http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x526rlf_sachin-last-test_sport
16 November 2013 was the day when the whole country stood still. And why not, it was the day when the man who carried the hopes of millions of people for over two decades was bidding adieu to the game. The most beloved cricketer of the country- Sachin Tendulkar was donning the Indian jersey for one last time and the Indian team, BCCI and the fans made sure to give the maestro a fitting goodbye.
The Indian cricket board arranged a two-match series against West Indies in a haste to bid an apt farewell to the legendary batsman. The first Test was played at Eden Gardens which India won by an innings and 51 runs. Sachin could not do much in the match and scored only 10 runs. The caravan then moved to Sachin’s hometown- Mumbai.
Pragyan Ojha, who was in the playing eleven for both the matches, has now shared his experience on Sachin’s retirement.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, the left-arm spinner said:“ I find it a little hard to believe that is has already been three years since Sachin paaji retired from cricket. We’ve grown up watching him play and I was quite emotional when I came to know that he’ll be playing his final Test series (he, of course, had retired from One-Day Internationals). To be honest, I didn’t really know how to react. I was feeling sad but then I was happy as well that I’ll be part of his final series. I felt I was fortunate enough to have played with him.”
Ojha said that he was thinking of doing ‘something special’ in the series to make it a memorable one. Well, he surely made it memorable as he picked up 10 wickets in the second Test to help India win the match by an innings and 126 runs.
“Even before the series had started there was plenty of planning and preparations going on. Yes, there were a lot of things going on but that didn’t affect us. A lot of people wanted to celebrate it, special arrangements were made and there was plenty of buzz. After all, it was, and as it should be, a big farewell for a man who has given so much to the game and not only Indian cricket. When you play for India, you get used to the buzz so personally, all I was thinking of was doing something special in that series so that everyone will remember,” he added.
The tweaker revealed that despite the country buzzing with the Sachin’s retirement, the master blaster kept things simple from his side.
“I will also have to credit Sachin . Though he was a bit emotional, until the last day he kept things simple. Even with the buzz, he just ensured that it didn’t feel like a special Test. During breakfasts in the hotel in the lead-up to the final Test, he did his bit to keep things very normal.
“I was very focused on doing well in that game. I was determined but I really didn’t look at it as an opportunity to get my name into the history books. I wasn’t thinking on those lines. I believe winning any Test is special because you have to pick those 20 wickets. You have to get each batsman out twice and at the international stage, it’s not easy to do,” Ojha said.
While Tendulkar failed to score a century on his last outing, he gave his millions of fans a lot to cheer for during his knock of 74 runs.
Speaking on the knock, Ojha said:“Everyone was wishing that he ended his career with a century. We were all a little disappointed when he got out on 74. If he would have got the century then it would have been a fairytale ending. But nevertheless, his achievements, his contributions to Indian cricket can’t be surpassed. It’s just tremendous. When he was caught at slip, I don’t know how to explain the feeling. I just fall short of words every time.”
A man who rarely showed any emotion throughout his career became emotional during his farewell speech. Just like everyone, Ojha was surprised too to see Sachin getting emotional.
“Also it came as little surprise that he got so emotional after the Test was over. It’s never easy to bottle up emotions – good or bad. For someone, who had played the game for over 24 years, to suddenly realise that he’ll not be representing India anymore is a big thing,” he said.
The left-arm spinner concluded by saying that the series holds a special place in his life.
“To say that it was the most special series of my career would be just stating the obvious. I’ll always remember each and every moment I lived in that series for the rest of my life. Getting those wickets, getting the Man of the Match award in his final Test is special. But those moments lived with Sachin paaji are even more special. That time has a special place in my life and I’m just grateful that I was part of that series.”