10 reasons why the cricket world will miss Sachin Tendulkar

A mountain of runs scored. A plethora of records broken and set. A career that spanned twenty-four glorious years.

He just called time on a glittering journey which began all those years ago at Shivaji Park, under the tutelage of the legendary Ramakant Achrekar (Achrekar Sir, to be precise). It took a ‘late cut’ from the elder statesman to bring the kid to his senses and restore his focus on a game that gave him a lot of joy.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar – master batsman, immortal icon, international legend – will be missed by legions of fans, and the world of cricket the most.

Here are 10 things that the cricket fraternity will miss about Sachin, making them rue his absence from the game:

10. ‘Main Khelega‘ – courage in the face of fire and pain

He was all of 16 – skinny, his hair standing up all over his head, and wielding a bat as light as his feet. Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis also made his first appearance in the international arena, and was breathing fire on the Indians along with Wasim Akram and Imran Khan.

Waqar broke Sachin’s nose with a nasty bouncer, making him bleed heavily. Navjot Sidhu, at the other end, rushed over to the youngster, and so did the other Pakistanis.

The young one just shook off the impact of the blow, walked up to Sidhu and said in his now-famous squeaky voice: Main khelega.

Sidhu was shocked, the Pakistanis stunned. Sachin proceeded to play an innings that saved the game for India.

Those two words epitomized the hallmark of the teen prodigy’s character – he was going to play on come what may. It made the world sit up and take notice.

Ten years later, against the same opposition, Sachin would defy pain to delay the inevitable defeat at Chennai. The Main Khelega  attitude was there for all to see, and it remained with him all throughout his career; something that the cricketing fraternity have long admired and will miss sorely.