Published: Nov 16, 2014, 05:53 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 16, 2014, 09:28 AM (IST)
Sachin Tendulkar bid farewell to the game in an emotional setting at the Wankhede Stadium on November 16, 2013. As the West Indies were bowled out cheaply, Tendulkar’s emotions gave way and the events of that day left a lasting impact on the fans. That day is very much a part of the Tendulkar legacy for it’s sheer simplicity and humility. Nishad Pai Vaidya looks back at the events that transpired on November 16, 2013.
There was always next time! Whether he scored a duck or a fifty, there was always hope for a magical ton the next time he batted. For 24 years, this man ruled the heart of a nation — who pinned all their cricketing dreams and aspirations on his shoulders. But on November 16, 2013, that hope faded by the hour. As the West Indies collapsed on Day Three of the second Test at Mumbai, it became abundantly clear that the cricket world had seen the last of Sachin Tendulkar with the willow in hand!
The previous day, Tendulkar was dismissed for a classy 74. Playing his 200th and final Test, Tendulkar rolled back the years with his splendid knock and dazzled the stage with his mastery. West Indies were never in the game. They were bowled out for 182 in the first innings and India amassed 495. By the end of Day Two, the visitors were tottering at 43 for three. But there was still hope! That evening, Tendulkar and his brother Ajit, revisited his dismissal — as had been the case through his career. They too hadn’t ruled out a possibility of India getting a bat again and Tendulkar walking out for the final time.
Tendulkar and his teammates walked out as Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels made their way to the middle. The arena wasn’t full despite all the hype and hoopla surrounding the great batsman’s last Test. The previous day had seen strong numbers, but with the visitor’s batting, the crowd hadn’t arrived. Many felt the game may stretch for a while and the crowd would flock in as India neared victory. It happened sooner than expected!
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Gayle batted with more determination and mixed caution with aggression. However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha were always going to come into play. The spinners removed Samuels, Gayle and Narsingh Deonarine in quick time and the end was nigh! India’s nemesis, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (who was playing his 150th Test), managed a 68-run stand with Denesh Ramdin. Chanderpaul was merely delaying the inevitable and was eventually dismissed for 41. Ramdin continued as wickets fell at the other end.
Meanwhile, the crowd was building up steadily. Fielding at the boundary, Tendulkar continuously waved to the crowd as they cheered him on. Each ball was an event, as he charged in to field and then ambled back to his spot. Every wave was met with a huge chant! And, when he got the ball in hand, they were delirious. Ashwin dismissed Shane Shillingford leg-before — the ninth West Indian dismissed in that innings. As the Indian team got together to celebrate, skipper MS Dhoni had an interesting word for Tendulkar.
In his book Playing It My Way, Tendulkar writes, “When the ninth wicket fell and I ran in to congratulate the bowler, Dhoni asked me to stay away because the team was planning something. I went and stood next to the square-leg umpire while the rest were all huddling in the middle. I could not stop myself from getting emotional. It was all ending so quickly.”
Ramdin fought a touch and completed his half-century. Mohammed Shami was given the ball and he got through Shannon Gabriel’s defence to bowl West Indies out for 187. India had won by an innings and 126 runs. Elation! Yes, at first. But then it sunk in as Tendulkar was hugged by his teammates and picked a stump. Standing near the pitch, he waved to the crowd and his team formed a guard of honour — a moving one at that.
As Tendulkar walked back to the hut, the guard kept forming and escorted him to the end. His teammates looked like kids — who had idolised him all their lives and perhaps seen him for the first time. There was that innocence and reverence in that gesture.
Tendulkar couldn’t hold back his tears. As he waved to the crowd, he put his head down and held his eyes in the realisation that it was the last time he was walking on the field of play. In his book, Tendulkar writes that he could barely look up as he shook hands with the opposition. Such was the emotion in that moment. On making his way back to the pavilion, he cried for another ten minutes.
Tendulkar then made his way down as the presentation crew assembled. His wife Anjali, children Sara and Arjun had come to the field. After a few formalities, he was handed the microphone. Speaking from the heart, Tendulkar moved people to tears. It wasn’t any flowery speech, but it’s simplicity and humility is what made it beautiful thanking each and everyone who had made an impact, he left an indelible mark on the everyone’s hearts. If his runs had mesmerised a nation, words moved their hearts. His life ‘for 24 years between 22 yards’ had come to an end.
Like the ICC World Cup 2011 final celebrations, Tendulkar was carried around the ground by his teammates. He waved the Indian flag with pride and emotion. Sudhir Kumar, the iconic fan, led the way with his unparalleled energy. As they completed the round, Virat Kohli walked up to Tendulkar and reminded him of a ritual. The great man ran towards the wicket, bowed to touch it in gratitude. To say that his last act on the field of play was touching is an understatement.
That was the end of the dream!
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
