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NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar has announced to retire from Test cricket after playing his 200th Tests in the upcoming series against the West Indies next month.
The 40-year-old master blaster, who has been described as the greatest bastman of his era, reportedly called the Indian cricket board president on Thursday to announce that he is hanging his bat and would like the BBCCI to issue a press release to that effect.
The announcement brings curtains on the 24-year-old career of one of the best cricketers in the history of the sport.
Sachin has scored 15,837 runs in 198 Tests played so far, at an average of 53.86 runs. In his 463 one-day ODI matches, he has scored 18,426 at an average of 44.83.
Starting his career against Pakistan in Nov 1989, And the master blaster is the only batsman in cricket history to score 100 centuries — 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs.
Sachin seen with legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara
In his retirement statement, the master blaster whose bat has not actually talked recently as he hasn’t scored a century in the last 20 Test matches, said
“All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years. It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old.
Sachin added, “It’s been a huge honour to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th Test match on home soil, as I call it a day.
“I thank the BCCI for everything over the years and for permitting me to move on when my heart feels it’s time! I thank my family for their patience and understanding. Most of all, I thank my fans and well-wishers who through their prayers and wishes have given me the strength to go out and perform at my best.’’
The greatest compliment to the master blaster came from the legendary Don Bradman who in 1999 told his wife that Sachin’s whirlwind batting style reminded him of his own batting days.
Bradman had said, “I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same was I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said, yes, there is similarity between the two…”
Sachin Tendulkar with Don Bradman
The greatest spinner Shane Warne once jokingly said that he used to have nightmares about Sachin after the brutal assault on his bowling by the Little Master.
Even the legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara, whom many described as better than Sachin, once said, “Sachin is a genius, I am a mere mortal.”
One of the richest players in the world, Sachin earned $18.6 million in the just ended financial year. Out the $18.6 million, $16.5 million came from endorsements and $2.1 million from playing cricket!
Let us see what Sachin does next after his retirement? Will he become a commentator? Will he be a coach? Or will he be an administrator? Remember, he already has one job – as MP of the Upper House of Parliament.
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