Can never, ever, forget what I witnessed that year.
A desert storm, a birthday hundred and a ballistic Tony Greig. A straight six off Warne when he starts around the wicket. Another straight six off Kasprowicz. "Whaddaplayaa," screeches Greig. It imprints itself in your head
1998 The year Tendulkar dominated Australia with two Test hundreds and four ODI centuries, three of which were in a row. His twin innings in Sharjah were the highlights of a year during which he gave Shane Warne nightmares by the bowler's own admission
Never kept up with this fact.
1996 Tendulkar became the first batsman to score more than 500 runs in a World Cup. His tally ended on 523, with this stumping against Sri Lanka, in the semi-final, which India lost.
2003 Tendulkar scored 98 of his record tally of 673 World Cup runs in one unforgettable innings against Pakistan in Centurion. The defining moment was a savage upper cut against Shoaib Akhtar that sailed over the third-man boundary. Tendulkar marshalled India to the final, where their bowlers conceded 359 runs against Australia. The Man-of-the-Series bauble was little consolation
Of course, the first man to score a double century in ODI's, truly deserved it.
And finally, the moment he wanted for the lifetime.
I've grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar play the game of cricket. I turned out to be a fan of the game watching him bat. His cricket career went along as my years turned up from 5-25. Every time he was on the field, I wouldn't want to miss a ball in action. There were many times when I turned the tv off when he was out. Every time he was on the field with the bat, the opponent knows that he is the biggest threat there is.
It is amazing how he kept up with the game. The game was much different when I started watching it, around the 90's to what there is now in the international cricket. I don't even know how it is possible to evolve to the game as he did, with all the old players, young players, players who have come and gone.
With all that said and done, I think I am the biggest Tendulkar fan there is, I am sure there are millions others who think this way but I like to call myself one. What I can say or tell is that the game of cricket in my mind will never be the same without him. Till I die and as long as I watch cricket, I don't think I can never forget what I have seen him do with that 'MRF' bat of his.
Good bye from the ODI's, my old friend. Cricket will just never be the same without you
P.S. As you guys already mentioned, I wish he announced his retirement and played one final game in India just to say goodbye to that blue dress, his country and most importantly his fans.