Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketer, and Sachin Tendulkar, the human being. In his first interview to a publication after his tour of the United States where he organised the Cricket All-Stars tournament featuring yesteryear greats of the game, Tendulkar opened up like never before to The Hindu: about life after retirement, his children, his love for Mumbai, and how he plans to give back to his country.
What explains the fact that the former India cricket captain continues to occupy India’s collective consciousness even without that heavy willow? Happily retired but just as busy as any other 42-year-old, Tendulkar says he is experiencing the other joys of life, like cooking for his family, catching up with friends, and taking his beloved game to the U.S., a country where cricket is not popular. But he knows there’s no escaping the pressures of fatherhood, especially because his kids are in their teens. “I haven’t travelled in a Mumbai local since 1988,” he said.
As much as he is synonymous with cricket, Tendulkar is tantamount to Mumbai. Yet, thanks to his immense fan following ever since he burst on the city’s cricketing landscape three decades ago, Tendulkar’s movements in his beloved city have been restricted. And he has no qualms about it.
In a freewheeling chat with The Hindu, Tendulkar opens up on his relationship with Mumbai, its rich cricket legacy and how despite two years of his retirement, he still cannot spend as much time with his children as he would have liked to.
It’s been a little over two years since you made that very emotional thanksgiving speech at the Wankhede Stadium on November 16, 2013. Do you still think about that speech/have you kept those pages?
I have kept the page. I had just written the names of all the people I wanted to thank and did not want to miss anyone out.
During that speech you said your father told you there are no short cuts to life and to success…
Yes, my father did tell me that there are no short cuts to success in life, while I have passed on these to my children as a guiding principle I have also endeavoured to not pressure my children much in the same way that my family did not pressure me. Family is key to an individual’s success and we must always be supportive and less judgmental on our children’s achievements. I am happy with any result as long as my children have done their best and know that we support them.