THE END OF AN ERA

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai [14-18 November, 2013]. 

In October 2013, legendary Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement from Test cricket and all other formats of the game after the second Test against the West Indies in November 2013. He had previously retired from One Day Internationals (ODIs) in December 2012 and from Twenty20 cricket following his participation in the 2013 Champions League Twenty20, wherein his team Mumbai Indians clinched the title. Interestingly his final match would be his 200th Test. Furthermore at Tendulkar's request, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scheduled the match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, his home venue.

The match started with a special gold coin toss, conducted by Indian captain M. S. Dhoni, who opted to bowl first. The coin, featuring Tendulkar's image on one side and the MCA logo on the other, was given to Tendulkar as a keepsake, and 1000 replicas were distributed to dignitaries. Union Minister Kapil Sibal unveiled a postal stamp in honor of Tendulkar, making him the second Indian after Mother Teresa to receive such an honor during their lifetime.

The West Indies were dismissed for just 182 runs in 55.2 overs, with Kieran Powell top-scoring with 48 runs. Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha claimed five wickets. At the end of the innings, captain and wicketkeeper Dhoni reached 251 dismissals, becoming the seventh in history to do so. Right-arm off-break bowler Ravichandran Ashwin took his 100th Test wicket, achieving this milestone in just 18 Test matches. India's batting began with Murali Vijay scoring 43 runs. The day ended with India at 157 for two wickets, with Tendulkar (38) and Cheteshwar Pujara (34) at the crease.

On Day 2 Tendulkar and Pujara continued their innings, reaching scores of 74 and 113, respectively. Tendulkar notched up his 68th Test fifty but was dismissed for 74, missing his 101st international century. Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 111, scoring his second consecutive century. By the end of the second day, India had amassed a total of 495 runs, leading by 313 runs. Shane Shillingford recorded his fifth consecutive five-wicket haul in five innings. The day concluded with the West Indies at 43 for three wickets in their second inniings.

Resuming at 43, the West Indies were bowled out for just 187 on the third day. India won the match by an innings and 126 runs, completing a 2-0 series sweep. Ojha once again took five wickets in the innings. In an emotional farewell speech, Tendulkar thanked many people in his life and the audience, who responded with chants of "Thank you." Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook saw trending hashtags such as #ThankYouSachin, #SachinSachin, and #SRT200. Afterall it marked the end of an era.