It has been 9 years since Sachin Tendulkar’s retired from international cricket. On 16th November 2013, the whole country felt emotional when the legendary player walked off the field for one last time.

Fans across the world showered tributes on his 24-year illustrious career but Sachin recalled a ‘priceless’ gift received from a young Virat Kohli. On a Youtube show with American journalist Graham Bensinger, Sachin Tendulkar recalled the moment which made him very emotional.

Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar [Image Courtesy: Twitter]

“I was really emotional and couldn’t control my tears”- Sachin Tendulkar

“Oh, I still remember it. I had just returned to the change room and I was in tears. Till then, I knew that yes, I am going to retire but when that ball was done, I said to myself… ‘Ok, that’s it. Never ever in your life, you will walk out on the field as an international player for India’.

“So I was sitting in one corner alone with a towel on my head and wiping tears. I was really emotional and couldn’t control my tears. Virat came to me at that time, and he gave me the sacred thread that his father had given him,” Sachin spoke to Graham Bensinger.

Though later he returned it to Virat, saying that it is priceless and belonged to him only.

“I kept that for a while and returned it to him. told him it is priceless. This has to stay with you. This is yours and no one else’s. You should have it till your last breath. And I gave it back to him. So that was an emotional moment… something that will always be with me in my memory forever,” he added.

2 years back, Virat Kohli also shared that special moment on the same show. Kohli recalled that it was the most valuable thing so he decided to present it to him as a gesture of the utmost respect for the greatest cricketer.

“We usually wear threads around our wrists. In India, a lot of people do. So my father gave one to me which he used to have.

“So, I used to keep that in my bag. And then I thought this is the most valuable thing I have so it was like ‘my father gave this to me and I couldn’t give you anything more valuable. I just want you to know how much you have inspired me and how much you mean to all of us. This is my little gift to you,” Kohli had said.

Sachin Tendulkar represented India in 200 Tests, 463 ODIs, and one T20I. And he still holds most of the top batting records in Tests and ODIs.

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