SACHIN TENDULKAR SPEECH @ WANKHEDE 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 wonderful journey is coming to an end. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank people whove played an important role in my life. Also for the first time in my life I am carrying this list to remember all the names in case I forget someone. I hope you understand. Its getting little difficult to talk but Ill manage. [For his father] The most important person in my life and I have missed him a lot since 1999 he passed away.. my father. Without his guidance I dont think I would have been standing in front of you. He gave me freedom at the age of 11 and told me that Chase your dreams and make sure you dont find shortcuts. The path might be difficult but dont give up. And I have simply followed his instructions. Above all he told me to be a nice human being which I will continue to do so. I have tried my best. Every time I have done something special whenever I have showed my bat.. It was my father.. so I miss him today. [For his mother] My mother... I dont know 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 last 24 years that I 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 her blessings have given me the strength to go out and perform. So a big thank you to my mother for all the sacrifices. [For his uncle and aunt] In my school days, for four years I stayed with my uncle and my aunt because my school was quite far off 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 can forget these moments. I am like their son and I am glad that It has continued to be the same way. [For his eldest brother] 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 me that whatever you do, I know you would give 100 percent and I have full confidence and faith in you. His encouragement meant a lot to me. [For his sister] My sister Savita and her family was no different. My first cricket bat of my life was presented to me by my sister, it was a Kashmir willow bat. But that is where the journey began. She is one of those many who still continues to fast when I bat. so thank you very much. [For his brother] Ajit my brother. Now what do I talk about him. I dont know really. We have lived this dream together. He was the one who sacrificed his career for my cricket. He spotted the spark in me. And it all started from the age of 11 when he took me to Achrekar sir, my coach. And from there all 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 habit which we have developed and the rapport that we have developed since my birth. It has continued and it will continue. May be 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. We have had arguments and disagreements but in the end when I look back at all those things if that hadnt happened in my life, I would have been a lesser cricketer. [For his wife] The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife Anjali. Those were special years and it has continued and 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 I will 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 sort of rubbish that I have spoken.. I normally do. So thanks for bearing with me and always staying by my side through the ups and down. You are the best partnership I have had in my life. [For his daughter and son] The two precious diamonds of my life Sara and Arjun. They have 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, their annual days, sports day, going on holiday, whatever!. I have lost out on all those things. Thanks for your understanding.. both of you having so so special to me. You cannot imagine. I promise you.. for 14 years and 16 years I have not spent enough time with both of you but the next 16 years or even beyond that everything is for you. [For his in-laws] My in-laws, Anand Mehta and Annabel both have been so so supporting, loving, caring. I have discussed on various things in life generally with them and taken their advice. I discuss various things with them. You know, its so important to have a strong family who is always with you and who are guiding you. Before you start clapping, the most important thing they did was allowing me to marry Anjali, so thank you very much. [For his friends] In the last 24 years that I have played for India, I have made new friends and before that I have had friends from my childhood. They have all had a terrific contribution. As and when I have called them to come and bowl to me at the nets, they have left their work aside to come and help me. Be it joining me on holidays and having discussions with me on cricket, or how I was a little stressed and wanting to find a solution so I can perform better. All those moments my friends were with me. Even for when I was injured, I would wake up in the morning because I couldnt sleep and thought that my career was over because of injuries, that is when my friends have woken up at 3 oclock in the morning to drive with me and make me believe that my career was not over. Life would be incomplete without all those friends. Thanks for being there for me. [For his coach] 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 to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in front of the television and he watches all the games that I have played. When I was 11/12 those were the days where I use to hop back on his scooter and play couple of practice matches a day. First half of the innings I would be batting on Shivaji park, the second half some other match at Azad maidan and 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. May be he can push his luck and wish me now well done on my career and because there are no more matches sir in my life. I would be witnessing cricket and cricket will always stay in my heart but you had an immense contribution in my life so thank you very much [For MCA] My cricket for Mumbai started right here on this ground, Mumbai Cricket Association which is so dear to me. I remember, landing from New Zealand at 4 Oclock in the morning and turning up for a game at 8 Oclock here just because I wanted to be a part of Mumbai cricket. Not that any one forced me or Mumbai Cricket Association pressurized me to be here. But that was for the love of Mumbai cricket and thank you very much. The President is here. Thank you very much along with your team for taking care of me and looking after my cricket. [For BBCI] The dream was obviously to play for India and thats where my association with BCCI started. BCCI was fantastic right from my debut they believed in my ability and selecting me into the squad at the age of 16 was a big step, so thanks to all the selectors for having faith in me and the 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 your support specially when I was injured, you were right with me and making sure that all the treatments were taking care of and I got fit and fine playing back for India. [For Senior Cricketers] The journey has been special, 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. Thanks so much to all those senior cricketers. Unfortunately I have not been able to play with them, but I have high regards for all their achievements and all their contributions. [For fellow cricketers] We see it on the mega screen Rahul, Laxman, Saurav. Anil is not here, and my teammates right here in front me. You are like my family away from home. I have had some wonderful times with you. It is going to be difficult to not be part of the dressing room, sharing those special moments. All the coaches for their guidance, its been special for me. I know when MS Dhoni presented me the 200th Test match cap on Day1 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 right values. I believe we have been the lucky ones to be chosen by the Almighty to serve this wonderful sport. Each generation gets this opportunity to merely take care of this sport and serve it to the best of our ability. I have full faith in you to 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. [For doctors] I would be failing in my duties if I didnt thank all the doctors, the physios, the trainers, who have put this difficult body together to go back on the field and be able to play. The amount of injuries that I have had in my career, I dont know how you have managed to keep me fit, but without your special efforts, it would never have happened. I mean, the doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean I have called them from Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi, wherever... I mean they have just taken the next flight and they have left their work, they have come, they have treated me which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all three of you for keeping me in good shape. [For managers] 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 pressurized me to do this Ad or promotion, whatever my sponsors demanded. He took care all of that and today I miss him, so thank you Mark for all your contribution. 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. They have understood that and respected that. Someone who has worked closely with me for 14 years is my manager, Vinod Naidu. He is 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 his family as well for giving up so much time for my work to Vinod. [For Media] In my school days, when I performed well, the media backed me a lot. You continue to do that till this morning. Thank you so much to the media for supporting and appreciating my performances. It surely had a positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers as well... those wonderfully captured moments will stay with me for the rest of my life. So to all the photographers, a big thank you. [For his fans] 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 a 100+. Whatever, your support was so dear to me and it meant a lot to me. Whatever you have done for me, I know. I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, who prayed for me, 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 also say that time has flown by rather quickly but the memories that you have left with me will always be with me for ever and ever, especially 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 on few names, I hope you understand. Goodbye. Thank you to the great legend for entertaining us for so many years and all the very best to him -Best Wishes from Meragana Handheld Karaoke Studio Microphone
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:36:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015