Sachin Tendulkar (Getty Images)
Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the greatest batsman the game has ever seen, having spent more than two decades dominating world cricket. But even for a legend of his stature, 2012 proved to be one of the most challenging phases of his remarkable career. Just months after fulfilling his lifelong dream of lifting the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Tendulkar suddenly found himself plagued by poor form and mounting questions about his future. India endured disastrous overseas tours in England and Australia, suffering back-to-back 0-4 defeats. Tendulkar managed 560 runs in eight Tests across the two tours, hitting four half-centuries but failed to reach the hundred that the cricket world was eagerly awaiting. The pressure to achieve his 100th international century increased with each innings.
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Things did not improve when England visited India later that year.
The hosts lost the series at home, and Tendulkar’s struggles continued. Across four Tests, he scored just 112 runs at an average of 18.6, raising fresh concerns about his future. Around the same time, several of his teammates had already bid farewell to the game. Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and
VVS Laxman
They all retired, leaving Tendulkar as the last remaining pillar of India’s famous batting generation. Many believe the next decision may relate to the man widely called the ‘God of Cricket’.
During this uncertain period, the then Chairman of the Board of Directors
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
selection committee,
Sandeep
Patel decided to have a frank discussion with the 39-year-old. “I remember the last day of the Nagpur Test when we lost to England in 2012. My select mate, Rajendra Singh Hans, and I went to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to get permission to meet Sachin Tendulkar. We got the director’s permission and invited Tendulkar.
I asked him, as president, what are your plans? The selection committee decided that his contributions did not help the team. The whole country turned against me, but we never brought him down.
“He announced his retirement from ODIs first and then Tests,” Patel said on Vickey Lalwani’s podcast. The conversation surprised Tendulkar. “He was surprised and rightly so. He said why?” You said the committee felt we needed to consider your replacement, and he was shocked. He called me back and asked: Are you serious? I said yes. Later, when he decided to retire, he called me and said, “Sandy, I’m announcing my retirement.” I feel sad that we had to make such a harsh decision. But look at the player who entered –
Ajinkya Rahane
“. Patel also revealed that Tendulkar initially had no intention of stepping down. According to him, the batting icon clearly said after their meeting that he wants to continue playing. However, within a week, Tendulkar announced his retirement from One Day Internationals just days before India were scheduled to face Pakistan in a three-match series. The Mumbai legend continued in Test cricket for another year, although the magical consistency that defined his career was no longer there.
During the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India won 4-0 over Australia, Tendulkar scored 192 runs at an average of 32, with 81 being his highest score. A few months later, he stepped away from the Indian Premier League before eventually announcing his retirement from international cricket after a farewell Test series against the West Indies cricket team at home. When the curtain finally came down on his extraordinary journey, Tendulkar left the game with over 34,000 ODI runs and the historic distinction of becoming the first cricketer to play 200 Test matches, bringing to an end one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.