The Rohit Sharmas and Virat Kohlis arrived at the Wankhede Stadium for match-eve practice a little after Sachin Tendulkar had unveiled his statue on Wednesday.
But it was Tendulkar who still drew the select gathering even as the team had their
nets session. Rohit was also forced to defer his news conference since the media was glued to the function at the Mumbai Cricket Association lounge.
Team India’s brand of cricket in this World Cup though has left Tendulkar excited and hoping against hope that they would end their ICC trophy wait.
“They know what to do and what the whole country is expecting from them. I won’t put pressure on them either. I know people have this tendency of talking things and
then saying, koi pressure mat lena (don’t take pressure). It does not work that way,” Tendulkar said.
Chants of “Saaachin, Saaachin” returned to the Wankhede as he unveiled the statue placed between the stand named after him and the Vijay Merchant Pavilion in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, former BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar and BCCI secretary Jay Shah among others.
The rhythmic beats of the dhol added to the festive fervour as Tendulkar was accompanied by wife Anjali, daughter Sara and brother Ajit.
“I want to dedicate the statue to all who played with me during my career,” he said.
Sachin Tendulkar with wife Anjali (left) and daughter Sara (centre) at the Wankhede on Wednesday. PTI photo
Tendulkar recalled turning down the captaincy in 2007 and recommending Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s name.
“The happiest day of my life was in 2011, when we lifted that (World Cup) trophy,” he reminisced. “I have heard that nothing happens ‘right now’... It does take time. My preparation for the 2011 World Cup started in 2007.”
Pawar, then BCCI president, had accepted Tendulkar’s suggestion to make Dhoni captain and the move changed Indian cricket.
“I remember having a meeting with Mr Pawar in England before The Oval Test and I told him that as a player, my leadership role will always be there. Only the captain tag won’t be there.
“But at this stage, I don’t think I can last the whole day as both my ankles were giving trouble. That’s the reason, I suggested that Dhoni be made the captain and the rest is history.”
He also recollected the first time he visited the Wankhede, where he also played his 200th and final Test match in 2013.
“My first visit to the Wankhede Stadium was way back in 1983 and I was just 10 years old. The West Indies had come to India after the World Cup and the excitement was there.
“My brother’s friends from Bandra, all in their 30s or 40s, decided to watch the match and I was also asked to tag along. I went with them, enjoyed the game from the North Stand and while coming back home, I heard someone say, ‘Achha manage kiya, na?’ Sachin ko chupa ke le ke jana pada (We managed it well, no? We had to hide Sachin),” Tendulkar recalled.
“Then I realised that there were 25 of us, and we only had 24 tickets for the match, and they sneaked me in. Sometimes, being vertically challenged can also work well for you... After that I also got a chance to play at the Wankhede Stadium…”
He recollected the first time he batted at the Wankhede as a 14-year-old.
“It was the Harris Shield final. That was the first time I realised there were so many gaps in the field with only nine fielders. My experience on the Azad maidan was vastly different since you can’t make out which fielder is playing for which team.”
