Tendulkar's retirement: Artist friend to gift a painting

Kolkata: It will be a fitting farewell gift to a best friend. Famed painter and multifaceted artist Sanatan Dinda, a “close friend” of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, is all set to paint a picture as a memento to mark the legend’s adieu from cricket.

Last week, Tendulkar announced the two-Test series against the West Indies will bring the curtain down on his illustrious 24-year-long career. The cricketing great will be playing his 199th Test at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata Nov 6-10 and the farewell Test at the Wankhede in Mumbai Nov 14-18.

Dinda, who became friends with Tendulkar in 2008, will celebrate the occasion by gifting a painting. He is yet to decide the subject of his creation.

“I have decided to present him with a painting but I haven’t decided yet. Our relationship is that of two best friends and goes beyond gifting paintings. He is a close friend,” Dinda told IANS.

Tendulkar, who loves to collect paintings, has received three to four works of art from the artist as gifts whereas he has commissioned Dinda to paint several others over the course of years.

“So far I have made ten paintings for him. He has commissioned me to make many of them,” said Dinda, who counts the cricketer as his mentor in many ways.

But the artist is wary of making “the very personal gesture” a public event.

“It will be a personal moment …and I will hand it over in a private way. I could have it sent to Mumbai also. But I won’t be handing it over at the Eden Gardens,” said Dinda.