India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday took to Twitter and shared a photograph along with an emotional post in which he remembered his childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar on his birth annniversary.
The photograph shows a young Tendulkar holding the bat as Achrekar helps him. In the post, the 47-year-old thanked his mentor for guiding countless budding cricketers, including himself, and helping them realise their potential.
“Thinking of a person very close to my heart who helped countless young cricketers, including me, to realise their potential through the power of sport & character. Thank you for everything, Achrekar Sir,” Tendulkar tweeted.
Achrekar passed away at the age of 87 on January 2 last year.
Tendulkar, regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, had said that Achrekar had built the foundation of the batting legend’s career.
“Cricket in heaven will be enriched with the presence of Achrekar Sir. Like many of his students, I learnt my ABCD of cricket under Sir’s guidance. His contribution to my life cannot be captured in words. He built the foundation that I stand on,” Tendulkar had said after Achrekar’s death.
Tendulkar has 18,426 runs in ODIs with 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries while in the longest format of the game, he has scored 15,921 runs with the help of 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries in a career spanning over two decades.