NEW DELHI: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar reflected on Thursday about the memorable 2011 World Cup victory, expressing his desire to experience it once more. Tendulkar, along with his wife Anjali and daughter Sara, visited President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. The 51-year-old shared his thoughts during the occasion.
At the Rashtrapati Bhavan Vimarsh Shrinkhala on Thursday, Tendulkar expressed that the 2011 World Cup victory was his life’s finest achievement.
“2011 World Cup is a memory I would like to relive. The journey and dream that started in 1983. I made many attempts, failed but never lost hope. So, that’s the best moment of my life,” Sachin Tendulkar during an event at Rashtrapati Bhavan Vimarsh Shrinkhala.
The final match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in 2011 saw India defeat Sri Lanka by six wickets. Sri Lanka batted first, scoring 274/6 in 50 overs, with Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 103, contributions from Kumar Sangakkara (48), Nuwan Kulasekara (32) and Thisara Perera (22*). Indian bowlers Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan claimed two wickets each, while Harbhajan Singh took one.
In response, despite losing Sehwag (0) and Tendulkar (18) early, India prevailed. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (35) established an 83-run partnership. Gambhir scored 97 runs, partnering with captain MS Dhoni (91*) for a 109-run fourth-wicket stand. Dhoni and Yuvraj (21*) secured victory with an unbeaten 54-run partnership, ending India’s 28-year World Cup drought.
Tendulkar also acknowledged his childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar.
“Archerakar Sir played a great part in my life. He used to take me to 5 different nets to bat during summer holidays. He used to ensure that we never took short cuts that made me mentally strong,” the 51-year-old added.
Achrekar, who passed away aged 87 on January 2, 2019, received the Dronacharya Award in 1990 for coaching excellence and the Padma Shri Award in 2010.
On Saturday, Tendulkar received the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI Awards in Mumbai. He maintains records for highest runs in Test and ODIs, including 100 centuries.
Revered as the ‘God of Cricket’, Tendulkar entertained audiences globally from 1989 to 2013. His Test debut occurred on November 15, 1989, at age 16, followed by his ODI debut on December 18 that year.
Tendulkar accumulated 34,357 runs across 664 international matches, averaging 48.52, remaining the highest international run-scorer. His achievements include 100 centuries, 164 half-centuries, becoming the first ODI double centurion, and playing 200 Test matches.
His ODI career yielded 18,426 runs at 44.83 average, with 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries. In Tests, he scored 15,921 runs, averaging 53.78, with 51 centuries and 68 fifties. His World Cup journey, beginning in 1992, culminated with victory in 2011.
