Playing It My Way: My Autobiography

by Sachin Tendulkar

  The most, the most important person in my life, and I have missed him a lot since 1999 when he passed away, my father. Without … without his guidance, I don’t think I would have been standing here in front of you. He gave me freedom at the age of eleven and told me ‘Chase your dreams, but make sure you don’t find short cuts. The path might be difficult, but don’t give up.’ And I have simply followed his instructions. Above all, he told me to be a nice human being, which I will continue to do so, I have tried my best. Every time, every time I have done something special, whenever I’ve showed my bat, it was for my father, so I miss him today.

  My mother, I don’t know how she dealt with such a naughty child like me. I was not easy to manage. She must be extremely patient. For a mother, the most important thing is that her child remains safe and healthy and fit, and that’s what she was most bothered about and worried about. She, she took care of me … for the last twenty-four years that I have played for India, but even before that, she started praying for me the day I started playing cricket. She just prayed and prayed and prayed, and I think her prayers and blessings have given me the strength to go out and perform, so a big thank you to my mother for all the sacrifices.

  In my schooldays, for four years I stayed with my uncle and my aunt, because my school was quite far from my home, and they treated me like their son. My aunt – after having had a hard day’s play, I would be half asleep and she would be feeding me food so that I could go and play again tomorrow. I can’t forget these moments. I am like their son and I am glad that it has continued to be the same way.

  My eldest brother, Nitin, and his family have always encouraged me. My eldest brother doesn’t like to talk much, but the one thing he always told me is, ‘Whatever you do, I know you will give a hundred per cent, and I have full confidence and faith in you.’ His encouragement meant a lot to me. My sister, Savita, and her family, was no different. The first cricket bat of my life was presented to me by my sister, it was a Kashmir willow bat … but that is where the journey began. She is one of those many who still continue to fast when I bat, so thank you very much.

  Ajit, my brother, now what do I talk about him? I don’t know, really. We’ve, we’ve lived this dream together. He was the one who sacrificed his career for my cricket. He spotted the spark in me. And it all started from the age of eleven when he took me to Achrekar Sir, my coach, and from there on my life changed. You will find this hard to believe that even last night he called me and we were discussing my dismissal, knowing that there was a remote chance of batting again, but just that, the habit which we have developed and the rapport that we have developed, since my birth, it has continued and it will continue. Maybe even when I’m not playing cricket we will still be discussing technique. Various things, various things we agreed upon, my technique, and so many technical things which I didn’t agree with him, we have had arguments and disagreements, but in the end when I look back at all those things, if that hadn’t happened in my life, I would have been a lesser cricketer.

  The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife, Anjali. Those were, those were special years and it has continued and it will always continue that way. I know, I know Anjali, being a doctor, there was a wonderful career in front of her. When we decided to have a family, Anjali took the initiative to step back and say that, ‘You continue with your cricket and I’ll take the responsibility of the family.’ Without, without that, I don’t think I would have been able to play cricket freely and without any stress. Thanks for bearing up, bearing with all my fuss, all my frustrations and all sorts of rubbish that I have spoken – I normally do. Thanks for bearing with me and always staying by my side through the ups and downs. You are the best partnership I’ve had in my life.

  Then, then the two precious diamonds of my life, Sara and Arjun. They have already grown up. You know, my daughter is sixteen, my son is fourteen. Time has flown by. I wanted to spend so much time with them on special occasions like their birthdays, their annual days, sports day, going on holidays, whatever. I have missed out on all those things. Thanks for your understanding. Both of you … have been so, so special to me … you cannot imagine. I promise you, I promise you, for fourteen years and sixteen years I have not spent enough time with both of you, but the next, the next sixteen years or even beyond that, everything is for you.

  My, my in-laws, Anand Mehta and Annabel, both have been so, so supportive, loving, caring … I have discussed on various, various things in life, generally with them, and taken their advice. You know, it’s so important to have a strong family who is always with you and guiding you. Before you start clapping, the most important thing they did was allowing me to marry Anjali, so thank you very much.

  In the last, in the last twenty-four years that I have played for India I have made new friends, and before that I have had friends from my childhood. They all have had a terrific contribution. Right from, you know, as and when I have called them to come and bowl to me in the nets, they have left all their work aside and come and helped me. Be it joining me on holidays and having discussions on cricket, when I was a little stressed and wanting to find a solution so that I could perform better – all those moments, my friends were with me. Even for whenever I was injured, I would wake up in the morning because I could not sleep, I thought my career was over because of injuries, that’s when my friends have woken up at three o’clock in the morning to drive with me and just make me believe that ‘Your career is not over.’ Life … would be incomplete without all those friends. Thanks for being there for me.

  My cricket career started when I was eleven. The turning point of my career was when my brother took me to Achrekar Sir, my coach. I was extremely delighted to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in front of the television and he watches all the games that I play. When I was … when I was eleven/twelve, those, those were the days where I used to hop back on his scooter and play a couple of practice matches a day. You know, first half of the innings I would be batting on Shivaji Park, the second half some other match at Azad Maidan. Sir would be taking me all over Mumbai to make sure that I got match practice.

  On a lighter note, in the last twenty-nine years Sir has never ever said ‘well played’ to me because he thought I would get complacent and I would stop working hard. Maybe he can, he can push his luck and wish me now ‘well done’ on my career, and because there are no more matches, sir, in my life. I will be witnessing cricket, and cricket will always stay in my heart, but you had an immense contribution in my life, so thank you very much.

  My cricket for Mumbai started right here on this ground, the Mumbai Cricket Association, which is so dear to me. I remember landing from New Zealand at four o’clock in the morning and turning up for a game at eight o’clock here, just because I wanted to be part of Mumbai cricket, not that anyone forced me or Mumbai Cricket Association pressurized me to be here, but that was for the love of Mumbai cricket. And thank you very much – the president is here – thank you very much, along with your team, for taking care of me and looking after my cricket.

  The dream was obviously to, to play for India, and that’s where my association with BCCI started. BCCI was fantastic, right from the, from my debut. Believing in my ability, selecting me in the squad at the age of sixteen was, was a big step. So thanks to all the selectors for having, having faith in me and the BCCI for giving me the freedom to express myself out in the middle. Things would have been different if you had not been behind me, and I really appreciate your support. Especially when I was injured, you were right with me and making sure that all the treatments were taken care of and I got fit and fine, playing back for India.

  The journey has been special, the last twenty-four years. I have played with many, many senior cricketers, and even before that there were many senior cricketers whom I watched on television – they inspired me to play cricket and play it the right way. Thanks so much to all those senior cricketers. Unfortunately I have not
been able to play with them, but I have high regards for all their achievements and all their contributions.

  We see it on the mega-screen, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav – Anil is not here – and my team-mates right here in front of me. You are, you are like my family away from home. I have had some wonderful times with you … it’s going to be difficult not to be part of the dressing room, sharing those special moments. All the coaches, for, for their guidance, it has been special for me. I know when MS Dhoni presented me the 200th Test match cap on day one morning, I had a brief message for the team. I would like to repeat that: I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and proud to be part of the Indian cricket team, serving the nation. Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit and the right values. I believe, I believe we have been the lucky ones to have been chosen by the Almighty to serve this wonderful sport. Each generation gets this opportunity to merely take care of this sport and serve it to the best of our ability. I have full faith in you that you’ll continue to serve the nation in the right spirit, to the best of your ability, and bring all the laurels to our country. All the very best.

  I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank all the doctors, the physios, the trainers, who’ve put this difficult body together to go back on the field and to be able to play. The amount of injuries that I’ve had in my career, I don’t know how you’ve managed to keep me fit, but without your special efforts, it would never have happened. I mean, the doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean, I have called them from Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi, wherever, and then they have just taken the next flight and they’ve left their work and they’ve come, they’ve treated me, which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all three of you for keeping me in good shape.

  My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager – we unfortunately lost him in a car accident in 2002, but he was such a well-wisher of cricket, my cricket, especially Indian cricket. He was so passionate. He understood what it takes to represent a nation and gave me all the space to go out and express myself, and never pressurized me to do this ad or promotion, whatever the sponsors demanded. He took care of that and today I miss him, so thank you, Mark, for all your contribution.

  My current, my current management team, WSG, for, for repeating what Mark has done, because when we signed the contract I exactly told them what I want from them and what it requires to be representing India. They have understood that and respected that, so thank you very much, WSG.

  Someone who has worked closely with me for fourteen years is my manager, Vinod Naidu. He is more like my family and all the sacrifices, spending time away from his family for my work, has been special, so a big thank you to your family as well, for giving so much time for my work with Vinod.

  In my schooldays, when I performed well, the media backed me a lot. You continue to do that till this morning. Thank you so much to all the media, for supporting me and appreciating my performances. It surely had a positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers as well, for those wonderful captured moments will stay with me for the rest of my life, so to all the photographers a big thank you.

  I know my speech is getting a bit too long, but this is the last thing I want to say … I want to … I want to thank all the people here who’ve flown in from various parts of the world and supported me endlessly, whether I scored a zero or I scored a hundred-plus, whatever. Your support was so dear to me and it meant a lot to me.

  Whatever you’ve done for me – I know I’ve met so many guys who’ve fasted for me, prayed for me, done all sorts of things for me – you know, without all that, life wouldn’t have been like this for me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories that you have left with me will always be with me for ever and ever, especially ‘Sachin, Sachin’. That will reverberate in my ears … till I stop breathing.

  Thank you very much. If I’ve, if I’ve missed out on saying something, missed out on a few names, I hope you understand. Goodbye.

  Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

  16 November 2013

  CAREER STATISTICS

  Click here for full career statistics.

  The best partnership of my life.

  Ready to enjoy the game at the age of four.

  In my mother’s arms at our apartment in Sahitya Sahawas.

  I owe him everything – with my father, who taught me to be the person I am.

  Packing my kitbag at my uncle and aunt’s place in Shivaji Park as a 14-year-old. I owe them so much.

  With my coach Achrekar Sir. A nod of appreciation from him would make my day.

  Inspecting one of my beloved bats with my father, as my mother looks on.

  My first Test series, in Pakistan in 1989, was a baptism of fire.

  During that series, Sanjay Manjrekar and I came across a court in Lahore and decided to try our hand at tennis.

  After my first Test hundred, at Old Trafford in 1990. Little did I know that there were 99 to follow!

  At Heathrow in 1992 on my way to Yorkshire as their first ever overseas and non-Yorkshire player.

  Proud to wear the Yorkshire rose. Please don’t mistake me for my son Arjun here!

  One of the many wonderful moments in England in 1990. That tour taught me a lot.

  Celebrating with my new team-mates after taking a wicket in my very first county match in 1992.

  Meeting Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in 1992. He also saw me play in Cape Town in 1997 and on both occasions I made a hundred!

  After beating England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 1993. Remarkably, 70,000 Indian fans had come to watch the little action that remained on the last day – such passion!

  At Chennai, one of my favourite grounds, on the way to my first hundred on home soil, against England in February 1993.

  Enjoying the victory lap after winning the five-nation Hero Cup at Eden Gardens in November 1993.

  The day Anjali Mehta became Anjali Tendulkar.

  ‘Please don’t spoil your shirt, I am all sweaty!’ Mark Mascarenhas wasn’t bothered and embraced me after a hundred against Australia in Sharjah in 1998.

  With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Delhi after beating Australia in October 1996 in my first Test as captain.

  At Lord’s in the famous Long Room. Captains of the world unite for an ICC meeting in 1997. From the left: Hansie Cronje, myself, Wasim Akram, Mark Taylor, Alistair Campbell, Michael Atherton, Courtney Walsh, Arjuna Ranatunga and Stephen Fleming.

  ‘I hope you are seeing it from heaven.’ – This hundred against Kenya in the 1999 World Cup will always remain special. It was for my father, who I had lost a week earlier.

  With the Queen during the 1999 World Cup in England. Also pictured are Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak and Pakistan’s Moin Khan.

  Celebrations after winning the one-day series against New Zealand in November 1999, during my second stint as captain.

  After being hit on the shoulder ducking a Glenn McGrath bouncer, I was surprised to be given out lbw by umpire Daryl Harper in Adelaide in 1999.

  With Shane Warne in Mumbai on the eve of the first Test against Australia in the 2001 series.

  Harbhajan Singh takes India’s first ever Test hat-trick at Eden Gardens in 2001.

  What a partnership – 335 runs on the fourth day at Eden Gardens and still unbeaten! In the end, VVS Laxman scored 281 and Rahul Dravid 180, turning the 2001 series on its head.

  I played my part with the ball, bowling leg-spin and taking three wickets in a five-over spell. Here Adam Gilchrist is out lbw.

  Evading a bouncer during a hostile spell from Andrew Flintoff in the third Test at Headingley in 2002.

  On the attack at Headingley. A famous victory and we went on to draw the series 1–1.

  Bowling at The Oval
in 2002 in what was a very exciting Test series.

  The whole team went for a ride in New Zealand in 2002. They kept driving us straight at a cliff and then turning at the very last minute – it was great fun.

  With Sunil Joshi and Ashish Nehra – enjoying ourselves in the Caribbean in 2002.

  Battlefield Centurion: on my way to 98 in the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup.

  Recuperating after elbow surgery in 2005. It was the most frustrating injury of my career.