Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was on Sunday felicitated by the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium, which nearly touched its capacity of 8,000 spectators.
Tendulkar had, earlier this month, announced that he would call it a day after playing in his landmark 200th Test, against the West Indies from November 14-18.
Incidentally, in a Ranji final against Haryana in 1991, an 18-year-old Tendulkar bludgeoned his way to a smashing knock and threatened to take the game away from Kapil Dev's side.
Twenty-two years later, Tendulkar, now 40, is the lone surviving member of either team that played the five-day final at the Wankhede Stadium.
To mark the occasion, former India Test batsman VVS Laxman was also present along with a few players of the 1991 Ranji Trophy champions Haryana team to relive Sachin’s contribution and career.
At the start of play, players from both the teams lined up on two sides at the start of the match as the legendary batsman walked out to a standing ovation.
The HCA had also flown in Sachin’s friends – former India wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe, Faisal Momen and Jagdish Chavan from Mumbai to surprise the master as he took guard in one of the most anticipated domestic season opener at Lahli.
