Thousands are expected to queue up outside the ticket counters of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India’s cricketing ‘God’, Sachin Tendulkar will play his illustrious career’s last test, which is incidentally also his 200th, at the venue.
Most true-blue cricket fans would not find the media reporting ‘God is about to play his last innings’ as an instance of exaggeration for covering Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell test series!
In India, cricket is not just a sport, it’s a religion and cricketers are no less that Gods for their fans. But through the decades, one name has consistently stood out among cricket fanatics of the country; and why not? No cricketer till date has had a career as distinguished as Sachin Tendulkar’s. Popularly known as “Master Blaster”, this legend is set to retire from all forms of cricket at the end of the West Indies tour of India later this year. Fans, not just from across the country, but across the world are likely to turn up in hordes to capture unforgettable moments and pay tribute to the most well known sporting icon of India.
The first match of this forthcoming tour is to be played at the Eden Gardens of Kolkata, while the second and final test of the series scheduled for the 14th to 18th of November at Wankhede Stadium of Mumbai. Tickets to this event of a lifetime are expected to sell like hot cakes and cricket fans from across the world are sure to make their way to Mumbai on international and domestic flights. However, if news reports are to be believed not many tickets will be available for the general public at both the stadiums as officials, former players, celebrities and VIPs are likely to have grabbed quite a few.
The Last Hurrah in Mumbai
The last appearance of this legendary sportsman is set to be at his hometown of Mumbai, which will bear witness to an era coming to an end. The Wankhede Stadium will undoubtedly be host to one of its most thrilling, cheerful and perhaps emotional audience watching the man in action. What makes the event all the more special is that among the attendees would be present, for the first time, Sachin’s mother, watching him play his final and 200th test. But the crowd on the field will be nothing compared to the millions round the world who will tune in to watch the legend’s swansong.
Wankhede Stadium is truly a fitting location for Tendulkar’s final appearance. Not only because it is his home ground but also because this is where he made his first-class debut and scored a century.