Sachin Tendulkar's coach Ramakant Achrekar passes away

Dronacharya awardee cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, who is credited with shaping the early career of Sachin Tendulkar, died on Wednesday.

Ramakant Achrekar, the Legendary coach, who shaped Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 86.

A family member told PTI that he passed away owing to old-age related ailments.

"He (Archrekar Sir) is no more with us. He passed away this evening," said his kin Rashmi Dalvi.

Best known for being the childhood coach of Tendulkar, who has always acknowledged him as his mentor, Achrekar was also a Padmashri and Dronacharya awardee. Achrekar was bestowed with the Dronacharya award in 1990 and the Padmashri award in 2010.

Achrekar competed in just one first-class match in his playing career but discovered and shaped the biggest batsman in international cricket after Sir Donald Bradman in Tendulkar.

Achrekar has always been acknowledged by the celebrated right-hander for the role he played in shaping his career as a child.

Tendulkar was coached by Achrekar at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai and it was he who suggested Tendulkar switch schools for a better cricketing career when he was barely 11.

"Sir did not say well-played to me ever, (but) I knew (when) Sir has taken me to have bhelpuri or paani-puri, Sir is happy, I have done something nice on the field," Tendulkar had said last year at an event while recalling Achrekar's contribution in making him the cricketer he became.

Besides Tendulkar, he also coached some prominent players in Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Sameer Dighe and Balwinder Singh Sandhu.