Playing It My Way: My Autobiography (61 page)

We see it on the mega-screen, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav – Anil is not here – and my team-mates right here in front of me. You are, you are like my family away from home. I have had some wonderful times with you … it’s going to be difficult not to be part of the dressing room, sharing those special moments. All the coaches, for, for their guidance, it has been special for me. I know when MS Dhoni presented me the 200th Test match cap on day one morning, I had a brief message for the team. I would like to repeat that: I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and proud to be part of the Indian cricket team, serving the nation. Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit and the right values. I believe, I believe we have been the lucky ones to have been chosen by the Almighty to serve this wonderful sport. Each generation gets this opportunity to merely take care of this sport and serve it to the best of our ability. I have full faith in you that you’ll continue to serve the nation in the right spirit, to the best of your ability, and bring all the laurels to our country. All the very best.

I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank all the doctors, the physios, the trainers, who’ve put this difficult body together to go back on the field and to be able to play. The amount of injuries that I’ve had in my career, I don’t know how you’ve managed to keep me fit, but without your special efforts, it would never have happened. I mean, the doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean, I have called them from Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi, wherever, and then they have just taken the next flight and they’ve left their work and they’ve come, they’ve treated me, which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all three of you for keeping me in good shape.

My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager – we unfortunately lost him in a car accident in 2002, but he was such a well-wisher of cricket, my cricket, especially Indian cricket. He was so passionate. He understood what it takes to represent a nation and gave me all the space to go out and express myself, and never pressurized me to do this ad or promotion, whatever the sponsors demanded. He took care of that and today I miss him, so thank you, Mark, for all your contribution.

My current, my current management team, WSG, for, for repeating what Mark has done, because when we signed the contract I exactly told them what I want from them and what it requires to be representing India. They have understood that and respected that, so thank you very much, WSG.

Someone who has worked closely with me for fourteen years is my manager, Vinod Naidu. He is more like my family and all the sacrifices, spending time away from his family for my work, has been special, so a big thank you to your family as well, for giving so much time for my work with Vinod.

In my schooldays, when I performed well, the media backed me a lot. You continue to do that till this morning. Thank you so much to all the media, for supporting me and appreciating my performances. It surely had a positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers as well, for those wonderful captured moments will stay with me for the rest of my life, so to all the photographers a big thank you.

I know my speech is getting a bit too long, but this is the last thing I want to say … I want to … I want to thank all the people here who’ve flown in from various parts of the world and supported me endlessly, whether I scored a zero or I scored a hundred-plus, whatever. Your support was so dear to me and it meant a lot to me.

Whatever you’ve done for me – I know I’ve met so many guys who’ve fasted for me, prayed for me, done all sorts of things for me – you know, without all that, life wouldn’t have been like this for me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories that you have left with me will always be with me for ever and ever, especially ‘Sachin, Sachin’. That will reverberate in my ears … till I stop breathing.

Thank you very much. If I’ve, if I’ve missed out on saying something, missed out on a few names, I hope you understand. Goodbye.

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

16 November 2013

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The best partnership of my life.

Ready to enjoy the game at the age of four.

In my mother’s arms at our apartment in Sahitya Sahawas.

I owe him everything – with my father, who taught me to be the person I am.

Packing my kitbag at my uncle and aunt’s place in Shivaji Park as a 14-year-old. I owe them so much.

With my coach Achrekar Sir. A nod of appreciation from him would make my day.

Inspecting one of my beloved bats with my father, as my mother looks on.

My first Test series, in Pakistan in 1989, was a baptism of fire.

During that series, Sanjay Manjrekar and I came across a court in Lahore and decided to try our hand at tennis.

After my first Test hundred, at Old Trafford in 1990. Little did I know that there were 99 to follow!