Retiring legend Sachin Tendulkar single-handedly steered Mumbai to a 4-wicket win over Haryana in Ranji Trophy at the Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli on Wednesday. With this, his farewell game in domestic cricket concluded in a way befitting his iconic stature.
Remarkably, Tendulkar continued to make a calculated 175-ball unbeaten 79 at that moment when Mumbai required 39 runs more to win with 4 wickets in hand on the fourth and final day. No doubt he built his innings in a way that has been the hallmark of his later years.
By staying in the middle, Tendulkar ensured that he got prepared for next month's Test series against the West Indies, which will mark with the second as well as his landmark 200th Test in Mumbai, where he is scheduled to bring down the curtain on his glorious 24-year career with international cricket.
It is Mumbai, who after a sequence of shifts in momentum since the past three days, got the victory. All credit goes to Sachin Tendulkar for his continuous perseverance.
Beginning the day at 201 for six, Tendulkar, who was overnight on 55, guided Dhawal Kulkarni (16 not out) up to the last run that came when the young pacer struck Mohit Sharma for a boundary, which thrilled his Mumbai teammates, who had planned to gift the veteran with a victory in his last game for the state.
The crowd consisting of the home spectators, who had trooped into the stadium, didn't mind anyway, as it was Tendulkar, who was leading this successful chase.