The iconic Sachin Tendulkar was deeply honored and humbled during the unveiling of a statue dedicated to him at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The ceremony featured a traditional Indian dhol drum performance, a strong police presence, and a throng of photographers and television crews.
With the press of a button, the statue, crafted by local sculptor Pramod Kamble, was unveiled amidst a spectacular display of fireworks and streamers. This lifelike statue is prominently situated near the Sachin Tendulkar stand, offering a square-on view of the field, with the 'Little Master' immortalized in the act of executing his iconic straight drive.
While many cricket grounds bear the names of legendary players, it's a rare sight to see statues of living cricketers, and even rarer to find them inside a cricket venue.
"It is indeed a special moment for me," Sachin Tendulkar said following the unveiling.
"I am truly humbled when I stand here. I go to this ground - there are thousands of images that come to my head and thoughts, so many incredible memories. It is truly an honor to walk on this turf which has given me everything in life," he added.
Tendulkar fondly reminisced about his first visit to the Wankhede Stadium as a 10-year-old in 1983, where he witnessed India taking on the West Indies shortly after India's historic World Cup victory at Lord's. Remarkably, he was part of a group of 25, including his older brother, even though they had only 24 tickets.
"But somehow they snuck this small 10-year-old boy into the ground. It was a seat that was not used to being occupied. So I had no choice but to make a hundred," Tendulkar added.
Sachin Tendulkar culminated his illustrious career at the Wankhede Stadium during his 200th and final test match against the West Indies in 2013. His career records include an astounding 15,921 runs and 51 Test centuries, both all-time records.
In addition to his Test accomplishments, Tendulkar notched 49 centuries in 463 ODIs for the Indian cricket team, accumulating a staggering 18,426 runs, setting yet more all-time records. He remains the only batsman to have scored 100 international centuries.
However, the zenith of Tendulkar's career was reached at the Wankhede Stadium when he was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team against Sri Lanka. He described this victory as "the proudest moment of my life." This win marked India's second World Cup title, following their 1983 victory, which significantly inspired Tendulkar's enduring commitment to the sport of cricket. The statue at Wankhede Stadium stands as a fitting tribute to this cricket legend and his enduring contributions to the game.
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