'Pleasant Surprise': Sachin Tendulkar On Life-Size Statue To Be Erected At Wankhede Stadium

Sachin Tendulkar's last Test match for India was also at the Wankhede Stadium against West Indies.

Starting his career in 1989 as a teenager, the right-handed batter went on to play 200 Test matches for the country.

Source : PTI

10 years after he retired from cricket, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to erect a life-size statue of legendary cricketers Sachin Tendulkar at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Not only did Tendulkar's career begin here but he even won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011 at this venue before playing his last match-ever for the country in the same stadium.

The development was confirmed in a report carried by Indian Express. It is being reported that the statue will be unveiled during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

"It will be the first statue in Wankhede Stadium, we will decide where it will be placed," Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President Amol Kale was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

And now the cricketing icon has himself reacted to the development. 

"Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup," he told News Agency ANI.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On his life-size statue being erected inside Wankhede stadium by MCA, Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar says, "Pleasant surprise. My career started here. It was a journey with unbelievable memories. Best moment of my career came here when we won 2011 World Cup..." pic.twitter.com/OAHPP7QkSB

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2023

Tendulkar said that the location identified for the statue to be installed is right in front of the club house inside the stadium premises which could be easily accessed by everyone visiting the stadium.

#WATCH | On his life-size statue being erected inside Wankhede stadium,Sachin Tendulkar says, "...My career started from this ground. My life's biggest cricketing moment was in 2011 when we won World Cup, last game I played in 2013.All big moments, most of them, happened here..." pic.twitter.com/lRF90cXG9z

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2023

Notably, Tendulkar still holds several records in international cricket- be it the most number of runs, hundreds, half-centuries or appearances in ODIs and Test matches. Starting his career in 1989 as a teenager, the right-handed batter went on to play 200 Test matches for the country in addition to 463 ODIs, accumulating 15,921 and 18,426 runs in them respectively. He scored a sensational 100 International centuries a record which is being chased by Virat Kohli.

Despite a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar only managed to win the ODI World Cup in his sixth and final attempt in 2011. Fittingly, India lifted the Trophy at the Master Blaster's home ground as the Men in Blue lifted him on their shoulders as he India did a victory parade.