Tendulkar signs off with moving speech Mumbai, November 16 All my friends, settle down. Let me talk, Ill get more and more emotional. My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, its hard to believe that the wonderful journey is coming to an end. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank people who have played an important role in my life. Also for the first time in my life I am carrying this list in my hand to remember all the names. In case I forget someone, I hope you understand. Its getting a little difficult to talk but Ill manage. The most important person in my life, and Ive missed a lot since 1999 he passed away, my father. Without his guidance, I dont think I would have been standing here in front of you. He gave me freedom at the age of 11, and he told me, chase your dreams and make sure you dont find short-cuts. The path might be difficult but dont give up, and Ive simply followed his instructions. Above all, he told me to be a nice human being which Ive continued to do so, Ive tried my best. Every time Ive done something special, whenever Ive shown my bat, it was for my father. So I miss him today. My mother, I dont how she dealt with such a naughty child like me. I was not easy to manage. She must be extremely patient. For a mother, the most important thing is that her child remains safe and healthy, and fit and thats what she was most bothered about and worried about. She took care of me. For the first 24 years that Ive played for India, but even before that, she started praying for me the day I started playing cricket. She just prayed and prayed and prayed and I think her prayers and blessing have given me the strength to go out and perform. So a big thank you to my mother for all the sacrifices. In my school days, for fours years I stayed with my uncle and aunt because my school was quite far from my home and they treated me like their son. My aunt - after having had a hard days play, I would be half asleep and she would be feeding me food so that I could go and play again tomorrow. I cant forget these moments, Im like their son and I am glad that it has continued to be the same way. My eldest brother Nitin and his family have always encouraged me. My eldest brother doesnt like to talk much. But the one thing he always told is that whatever you do, I know you would give 100% and I have full confidence and faith in you. It is that encouragement that meant a lot to me. My sister Savita and her family was no different. The first cricket bat of my life was presented to me by my sister and it was a Kashmir Willow bat. But that is when the journey began. She is one of those many who continues to fast when I bat. So thank you very much. Ajit my brother, now what do I talk about him? I dont know really. Weve lived this dream together. He was the one who sacrificed his career for my cricket. He spotted the spark in me. It all started from the age of 11, when he took me to Achrekar sir, my coach and from there on my life changed. You will find this hard to believe that even last night he called me and we were discussing my dismissal. Knowing that there was a remote chance of batting again, but just that the habit which weve developed and the rapport weve developed since my birth, it has continued and it will continue. Maybe even when I am not playing cricket we will still be discussing technique. Various things we agreed upon, my technique and so many technical things which I didnt agree with him, weve had arguments and disagreements. But in the end when I look back at those things, if that hadnt happened in my life I would have been a lesser cricketer. The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1991 when I met my wife Anjali, Those were special years and it has continued and it will always continue that way. I know Anjali being a doctor, there was a wonderful career in front of her. When we decided to have a family, Anjali took the initiative to step back and say that you continue with your cricket and Ill take the responsibility of the family. Without that I dont think I would have been able to play cricket freely and without any stress. Thanks for bearing with all my fuss, all my frustrations and all sorts of rubbish that Ive spoken, I normally do. Thanks for bearing with me and always staying by my side through the ups and downs. You are the best partnership Ive had in my life. Then the two precious diamonds of my life, Sara and Arjun. Theyve already grown up. My daughter is 16 and my son is 14, time has flown by. I wanted to spend so much time with them on special occasions like their birthdays, annual days, sports days, going on holidays, whatever. Ive missed out on all those things. Thanks for your understanding. Both of you have been so, so special to me. You cannot imagine. I promise you, for 14 years and 16 years, Ive not spent enough time with both of you. But the next 16 years or even beyond that, everything is for you. My in-laws have been so, so supportive, loving, caring. Ive discussed on various things in life generally with them and taken their advise. You know, its so important to have a strong family whos always with you guiding you. Before you start clapping, the most important thing they did was allowing me to marry Anjali, so thank you very much. In the last 24 years that Ive played for India, Ive made new friends and before that Ive had friends of my childhood. They all have had terrific contributions. Right from you know, as and when Ive called them to come and bowl to me in the nets, theyve left all their work aside and come and helped me. Be it joining me on holidays or having discussions on cricket, when I was a little stressed and wanting to find a solution so that I could perform better. All those moments, my friends were with me. Even whenever I was injured, I would wake up early in the morning because I could not sleep. I thought my career was over because of injuries. Thats when my friends have woken up at 3 AM to drive with me and just make me believe that your career is not over. Life would be incomplete without all those friends. Thanks for being with me. My cricket career started when I was 11. The turning point of my career was when my brother took me to Achrekar sir, my coach. I was extremely delighted to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in front of the television and he watches all the games that I played. When I was 11, 12, those were the days where I used to hop back on his scooter and play couple of practice matches a day. First half of the day I would be batting at Shivaji Park, the second half, some other match at Azad Maidan. Sir would be taking me all over Mumbai to make sure that I got match practice. On a lighter note, in the last 29 years sir has never ever said well played to me because he thought I would get complacent and I would stop working hard. Maybe he can push his luck and wish me now well done on my career because there are no more matches sir in my life. I would be just witnessing cricket and cricket will always stay in my heart. But you have had an immense contribution in my life. Thank you very much. My cricket for Mumbai started right here on this ground. MCA, which is so dear to me, I remember landing from New Zealand at 4 AM and turning up for a game at 8 here just because I wanted to be part of Mumbai cricket. Not that anyone forced or MCA pressured me to be here but that was for the love of Mumbai cricket. The president is here and I thank you very much along with your team for taking care of me and looking after my cricket. The dream was obviously to play for India and thats when my association with BCCI started. BCCI was fantastic right from my debut, believing in my ability, selecting me in the squad at the age 16 was a big step. So thanks to all the selectors for having faith in me and BCCI for giving me the freedom to express myself out in the middle. Things would have been different if you had not been behind me and I really appreciate you support especially when I was injured, you were right with me making sure that all the treatments were taken care of and I got fit and fine, playing back for India. The journey has been special in the last 24 years. I have played with many senior cricketers and even before that there were many senior cricketers whom I watched on television, they inspired me to play cricket and play the right way. So thanks so much to all those senior cricketers, unfortunately Ive not been able to play with them but I have high regards for all their achievements and their contributions. We see on the mega screen, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav, Anil is not here and my team-mates right here in front of me, you are like my family away from home. Ive had some wonderful times with you. It is going to be difficult, not be part of that dressing room, sharing those special moments. All the coaches for their guidance. Its been special for me. I know when MS Dhoni presented the 200th Test match cap on Day 1 morning, I had a brief message for the team. I would like to repeat that. I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and proud to be part of Indian cricket team serving the nation. Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit and in the right values. I believe, weve been the lucky ones to have been chosen by the almighty to serve this wonderful sport. Each generation gets this opportunity to merely take care of the sport and serve it to the best of our abilities. I have full faith in you that you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit to the best of your ability and bring all the laurels to our country. All the very best. I would be failing in my duties if I didnt thank all the doctors, the physios, the trainers whove put this difficult body together to go back on the field and to be able to play. The amount of injuries I have had in my career, I dont know how youve managed to keep me fit. But without your special efforts, it would never have happened. The doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean Ive called them from Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi wherever. I think theyve just taken the next flight and left their work, theyve come, theyve treated me which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all of you for keeping me in good shape. My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager. We unfortunately lost him in a car accident in 2001. But he was such a well wisher of cricket. My cricket and especially Indian cricket. He was so passionate. He understood what it takes to represent a nation and gave me all the space to go out and express myself and never pressurised me to do this ad or a promotion or whatever my sponsors demanded. He took care of all of that and today I miss him. Thank you Mark for all you contributions. My current management team WSG for repeating what Mark has done, because when we signed the contract I exactly told them what I want from them and what it requires to be representing India. Theyve understood that and respected that. So thank you very much WSG. Someone whos worked closely 14 years with me is my manager Vinod Naidu, Hes more like my family. And all the sacrifices spending time away from his family for my work has been special. So a big thank you to your family as well for giving so much time for Vinod. In the school days when I performed well, the media backed me a lot. You continued to do that this till morning. Thank you so much to all the media for supporting me and appreciating my performances. It surely had a positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers, as well where those wonderful captured moments will stay with me for the rest of my life. A big thank you to all the photographers. I know my speech is getting a bit too long, but this is the last thing I want to say. I want to thank all the people here who have flown in from various parts of the world and supported me endlessly whether I scored a 0 or 100 plus. Your support was so dear to me and it meant a lot to me. Whatever youve done for me, I know, Ive met so many guys whove fasted for me, prayed for me and done all sorts of things for me. You know, without all that life wouldnt have been like this for me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and I also say that time has flown by rather quickly. But the memories that youve left with me will always be with me forever and ever. Especially, the chants of Sachin... Sachin. That will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing. Thank you very much. If I have missed out on saying something, missed out a few names I hope you understand. Goodbye.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:52:19 +0000
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