Sachin Tendulkar Remembers His Retirement Day: 'Dhoni Told Me to Stay Away for a Surprise

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At the annual Naman Awards, Sachin Tendulkar received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI. The cricket legend captivated fans for over thirty years, setting records left and right. During his acceptance speech, the 51-year-old reminisced about his farewell match and how MS Dhoni, the captain at the time, planned something special for him.

Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), presented Sachin with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event in Mumbai. With 664 international matches under his belt, Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored in both Test and ODI formats.

For those who might not know, Sachin played his final international game for India in November 2013 against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

His last match was an emotional moment for cricket fans everywhere, and when he delivered his farewell speech, it was hard for anyone to hold back their tears.

"I'm at a loss for words when I think about those moments; they were never planned. It feels like a story written from above. Looking back, it's hard to believe all of this has happened in my life. I feel incredibly fortunate, and during that last moment when the team was scheming to do something for me and celebrate the ninth wicket, we really celebrated," Sachin shared during his speech on Saturday.

"MS Dhoni told me, 'Paaji, you stay back for a bit, we have something planned,' and then the team gave me a guard of honour. That send-off made me realize the end was near. I knew that after this, I would never step onto the field as an active Indian player. Very few people get to experience what I did," he added.

'The best present I've ever received'

Sachin Tendulkar racked up an impressive 15,921 runs in Test matches and an incredible 18,426 runs in One Day Internationals. His records for the most Test (200) and ODI (463) matches played are still standing strong, highlighting just how long and successful his career was.

He kicked off his cricket journey at just 16 years old during India's 1989 tour of Pakistan and has recently been honored as the 31st recipient of the C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sachin also shared some wise words for today’s Indian cricketers, emphasizing, "Without cricket, none of us would be here. For me, it’s been the greatest gift of my life. We have our bat and ball, and if you don’t have a solid grip on them, you start losing your hold on your career too."

He continued, "I shouldn’t be the one giving advice, but stay focused despite distractions. Don’t let anything derail your career. Appreciate what you have and take care of your game. We all managed when we had nothing, so it’s crucial to value what we have now and act responsibly to uplift the game and our country’s name. You’re the current generation of cricketers, and there’s still a lot of cricket ahead of you. Just go out there, give it your all, and seize this chance. You’ll only realize how far you’ve come once you’ve hung up your boots."

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