At the Naman Awards in Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar was honored with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his historic contributions to cricket. (X)
Mumbai: Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was honored with the prestigious CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the Naman Awards in Mumbai. Recognized for his extraordinary three-decade career, Tendulkar remains India’s highest run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket.
While accepting the award from ICC chairman Jay Shah, the 51-year-old cricket icon reminisced about his farewell match in November 2013, played at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, against the West Indies. The match, which marked the end of an era, left millions of cricket fans teary-eyed as Tendulkar bid adieu to international cricket.
During his acceptance speech, Tendulkar revealed how MS Dhoni and the Indian team planned a heartfelt send-off for him. "I'm speechless when it comes to those moments; those moments are never planned. I think it's a story written from above. Honestly, when I look back, I find it difficult to believe that all these things have happened in my life. I consider myself extremely lucky," he said. He went on to recall how the team decided to celebrate the ninth wicket, signaling that the end of his illustrious career was near. "MS Dhoni said, ‘Paaji, aap thoda dur raho, hum kuch plan kar rahe hain,’ and then the team gave me the guard of honor. That is when I realized that I will never walk out on the field as a current Indian player again," Tendulkar shared, reflecting on one of the most emotional moments of his life.
Having played 664 international matches, Tendulkar remains a record-breaking cricketer, amassing 15,921 runs in Test cricket and 18,426 runs in ODIs. He still holds the records for most Test (200) and ODI (463) appearances, highlighting his unparalleled longevity and dominance in the sport.
Debuting for India at just 16 years old during the 1989 tour of Pakistan, Tendulkar’s cricketing journey has been nothing short of legendary. Now, as the 31st recipient of the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, he continues to inspire generations of cricketers.
Tendulkar also took the opportunity to share valuable advice with aspiring cricketers. "Cricket has been the ultimate gift of my life. We all hold a bat and ball, and if we lose grip over them, we slowly lose grip over our careers too," he remarked. Encouraging players to stay focused amid distractions, he advised, "Value everything we have and look after your game. When we had nothing, we managed. But when we have everything, we must value it and behave appropriately to take the game forward and uphold the country’s name."
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