactly it would be. The master blaster who played his 200th and final Test match against the West Indies Saturday here, said it had been a dream journey for him and he has no regrets at leaving the sport.
‘Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket - 75 percent of my life has been cricket. So, there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement,’ he said.
‘It hasn’t struck me that I won’t play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I am leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. An enjoyable journey,’ he added.
‘I have no regrets of leaving cricket’
MUMBAI: The feeling has not quite sunk in yet but batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said it was the perfect time to end his dream journey in cricket as his body was finding it tough to cope with the rigours of international cricket.
A day after bidding an emotional farewell to the game which he considers his ‘oxygen’, Tendulkar said that 75 per cent of his life had revolved around cricket and he had no regrets about hanging his boots after playing for 24 years.
‘It hasn’t struck me that I won’t play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I am leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. It was an enjoyable journey,’ Tendulkar said.
‘I had a question and when I looked for an answer, I felt it was the perfect time to leave the game.’ The 40-year-old maestro, who brought down the curtains on his career after playing his 200th Test, indicated that he would remain associated with the game after enjoying some time off. ‘Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket.
75 per cent of my life has been cricket, so there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement, give me at least 24 days to relax. Then I will see what to do,’ he said.
Mujhe khayal aaya ki ki kabhi wapas nahi aa paaonga (I was speaking to the pitch and I got emotional. I realized, I was never going to come back). But yes, it was a correct decision,’ Tendulkar told mediapersons.
Tendulkar also said he didn’t want people to see tears in his eyes. ‘As I stood between those 22 yards in packed stadium, I knew this was the last time that I am here as a part of any Indian team.
I knew that I will never have a cricket bat in my hand. I couldn’t control tears. It was a wonderful moment and it happened very fast. It’s hard to express in words as to how I felt at that moment.’
There was a bit of silence in the room before someone asked whether one should fix the word ‘Sir’ infront of Sachin Tendulkar, he joked, ‘Mera sir (head in hindi) is at the right place.’ Asked whether a bit of sheen has been taken out of that retirement as West Indies side couldn’t even put up a proper fight, Tendulkar said: ‘West Indies are still a great team.’
I will continue to associate with cricket: Sachin
MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar Sunday said his association with cricket wouldn’t end with his retirement from international arena, but it was too early to determine what exactly it would be. The master blaster who played his 200th and final Test match against the West Indies Saturday here, said it had been a dream journey for him and he has no regrets at leaving the sport.
‘Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket - 75 percent of my life has been cricket. So, there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement,’ he said.
‘It hasn’t struck me that I won’t play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I am leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. An enjoyable journey,’ he added.
‘I have no regrets of leaving cricket’
MUMBAI: The feeling has not quite sunk in yet but batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said it was the perfect time to end his dream journey in cricket as his body was finding it tough to cope with the rigours of international cricket.
A day after bidding an emotional farewell to the game which he considers his ‘oxygen’, Tendulkar said that 75 per cent of his life had revolved around cricket and he had no regrets about hanging his boots after playing for 24 years.
‘It hasn’t struck me that I won’t play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I am leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. It was an enjoyable journey,’ Tendulkar said.
‘I had a question and when I looked for an answer, I felt it was the perfect time to leave the game.’ The 40-year-old maestro, who brought down the curtains on his career after playing his 200th Test, indicated that he would remain associated with the game after enjoying some time off. ‘Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket.
75 per cent of my life has been cricket, so there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement, give me at least 24 days to relax. Then I will see what to do,’ he said.
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