Pressure and expectation follow Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest Indian cricketer of all time, and who knows what pressure he felt when he delivered this speech in Mumbai on this day in 2013, retiring from the game he had dominated for twenty years. But he rose to the occasion, his thankyous were heartfelt and personal, he managed to capture a little of the colossal journey, and he played the crowd like the master he has always been.

My cricket career started when I was 11. The turning point of my career was when my brother (Ajit) took me to Achrekar Sir. I was extremely delighted to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in front of the television and he watches all the games that I play. When I was 11 or 12, those were the days when I used to hop back on his scooter and play a couple of practice matches a day. The first half the innings I would be batting at Shivaji Park, the second half, at some other match in Azad Maidan. He would take me all over Mumbai to make sure I got match practice.

On a lighter note, in the last 29 years, Sir has never ever said 'well played' to me because he thought I would get complacent and I would stop working hard. Maybe he can push his luck and wish me now, well done on my career, because there are no more matches, Sir, in my life. I will be witnessing cricket, and cricket will always stay in my heart, but you have had an immense contribution in my life, so thank you very much.

Sachin doesn’t leave anyone out. The BCCI, ex teammates, his family, agents, the media. There might be some who criticise the speech for being too smooth, too perfect even, because it’s a little light on for stories, but stacked with professionalism and poise. But at its conclusion, a nation’s greatest ever cricketer is talking about the ‘Sachin, Sachin’ and the crowd is chanting ‘Sachin, Sachin’ and if you love cricket and you’ve never heard it, you really should.

I know my speech is getting a bit too long (crowd roars with 'noooo'), but this is the last thing I want to say. I want to thank all the people here who have flown in from various parts of the world, and have supported me endlessly, whether I scored a 0 or a 100-plus. Your support was so dear to me and meant a lot to me. Whatever you have done for me.

I know I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, prayed for me, done so much for me. Without that life wouldn't have been like this for me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories you have left with me will always be with me forever and ever, especially "Sachin, Sachin" which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing. Thank you very much. If I have missed out on saying something, I hope you understand. Goodbye.

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