'Life has truly come full circle.' Sachin Tendulkar does flashback as statue unveiled at Wankhede, recalls watching ODI without ticket as 10-yr-old
Wankhede Stadium, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared a delightful childhood anecdote on Wednesday.
Recalling the year 1983, Tendulkar, then a mere 10-year-old, found himself caught up in the fervour of the India-West Indies ODI game at Wankhede Stadium. His elder brother’s friends, all in their 30s or 40s, had secured 24 tickets for the North Stand.
However, Tendulkar managed to sneak in as the 25th member of the group, unknown to the vigilant ticket-checkers. He reminisced about the camaraderie of the North Stand, where the passionate fans cheered the Indian team to victory.
Reflecting on his illustrious journey, Tendulkar shared his emotions on X (formerly Twitter), saying, «This photo has a very special place in my heart.
From being a 10-year-old boy who was sneaked into the North Stand with only 24 tickets for 25 eager fans, to having my statue unveiled at the iconic Wankhede, life has truly come full circle.»
He expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the pivotal roles played by his supporters, teammates, and colleagues in his extraordinary cricketing journey.
The cricketer noted, “This statue isn't just mine. It is a dedication to every non-striker, my cricket heroes, every teammate, every colleague, who stood by my side, for without them, this journey wouldn’t have been possible.”
Tendulkar’s humility and gratitude struck a chord with fans, leading to heartfelt reactions.
One fan noted, «This is such a wholesome message for the God of cricket. The way he acknowledges all that enabled him for greatness and looks at his journey with humility, makes me wonder if we will ever have anyone like him again.»
Another fan praised his grounded nature, commenting, «Always soaring high, yet so grounded.»
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