What’s next for Tendulkar?

NEW DELHI: Retired sports stars often struggle to build a life away from the game, but for record-breaking cricketer Sachin Tendulkar the transition will be particularly painful. The Indian batsman admitted he never imagined life beyond cricket as he pursued his passion for most of his 40 years-more than half of them as an international player. “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,” Tendulkar said Thursday as he announced his retirement. “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.” The Mumbai batsman, who said he will retire after playing his 200th Test next month, will at least not have to worry about where his next rupee is coming from. The multi-millionaire is listed by Forbes among the world’s highest-paid sportsper- sons, with annual earnings of $18.6 million — $16.5 million from endorsements and $2.1 mil- lion from cricket-in the financial year that end- ed in June. Tendulkar, who has millions of devoted fans, already serves in India’s parliament, the first active sportsperson to do so. But the vet- eran will almost certainly be offered a job as a commentator, while former cricketers are hop- ing he takes up coaching. Tendulkar accepted a government offer last GWALIOR: In this photograph taken on February 24, 2010, Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar throws his arms up into the air as he celebrates scoring year to take up a seat in parliament’s upper a world record-breaking double century (200 runs) during the second One Day International (ODI) cricket match against South Africa. — AFP house. The special category is usually reserved for those contributing to the arts, sciences or social services. Many were surprised that someone who has steered clear of controversy ‘Little Master’ to had decided to enter India’s muck-raking world of politics, but Tendulkar was deter- mined to make his six-year tenure count. “I am in a better position not only to help cricket but also other sports in the country,” he hang up his bat said soon after his swearing-in last June. “I would be happy if I am remembered as someone who has contributed to all sports in NEW DELHI: India’s record-breaking batsman longer format came against South Africa in old when he shared a then-world record part- India rather than just my cricket statistics.” Sachin Tendulkar announced yesterday that he January 2011. nership of 664 runs in a school match with A lucrative career in television commentary will retire after his 200th Test next month, call- Tendulkar retired from one-day internation- Vinod Kambli, who would also go on to play for is an option for Tendulkar, following in the ing time on an extraordinary career that lasted als late last year and played his last Twenty20 India. Legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar footsteps of a host of international cricketers. nearly a quarter of a century. match earlier this month in an appearance for once said he was convinced Tendulkar would He would be in good company alongside for- Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in both the Mumbai Indians. achieve greatness when he first saw him bat in mer team-mates like Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Test and one-day cricket and the only batsman Tendulkar captained India for several years the nets more than two decades ago. Sanjay Manjrekar, Navjot Sidhu, Rahul Dravid to make 100 international centuries, said he had but the high point of his career came in 2011 “It is hard to imagine any player in the history and Sourav Ganguly. been “living a dream” since his debut in 1989, when, in his sixth World Cup, he helped India of the game who combines classical technique The soft-spoken introvert may not be an but recognised it was now time to call it quits. win the coveted one-day title at home in with raw aggression like the little champion ideal candidate, but a senior TV executive said “It’s been a huge honor to have represented my Mumbai. Known as the “Little Master”, he has does. There is not a single shot he cannot play,” production houses will still queue up to sign country and played all over the world,” he said been widely hailed by his contemporaries as said Gavaskar. Former captain and team-mate the “Little Master”. in a statement. “I look forward to playing my second only to the Australian legend Sir Donald Sourav Ganguly said on Thursday no praise was “Sachin is too big a player not to attract TV too high for Tendulkar. companies,” said the executive, who did not “It’s not just the talent he was born with, but want to be named. “What he says is worth its what he did with it,” Ganguly told NDTV news weight in gold.” Tendulkar to retire channel. Kris Srikkanth, Tendulkar’s first Test Kapil, who played alongside Tendulkar in captain, said: “Sachin is still the same person I the Indian team from 1989 to 1994, hoped the saw in 1989. That’s his greatness not just as a master batsman would devote some time to th cricketer but as a human being.” coaching young players. after 200 Test Anil Kumble, who shared a long association “Sachin will have many options before him, with Tendulkar in the Indian side, told the but I wish he will also spare time to pass on his 200th Test on home soil, as I call it a day.” India Bradman in the pantheon of batting greats. Wisden India website it was time to celebrate invaluable knowledge to youngsters,” Kapil will play a two-Test series against the West Australia’s Shane Warne, who was considered “an incredible career”. “It will be a sad moment told AFP. “They will hang on to every word of Indies at home next month which would enable one of his generation’s finest spinners along for everyone who follows the game, but it is also his.” Tendulkar, who has already played 198 Test with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, said no a moment to celebrate an incredible career,” he Tendulkar misses no opportunity these matches, to become the first cricketer to reach one else came close to Tendulkar in his prime. said. “He is a great player, a great ambassador days to spend time with wife Anjali and their the 200 landmark. Tendulkar, 40, said he found “Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best for cricket and he has inspired many in the two children, Sara and Arjun, which effectively it hard to imagine life without cricket “because player without a doubt-daylight second, Brian younger generation to pick up the sport. Surely, rules out a travelling job with the Indian team it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old”. Lara third,” said Warne. Tendulkar, who is now he will be missed. I wish he finishes on a high. in the immediate future. Charity work will also kdlk’llh