Sachin ! Sachin ! ~ What a Lovely and Emotional Farewell Speech by Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede today

 

What a lovely Emotional Farewell Speech straight from the Heart by Sachin Tendulkar just past Noon today to the Thousands at Wankhede and to the Many Friends and Family and Others who have supported his Cricketing journey last 29 years since he was 11 years old

Some Gems from him today….he acknowledged and paid Tribute to all but yet apologised at the end if he had missed mentioning some !

For his Father ~ “First, my father, he passed away in 1999. He was the very key for my career. he gave me freedom, chase your dreams and don’t find shortcuts. He also told me to be a nice human being”…I remember he rushed back from England for a day for the funeral and returned to score a Century which he dedicated to his Father

For His Mother ~ “ My mother, I don’t know how she dealt with such a naughty like guy me. She took care of me to be healthy. She started praying for me even before I started my career and I think those prayers gave my strength”….Amazingly his Mother had never seen Sachin Play till his last and 200th Test Match where she was brought on a Wheelchair and special arrangements were made for her

For his Aunt & Uncle ~ “In my school days, I used to stay with my uncle and aunt as my school was far away. They treated me like their son. They gave me enough food that I can play well”

For his Elder Brother ~ ” My eldest brother, he used to tell me, I know you’d do everything right and I have the confidence in you”

For his Sister ~ “My sister, she gave my the first bat for me. A Kashmir Willow bat. She continues to fast when I bat”

For his Other Brother Ajit ~“Ajit, I don’t know what do I talk about him. It all started from the age of 11, he took to Achrekar sir my coach. And my life changed. Even last night, he called me and we were discussing my dismissal. Various things we agreed upon, my technique. I have had a lot of chat with him. If I had not done that, I would have been a lesser cricketer”

For his Wife Anjali ~” The most important that happened to me was in 1991, when I met my wife Anjali. I know she was a doctor. When we decided to make it a family, she said, you continue with your cricket and I’ll take care of the family. Without that I think I couldn’t have played so much cricket. Thank you for all that you’ve done and it is the best partnership I’ve had in my life”…….It had Anjali fighting back tears in vain in this overwhelming declaration of love for her

For his Children ~”My Children, Sara and Arjun are two precious diamonds in my life. Daughter is 16 and son is 14, time has flown by. I wasn’t able to be with them for the birthdays, annual days and stuff. Thanks for understanding all that, both of you have been so special to me you cannot even imagine how much. I’ve not spent enough time with you but I promise you the next 16 years is for you”

For his In-Laws ~“My in-laws Annabel and Anand Mehta have been supporting. I discuss various things with them, we have a strong family and thank you for allowing me to marry Anjali”

For his Friends ~“In the last 24 yrs, I made new friends, before that I had friends  from childhood. Whenever I have called them to bowl to me on nets, they have left all their work aside to be with me. Even when I was injured, they were beside me. That’s when my friends have woken up at 3 in the morning just to make me believe that my career is not over yet. Life would have been incomplete without them. Thanks for being there”

For his First Cricket Coach Ramakant Achrekar Sir ~ “My career started at 11. My brother took me to Achrekar sir and that is the best to have happened to me. Sir would be taking me on his scooter all over Mumbai to ensure that I get enough match practice…So I used to bat in the morning at one match in Shivaji Park and then rush across to bat in another match at Azad Maidan….On a lighter note, he’s never said “well played” to me so that I don’t get complacent….Sir, now you can push it a bit and say it as I shall never Play again “

For his Homeground MCA & BCCI ~ ‘My cricket started right here at this ground. The dream was obviously to play for India. BCCI was fantastic, they believed in me at the of 16 years and selected me. Thanks for the support and the freedom, without that this couldn’t have happened”

For his Past Teammates who have retired ~“I have played with many senior cricketers, thanks to everyone for helping me out. I see, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav and my teamates, you guys are like my family. It is going to be difficult without that dressing room, sharing those special moments”

For his Current Teammates ~ “When Dhoni gave me the 200th Test cap, I just said, we are all proud to be here as a team and I believe that you guys will take care of this country in the right spirit and in the correct Values to the best of our abilities. I believe in you and all the best for your future”….They all lifted him and took him around the Stadium on a Lap of Honour as shown in the click above

For his Doctors & Physios ~ ” Thanks to all the doctors, physios, without your special efforts, I couldn’t have been fit. I don’t know how you all kept me in good shape with this Body at this age”

For his First Manager the late Mark Mascarenhas ~“My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager who I lost in a Car Accident in 2001. Without him I couldn’t have achieved all this. All those sponsorship deals etc.. thanks for your support. I miss you”

For his Current Manager WSG ~ ” Thanks for continuing what Mark was doing for me and understanding my needs…..”

For his Close Aide Vinod Naidu ~ “he’s more like my family. He’s given me so much time leaving his family to work with me”

For the Media ~ “In the school days when I played well, the media backed me a lot. You’ve been doing that till now. Thank you to all of you, all those photographers. Those moments will remain with me for the career”

For all Fans and Supporters ~ “I thank all the people who supported me a lot. Whether I scored a 0 or a 100. I’ve met a lot of people who do all sorts of things for me, thank  you for all that you’ve done”

…….and what a way he ended the address !

” What I shall Miss the Most is the chant “Sachin!Sachin!…it will reverberate in me till my last breath !”

…..and as if on cue the whole Stadium began chanting over and over again “Sachin! Sachin!”

…..Thousands at the Stadium at those watching Live on TV have to have been overwhelmed and many at Wankhede had tears in their eyes

….what a Moment ! Now a Great Memory !

….I am passionate about Cricket and have played it at good levels captaining my Mumbai School Giles & Harris Teams,then playing for HR and Sydenham College in Mumbai and then for Top Indian Clubs in India and Overseas

….I miss Playing the Game so much now though my Mind says I can yet hit those big 6s my Body says “Shut Up!”….that I can understand what an International Legend like Sachin must be feeling today as he retires from all forms of International Cricket !…an emotional rollercoaster surely that cannot be expressed in words !

…I bet we’ll yet be chanting “Sachin! Sachin!” years from now ! ~ He’s remains an Icon and Inspiration to Millions

….Cricket will be Bland now that Sachin has hung up his Bat and Gloves !

….Love you Sachin !…been with you right from 1989 when you made your India debut !

…and what a hundred you made on an unplayable pitch at Perth when others could not get bat to ball !…and how you smashed Abdur Qadir and probably destroyed his Career!…and those match winning back to back hundreds in Sharjah against Australia when you danced down the wicket to Shane Warne…he yet gets nightmares !…and that 6 over point of the world’s fastest Bowler Shoaib Akhtar in a World Cup match when we raced to 50 in the first five overs !

…..It’s easy to understand why you’re ‘God’ in a country where Cricket is a Religion

…Going to Miss you Big Time !

Breaking News  : The Government has just announced that  Sachin Tendulkar will be  bestowed with the Nation’s Highest Award ‘ The Bharat Ratna ‘ ~ The first Sportsperson to get it !  

It has been a raging debate for years in India whether he should get this Award !

In April 2011 when India lifted the World Cup ODI at Wankhede I had even blogged on this wholeheartedly supporting that Sachin be awarded this Highest Award as he was truly deserving and a true ‘Gem’ of India although many had disagreed

Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar ?..It’s a rhetoric question !

Thursday, April 7th, 2011