Mumbai (Maharashtra): A life-size statue of cricket icon and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was unveiled at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, his home ground, on Wednesday.
The statue sculpted by Pramod Kale was unveiled in a gala ceremony in the presence of Sachin Tendulkar himself. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, and Maharashtra Sports Minister Sanjay Bansode among other bigwigs were also present on the occasion.
A host of Mumbai Cricket Association officials including President Amol Kale, Vice President Sanjay Naik, Secretary Ajinkya Naik and other officers bearers including Deepak Patil, Armaan Malik, Milind Narvekar, and Vihang Sarnaik were also present on the historic occasion. The statue of Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar comes beside the Sachin Tendulkar Stand inside the Wankhede Stadium and was unveiled on the eve of the India versus Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup match.
Wankhede has always been a special place for the cricket icon, who lifted the ODI 2011 World Cup Trophy here and has many other memories associated with it. Tendulkar also bid adieu to his illustrious career at the Stadium in November 2013 after playing his 200th Test match against West Indies. Tendulkar was born and brought up in Mumbai and made runs all across the globe at the iconic Cricket Grounds, but Wankhede always remained special for the batting great.
Tendulkar was brought up at the Sahitya Sahwas in suburban Bandra and his father, late Ramesh Tendulkar, was a noted Marathi writer. Tendulakar's wife Anjali and his daughter Sara were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Tendulkar said it was a special moment for him. "I was extremely delighted when MCA officials called me stating that they wanted to make my statue," he said.
"I am truly humbled. When I go to the ground, many memories come to my mind. It is a tribute by MCA to me," Tendulkar added. The batting great recalled his first visit to Wankhede for the India vs West Indies match in 1985 when he was 10 years old.
"I enjoyed the game while sitting in the North Stand," he said. "After that, I played at the Wankhede Stadium, where we played the Harris Shield final. I figured out there were many more gaps at the Wankhede Stadium. I realised there were only nine fielders on the ground. I was selected as a Ball Boy for the 1987 World Cup and Sunil Gavaskar invited me to the dressing room where I met other players. I was 14 then and it was a huge thing. Next year, I played for Mumbai," he recalled.
Sachin Tendulkar said playing for Mumbai was a huge honour and playing for India was equally important. He also recalled the last day of his international career at the Wankhede. "The happiest day was in 2011, when we lifted that (World Cup) Trophy. My preparation for the 2011 World Cup started in 2007," the Master Blaster said. He also revealed the reasons behind refusing to take up the captaincy in 2007.
NCP Supremo and former ICC, BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association President Sharad Pawar said that it is very rare that one gets such an honour (of a life-size statue at a stadium) and Sachin Tendulkar has got it. Pawar also recalled the instance when Tendulkar recommended Mahendra Singh Dhoni's name for India's captaincy and, with it, gave India a good captain.
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla said Anjali Tendulkar's contribution has been immense in his career. "He is a wonderful human being. His whole focus was on the game. He never cheated, that was his Mantra," said Rajeev Shukla, recalling the instance when Tendulkar refused to accept India's captaincy. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah recalled that Sachin Tendulkar's father passed away in 1999 while he was playing the World Cup and keeping the country above everything else. He went to England again and smashed a hundred against Kenya and dedicated it to his late father and the country, Shah added.
He also recalled that it was Sachin Tendulkar who suggested the name of Mahendra Singh Dhoni for India's captaincy and under Dhoni India won three ICC Trophies - the ICC T20 World Cup, ICC ODI World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, BCCI Treasurer Ashish Shelar said that it was a historic occasion. '"Everyone in the world, who is associated with cricket, bat or ball, knows Sachin Tendulkar.
It is very rare in the world that a player who started career at the home ground, made various records and won the World Cup here, his statue is unveiled at the same ground," said Shelar. "Wankhede's real identity is Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin Tendulkar is a Bharat Ratna and his parents and his Guru (late Ramakant Achrekar) put in a lot of effort for him," said Shelar. MCA President Amol Kale said that Sachin Tendulkar does not need any introduction and his records speak for himself and his statue will be an inspiration to youngsters.
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