Sachin Tendulkar breaks down while saying farewell to childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar

Mumbai cricketers such as Atul Ranade, Amol Muzumdar Ramesh Powar, Paras Mhambrey, Ranji coach Vinayak Samant, Nilesh Kulkarni, Vinod Raghavan, were also there along with fans. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Sachin Tendulkar could not hold back his tears. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

His body was kept at Shivaji Park, where he coached aspiring cricketers and then taken to a nearby crematorium. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Tendulkar, along with Achrekar’s other wards like Vinod Kambli, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, and Chandrakant Pandit, took part in the procession to the crematorium, where his body was consigned to flames. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

When the body was taken outside the ground, young boys, who practice there, gave a guard of honour amid chants of ‘Amar Rahe’. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Renowned cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, who died due to age-related ailments, was cremated here on Thursday with his most famous ward Sachin Tendulkar in attendance for a tearful adieu. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Achrekar, the childhood coach of Tendulkar, passed away at 87 on Wednesday at his Shivaji Park residence in Dadar in Central Mumbai. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Achrekar used to coach Tendulkar at Shivaji Park. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Earlier, the body was kept at his residence for people to pay their last respects to the Dronacharya and Padma Shri award-winning coach. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA

Among politicians, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, MLA and BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar also paid tributes to the decorated coach. Photo: Hemant Padalkar/DNA