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Sachin Tendulkar ended his long international career in 2013 after playing his 200th Test match against the West Indies. He played his final Test match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he scored a half-century.

 

Sandeep Patil, a former cricketer and selector, has shared an interesting story from that time. Patil, who was the chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 2012 to 2016, said the selection committee had started thinking about Tendulkar’s retirement almost a year earlier.

 

The committee, according to Patil, expressed concern about the senior batter's poor performance during 2012 and early 2013. The selectors began their search for a replacement player after the team member suffered from that condition.

 

Conversation that surprised Tendulkar

 

Patil also spoke about a personal conversation he had with Tendulkar during that time. The former selector said the discussion left the Indian legend surprised.

 

Sandeep Patil told journalist Vickey Lalwani during his interview that he asked Tendulkar about his future plans.

 

Tendulkar asked, 'What are your plans?' I told him the committee was looking for a replacement. He was shocked. He called me again - are you serious? I said yes.”

 

The former selector said he faced challenges during the discussion because Tendulkar held the status of most revered player among all players in Indian cricket history.

 

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Selectors not Credited for Other Decisions

 

Patil stated that people only remember Tendulkar's retirement discussions and that they never acknowledge his other decision-making activities.

 

The same selection committee, according to him, introduced various players who later became important members of the Indian team.

 

He pointed out that players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane were backed during that period.

 

The public, according to Patil, avoids discussing the decisions that were made during that time.

 

Sandeep Patil said:

 

“I understand why people were angry. He is Sachin Tendulkar. But Shami came in. Bumrah came in. Ashwin, Jadeja, Rahane. Nobody talks about those picks. They only remember that we dropped Sachin.”

 

A Historic Farewell in Mumbai

 

Tendulkar announced his retirement from cricket before India’s Test series against the West Indies in 2013. His last match became his historic 200th Test appearance.

 

The Mumbai crowd saw Tendulkar score 74 runs from 118 balls, which included 12 boundaries.

 

The series was also special because Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami made their Test debuts during the same series.

 

Tendulkar achived multiple international cricket records, which he still holds despite his retirement several years ago. He remains the highest run scorer in international cricket with 34,357 runs and has scored 100 international centuries.