"It hasn't struck me that I won't play cricket again" - excerpts from Sachin Tendulkar press conference

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar attended his first press conference after retiring from cricket. Tendulkar appeared in his India blazer and answered all the questions with a lot of charm and wit.

Here are the excerpts of the press conference:

Sachin Tendulkar: I played cricket for 24 years for India, and that was a great thing for me. I faced lots of challenges, but the desire to play for India was so strong that we came up with solutions to those challenges. It was a dream journey, with my family and friends supporting.

Sachin Tendulkar: It hasn’t struck me that I won’t play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I ma leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. An enjoyable journey.

Sachin Tendulkar: Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket. 75% of my life has been cricket, so there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement.

Sachin Tendulkar: I was enjoying cricket still. I have always said the day I felt I should stop playing, I would inform you. I got that feeling, because after 24 years, you have to appreciate .. had many injuries, not easy to overcome. You reach a stage when your body gives you a message, enough of this physical load. The body requires rest. The body is not able to take more load consistently.

Sachin Tendulkar: When I requested BCCI to keep the last match in Mumbai, since my mother had never seen me play enough one ball live, I wanted it to be a surprise for her that I’m making this arrangement, but thanks to you, she came to know about it in advance.

Sachin Tendulkar: Even though physically I’m not playing for India, in my heart I’ll always be playing for India. It doesn’t matter whether I am part of the team or not. Not just in cricket, in other fields as well, India comes first.

Sachin Tendulkar: Yesterday I said that, this award (Bharat Ratna) is for my mother, because of all the sacrifices she made for me.

Sachin Tendulkar: As a child, you don’t understand life.. when you grow up, you realise all these things. It is not just for my mother, not just my mother, but there are millions and millions of mothers in India who sacrifice many things for their children. I would like to share my award with them.

Sachin Tendulkar: I’m humbled and honoured to be given the Bharat Ratna.

Sachin Tendulkar: The award belongs to the entire nation, I’d say. At this stage, I would like to congratulate Prof CNR Rao for getting the Bharat Ratna. It is an honour to get the award with him, his contribution to the field of science is immense, it’s only that cricket is played in front of thousands of people.

Sachin Tendulkar: West Indies have world-class players. There have been ups an downs for everyone, certain times things don’t work out, I think this series was one of those times. I think they are a terrific side, they play the game in the right spirit.

Sachin Tendulkar on how he felt this morning: When I woke up this morning (at 6.50am), well I don’t need to quickly have a shower and get ready for the match. I enjoyed a quiet breakfast with my wife, lot of guys sent me their best wishes, I spent a lot of time thanking them. Morning was relaxed, and then here I am in front of you.

Sachin Tendulkar on how his brother Ajit reacted to the retirement decision: As I said in my speech it was a dream that we lived together. I was representing the country and Ajit. It’s difficult to put into words what he has done for me. Yesterday, he was emotional but wasn’t showing it to me. At the same time, he was also relieved and relaxed. because the way I retired and the way people responded, you can’t plan it. That’s decided by God and I pray to God that he showed me a day after which I cannot ask for anymore. Ajit had the same feeling. We didn’t talk too much but from whatever we spoke, he was relieved that everything had happened well.

Sachin Tendulkar: The first moment when I went on the wicket and stood between the 22 yards, I realised this was the last time I was in front of a packed stadium as part of the Indian team. That made me quite emotional, that I wouldn’t have a bat in my hand, playing for India.

Sachin Tendulkar: While I walked back to the dressing room, I didn’t look up when shaking hands with many of the WI team members, because I was in tears.

Sachin Tendulkar on Arjun: I would ask you as a father to leave him alone. You can’t see just because since his father has performed in a certain way, he also has to perform the same way. My father was a professor, so why didn’t you ask him why your son hasn’t taken up the pen. Arjun is madly in love with cricket, that is what matters, performances – whether they happen or not, I don’t want to put any pressure on him, and I hope you don’t either.

Sachin Tendulkar on best moment: When we won the World Cup two years ago. I had to wait 22 years for it, that has to be a special moment. Yesterday, the way people responded, I don’t know how to react to that, I want to say a big ‘Tahnk you’ to everyone, so that was also special.