On an early afternoon of November, 16, 2013, under the blazing heat came to an end the 24 year long journey.
A journey that started during a cold morning in Karachi ended at a jam-packed Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. One of India’s greatest cricketing legends, Sachin Tendulkar was given a sending off that no sports man has ever experienced.
The moment India’s second wicket fell, the crowd went crazy. The little master made his way to the crease for the last time during the first day of the second Test match against the West Indies.
The crowd at his home ground and millions across the world skipped school and work just to watch the last display of immaculate technique and sheer batting class of this living legend. For the last time the words, ‘Sachin, Sachin’ reverberated all around the ground consuming all the other sounds. This was the last time that Sachin would take to the crease, a moment millions deeply disliked.
He played his last game with immense grit and experienced it just as much as his first. Tendulkar’s innings of 74 brought back fond and old memories. The perfectly balanced cover drives, and those straight drives coming off the centre of the bat and how could we forget the unmatchable square cut were reminiscent of his younger days. There was nothing better that the Mumbai crowd could ask for during the farewell of their greatest son.
At the end of the game, an emotional Sachin gave a touching goodbye speech, whereby he thanked each and every person who has contributed in helping him achieve whatever he has.
Just before leaving the ground for one final time, he went to the pitch all alone, the stretch of 22 yards that defined him and gave his life meaning, and gracefully touched the soil. Humility is something that is a lesson that each person can learn from this man.
Everyone is well aware of all the achievements, awards, laurels, and the metaphoric mountains that he has climbed in the cricketing world, but today at the end of his highly illustrious career he made millions tear up. The sending off that he was given was massive and the entire crowd and millions around showed to the world what he actually meant to them. After all he is the man who illuminated the path to millions during dark times, the man who always spread cheer and happiness to his supporters.
He is the true definition and will be duly remembered for his humble nature and character and the heights that he has reached by being a great personality. He completely justifies that perseverance, hard-work, dedication and focus can make a man’s dreams come true.
As he hung up his boots and walked up to the pavilion and into the sunset of his career, he has left behind a legacy that shall last forever, bow before the ‘master-blaster’.