Tears flowing, Tendulkar says emotional goodbye to cricket

Mumbai: At exactly 11.47 am on a balmy Saturday morning, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar bid a tearful adieu to international cricket after an illustrious career lasting exactly 24 years and a day in which he played 200 Test matches, 463 ODIs and a lone T20 scoring 34,357 international runs.

It wasn't a jam-packed Wankhede Stadium like yesterday but at least 25,000 were still in attendance to witness one of the most poignant moments in the history of Indian cricket as the last West Indian wicket fell.

The Little Big Genius' of Indian cricket

The 40-year-old maestro, who had rarely let emotions show on his cherubic face, began to break down after being presented a souvenir stump by his teammates. Wiping tears, he trudged back to the dressing room but not before acknowledging the fans and shaking hands with the West Indian cricketers at the boundary line.

The West Indies players personally congratulated Tendulkar as he accepted each and every emerging hand with the same grace and humility that has been his hallmark for almost two and half decades.

The crowd was on its feet, so were each and everyone in the press-box. He was back on the ground for the presentation accompanied by his wife Anjali and children, Arjun and Sara.

After being presented a couple of mementos, Tendulkar gave a speech to thank every contributor to his 24-year-career before taking a lap of honour.

The TV crew tried to catch each and every contour of Tendulkar's facial expression before the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli hoisted him on their shoulders.

The master was seen waving the tri-colour as he acknowledged his emotionally-overwhelmed fans.

He came back to the ground one last time and touched the 22-yard strip with his hands as a mark of respect.

His family was with him throughout and they were also vociferously cheered by the crowd. It was one moment where emotions were difficult to control.Some had moist eyes, those who know how to conceal their emotions probably hid it under their shades.

Everyone knew that the moment would arrive today but will vouch for their lives that they didn't want it ever to arrive.

For once, fans wanted Marlon Samuels not to hit that ugly stroke, they wanted Chris Gayle not to edge that cut shot so that Tendulkar could stay on there for a little bit longer.

For a generation that grew up during 80's and 90's, it was difficult to live a life and not love Sachin Tendulkar. For those of the earlier generation, it was difficult not to compare with him their hero Sunil Gavaskar.

There were some great players like VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble but they were all supporting actors in the great saga called Indian cricket as there was only one hero -- that five 5'5 man from Bandra.

He touched hearts when he dedicated his century against England in the Chennai Test in 2008 to the victims of the Mumbai terror attack.

Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar retired from international cricket quietly, so did Dravid and Laxman holding their customary press conferences.

Ganguly and Kumble got a farewell but it was much muted by those standards. But when it came to Tendulkar, who has truly transcended all boundaries, it was only fitting that a billion people would be swayed by emotions.

The adjectives will get exhausted but the legend of Tendulkar will continue to stay on with us.

Simply put, there won't be another Sachin Tendulkar. They don't make cricketers like him anymore.

Statistical highlights of Sachin Tendulkar's Test career

Statistical highlights of Sachin Tendulkar's Test career

• In the just concluded Mumbai Test, he has created cricket history by becoming the first player to have appeared in 200 Tests.
• The only player to have appeared in 300 innings (329).
• Holds a record for registering most centuries (51).
• Holds a record for recording most fifties (68).
• Holds a record for posting most innings of fifty-plus - 119 Centuries 51 + fifties 68.
• Holds a record for the highest run-aggregate (15,921 at an average of 53.78 in 200 matches).
• Holds a record for registering most centuries on foreign soil (29 in 106 Tests).
• With 20 innings of 150-plus, he holds a world record. With eleven innings of 150-plus overseas, he holds a world record.
• Both his aggregate - 1995 runs at an average of 60.45 in 25 Tests and nine hundreds are records against Sri Lanka.
• Only batsman to aggregate 1,000 runs against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka - 1155 at an average of 67.94 in twelve Tests.
• Holds a record for most runs overseas - 8705 (ave.54.74) in 106 Tests.
• Recorded six innings of 200 or more, sharing an Indian record with Virender Sehwag.
• Figures in 72 Tests in a winning cause - the most by a player from the subcontinent. (including the Wankhede Test vs West Indies)
• Managed 5946 runs (ave.61.93) in 72 Tests - the most by a player from the subcontinent in a winning cause. (including the Wankhede Test vs West Indies)
• Completed a hundred with a six six times - a world record.
• Registered seven hundreds in a calendar year (2010) - an Indian record.
• Six times in a calendar year, he has completed 1000 runs - a record.
• Recorded eleven hundreds against Australia - the most by a player from the sub-continent.
• Managed 3630 runs (ave.55.00) in 39 Tests against Australia - the most by a player from the sub-continent.
• Scored 495 runs in three innings before being dismissed - a world record - his sequence of scores being 241 not out & 60 not out vs Australia at Sydney in January 2004 and 194 not out vs Pakistan at Multan in March 2004.
• With ten innings of 90 or more, he shares an unwanted Test record with Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh.
• Shares 20 century stands with Rahul Dravid - a world record for most century partnerships by any pair.
• Aggregated 6920 at an average of 50.51 in 143 innings, including 20 partnerships of 100-plus and 29 between 50 and 99 - a world record.
• Shares 18 double century stands (200 or more) - an Indian record and the second highest overall, next only to Kallis (20).
• With 14 Man of the Match awards, he possesses an Indian record.
• With five Man of the series awards, he shares an Indian record with Virender Sehwag.
• Shares a record for reaching 10,000 runs in least number of innings (195) with Brian Lara and Kumar Sangakkara.
• Shares a record for reaching 12,000 runs in least number of innings (247) with Ricky Ponting.
• Holds a record for reaching 13,000 runs in least number of innings (266).
• The only player to have recorded 2000 fours (2058) apart from 69 sixes.
• Only Indian player to amass 50,000 runs in all formats of the game i.e., first-class, List A and Twenty20.
• Holds a record for most international centuries (100) - 51 in Tests and 49 in One Day Internationals - 29 more than Ricky Ponting (71).
• Only player to have amassed more than 30,000 international runs - 34,357 at an average of 48.52.