Indian cricketer SACHIN TENDULKAR, the world's most prolific int'l run-scorer, "will retire after playing his 200th test match at home against West Indies next month," according to Sudipto Ganguly of REUTERS. The 40-year-old "has compiled a record 100 international centuries." Tendulkar said, "All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years. It's hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it's all I have ever done since I was 11 years old." Talk of Tendulkar's retirement "had polarised opinions in the cricket-mad nation and speculation was rife" after the Board of Control for Cricket India announced a "two-test series at home in November against the Caribbean side" (REUTERS, 10/10). The BBC reported "Tendulkar's final appearances will also take place in India." Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test appearances, "with Australians RICKY PONTING and STEVE WAUGH joint second on 168." BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said on Twitter, "Perfect symmetry to Sachin's retirement: 200th Test, not confirmed, surely to be played in Mumbai. Also a charming man to deal with, which I have been fortunate to do many times." Former England captain MICHAEL VAUGHAN tweeted, "One of the greatest ever Sachin Tendulkar is retiring. One of my heroes and an absolute joy to play against" (BBC, 10/10). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Mallet & Wembridge wrote the 5-foot-6 player, affectionately known as "Little Master," is a "superstar for Indian cricket fans of all creeds from Kashmir to the far south and is admired worldwide for his prowess with the bat." He broke numerous run-scoring records, "leading India's renaissance as a power in world cricket, and is often compared with the Australian DON BRADMAN and VIV RICHARDS of West Indies, both of whom were knighted for their services to cricket." Amid blanket coverage across Indian TV news channels of the cricketer's retirement, Indian politician and author SHASHI THAROOR said, "It's an extraordinary career. The greatest Indian ever to wield a cricket bat" (FT, 10/10).
END OF AN ERA: The PTI reported former BCCI President SHARAD PAWAR on Thursday said that "Sachin Tendulkar's decision to quit Test cricket marks the end of a golden era." Pawar: "Sachin Tendulkar's decision to retire from Test cricket marks the end of a golden era for not only Indian cricket but of cricket world over. He strode the arena of cricket like a colossus and in his long innings, established many a milestones for himself and the game" (PTI, 10/10). The PTI also reported BCCI President N. SRINIVASAN "paid glowing tributes" to Tendulkar. Srinivasan: "No one has served Indian cricket as Sachin has. He has been an inspiration for generations of sportsmen not just cricketers. We respect his decision to retire although many of us can't imagine an Indian team without Sachin" (PTI, 10/10). The PTI reported Ponting once said that "he would probably be batting in a wheelchair if he survived in world cricket as long as Sachin Tendulkar." Former India opener SUNIL GAVASKAR: "It is hard to imagine any player in the history of the game who combines classical technique with raw aggression like the little champion does. There is not a single shot he cannot play." In his book, "Shane Warne's century," Australian cricketer SHANE WARNE wrote, "The way he conducts himself and handles fame and everything that goes with being Sachin is a great example for all sportsmen" (AFP, 10/10). The PTI reported "tributes poured in from across the cricketing world." Gavaskar: "It has left such a big hole to fill in the Indian Test batting line-up. It wouldn't be easy to replace him." Another former India captain and Tendulkar's long-time teammate, SOURAV GANGULY, said that Tendulkar "made the right decision by announcing his retirement before the start of the West Indies series." Ganguly: "It's the right decision and he has done it at the right time. ... I will request the people of this country to come for these Two Test matches, whether in Kolkata or Mumbai, just to show their respect to this great man." Former cricket captain MOHAMMAD AZHARUDDIN said that Tendulkar's decision "wasn't surprising." Azharuddin: "It was coming for sure but I didn't have the clue as to when it was coming. But it's his decision and we must respect it" (PTI, 10/10).
