Published: Apr 23, 2011, 04:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 21, 2014, 01:00 PM (IST)
By Dhananjay Devasper
Sachin Tendulkar turns 38 on Sunday. While some folks may be asking, “When is he retiring?”, the more pertinent question should be, “What will he do after retiring?”
Tendulkar’s way to answer these questions has been quite simple: To show the kind of hunger for scoring like never before. The past two years bear testimony to that fact.
For now, Tendulkar will keep on playing and scoring runs at will – at least to the point his his mind is willing, but his body is not. That being said, I decided to take a shot at what he should probably consider post-retirement and what he should avoid.
What Tendulkar could possibly do
Race for Ferrari in Formula 1
He’s had years of practice with a Ferrari, since Michael Schumacher presented him one, driving down the bylanes of Bandra at odd hours. Maybe he can crank it up for the Ferrari F1 team and win them a race at Chennai! Now that would be a sweet story. And he would not have import duty problems whenever he gets his racecar to India!
Open a chain of Tendulkar’s Restaurants
Right now there’s just one restaurant in Mumbai. He could probably open a few more across the city for starters and make personal appearances. Maybe a few dressing room stories could spice up the menu! And since everyone calls him “Paaji”, he could also add a Punjabi element to the cuisine.
Win an election and become Sports Minister
This is an easy one. Considering his popularity, he could win an election unopposed from any part of the country. And if there’s any sportsperson who could bring about some good by just being involved in sporting affairs, it has to be Tendulkar. Most of the freeloaders, who masquerade as sports officials in this country, would then have a tough time with him at the helm.
What Tendulkar should definitely avoid
Cricket commentary, Expert analysis et al.
This is something that Tendulkar should refuse vehemently. Imagine having to bear the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu or Sameer Kochhar and try to sound intelligent at the same time. No, we do not want to reward the Little Master after years of yeoman service, by subjecting him to such torture.
Get involved with BCCI activities
He’d be a fish out of water for anything involving the BCCI, and it might be a job which he might just not enjoy doing. But he might just make a great ICC president and continue to contribute to the game globally.
Till then let’s hope that he continues his purple patch and brings joy to every cricket lover.
Stay tuned.
(Dhananjay Devasper is an “IT guy” by profession and a sports fanatic at heart. He has an unbridled passion for sports and Indian achievements in sport. Extremely opinionated, he attempts offering perspectives around sports which are simple to understand and easy to relate with)
