I vowed not to cry but somehow despite my own firmness there were tears in my eyes. The master has bid farewell to his long time love – CRICKET.  The stage is empty without it’s lead performer. No more SACHIN SACHIN!. For the last decade and a half I have grown up watching him perform magic on the cricket pitch. It has all ended.
SACHIN has always been a big part of my life since 1996 not for the runs that he scored but for huge doses of inspiration he often provided. SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR is not an individual neither is he a sports person. He is a symbol of hope for many who grew up watching him. He’s been the pivot of India’s industrial revolution and more often than not he’s been a brand which everyone could connect with.
It’s all yet to sink in. 16th November 2013 will be etched in Indian Cricket history. It was the day when the son of the soil bid adieu. Quite fittingly the Virat Kohli – the heir to the throne walked in when TENDULKAR got out. Maybe he will notch up records like Tendulkar did but he will never move our hearts like Sachin did. There can and will only be one Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
All good things have to come to an end but this loss has left an unforeseen vacuum in the cricketing world. The source of joy to millions of Indians has been snatched away. With him go our childhood memories. With home goes our expectation of a century in almost every match. He’s been one of us for a long time now.
Even time froze when the LITTLE MASTER shed tears. It was one of most stirring farewell speeches I have ever seen in my entire life. He remembered every one of them. People who left an impression in his life. The people who have helped shaped his career. To me though the moment of the day would be when the master walked back to the 22 yards which has been his stage for 24 long years.
It’s time to celebrate a great career . A career which has given hope to millions of Indians. It’s time for a royal salute to our very own BHARAT RATNA.
 
 
 
#ThankYouSachin.