Thank You, Sachin

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Two days after the speech. I can’t stop thinking about the list.

So I went looking for the numbers. Andy Zaltzman at ESPNcricinfo had done a stat dive the week before – he had them all.

676,693 deliveries faced, across 663 international matches. 41,113 minutes at the crease – 28 days and change. 4,062 fours. 264 sixes. 982 international cricketers played with or against, 842 of them on the other side.

Sachin at Wankhede

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

He carried a list.

Sachin Tendulkar – who remembers every innings he’s played, who can tell you the field placement on a delivery from 1996 – carried a piece of paper to his own farewell because he was afraid he’d forget someone to thank.

That’s the part that broke me.

The speech itself was what you’d expect and nothing like what you’d expect. He started with his father, who told an eleven-year-old to chase his dreams without shortcuts. He thanked his mother for every prayer. He thanked Achrekar sir, his childhood coach – the man who never once told him “well played.” Not once. Because he was afraid the boy would stop improving.

Cricket on vnykmshr

Thank You, Sachin

Sachin at Wankhede