Sachin Tendulkar and Viv Richards in a Frame
Over the last five years, he has averaged just 32, and talks of retirement have started. But sometimes, all a player needs is a bit of motivation to keep going. That’s what happened with Sachin Tendulkar back in 2007. After India’s poor performance in the ODI World Cup, Sachin was also thinking about retiring. But a special conversation with West Indies legend Vivian Richards changed everything. Richards reminded Sachin of his greatness and urged him to continue. That advice gave him the confidence to stay, and he went on to play many more match-winning innings for India.
The Runners-Up of the 2003 ODI World Cup and the team who had carried the hopes of a billion fans, India had a shocking exit in the group stage of the 2007 ODI World Cup. Under coach Greg Chappell, India’s batting order was completely shuffled, making the team unstable and uncertain. This lack of consistency was clearly visible in the tournament. India started their campaign with a crushing 5-wicket loss to Bangladesh after scoring just 191 runs. This unexpected defeat put immediate pressure on the team. They bounced back in the next match with a huge 257-run win over Bermuda, posting a massive 413 for 5, still one of the highest World Cup totals.
However, the final group match against Sri Lanka was do-or-die. Chasing 255, India collapsed for just 185, losing the match by 69 runs. With only one win from three matches, India finished third in the group and failed to qualify for the Super Eight stage. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced, while India and Bermuda were knocked out. This early exit was a huge low point for Indian cricket as the decision to constantly change the batting order proved costly. Fans and experts blamed poor team planning and unstable leadership for one of the most disappointing campaigns in India’s World Cup history.
For the Indian team, the 2007 ODI World Cup was being treated as a campaign where they would be able to go one step further after they finished as the Runners-Up in the 2003 ODI World Cup Finals, but it turned out to be the biggest disappointment for the Indian team as they were thrashed out of the World Cup in the group stage itself. Even Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t able to perform well for the team, as in the 3 matches played, he had scored just 64 runs from 58 balls while averaging just 32.00 with the bat and maintaining a strike rate of 110.34.
The early exit brought a storm of criticism from fans, media, and former cricketers as this disappointment deeply affected Tendulkar and having played in every World Cup since 1992, he had dreamt of lifting the trophy one day, but after this performance, he felt he had let the team and the nation down. In his own words, he was sure about quitting cricket as the atmosphere around Indian cricket was toxic, and the direction of the team under coach Greg Chappell was under serious doubt. There was unrest in the dressing room, and players, including Tendulkar, were unsure of the future.
At this low point, Tendulkar decided to take a break and spend time at his farmhouse, away from the public and the media. He was mentally exhausted and emotionally drained. That’s when two important voices stepped in, his elder brother and one of his idols, Sir Vivian Richards. Sachin said:
I felt that was it. At that stage lot of things happening around Indian cricket were not at all healthy. We needed some changes and I felt if those changes did not happen, then I was going to quit cricket. I was almost 90 per cent sure of quitting cricket. But my brother told me in 2011, there is a World Cup final in Mumbai, can you imagine holding that beautiful trophy in your hand?
His brother reminded him of the 2011 World Cup final that was to be played in Mumbai. He asked Sachin to imagine himself holding that World Cup trophy in front of his home crowd. That single thought reignited a flicker of hope. But the real turning point came when he received a call from West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards. It wasn’t a casual talk as it turned into a heartfelt 45-minute conversation that left a lasting impact on Tendulkar. He added:
After that, I went away to my farmhouse, and that is when I got a call from Sir Viv, saying I know there is plenty of cricket left in you. We had a conversation for about 45 minutes and that was so heartwarming because when your batting hero calls you, it means a lot. That was the moment things changed for me, and from that moment onwards, I also performed much better.
Sir Viv, who had been a childhood hero for Tendulkar, told him, “I know there’s plenty of cricket left in you”. Coming from someone he admired so much, the words were both powerful and emotional and with this, Sachin Tendulkar shifted his focus back to the cricket. On this incident, Sir Viv further added:
I have had the opportunity to play against Sunny (Sunil) Gavaskar, who I have always felt would be the godfather of Indian batting. Then came Sachin, and then you now have Virat (Kohli). But the fact which amazed me the most is how such a small guy be so powerful. I’ve got some sentiments about why I’d like India to win this. A lot of folks ask me questions about the ‘best batsman you’d have seen’ over the years. I’ve heard of Bradman. I respect the pundit’s views in the past about Bradman. When I was asked about Sachin, I could be able to tell him that I did see Sachin. So, I was able to make a verdict on what I think because seeing, sometimes, is believing.
That call gave Tendulkar the motivation he needed. He felt reassured, understood, and supported, not just by a fan, but by a legend who believed in him when he was close to walking away from the game.
That moment changed everything as Tendulkar returned with fresh determination. In the years that followed, he mentored younger players and continued to contribute to the team. Even in the 2011 ODI World Cup, India finally achieved the long-awaited dream, winning the trophy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Tendulkar was carried on the shoulders of his teammates, and it became one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket. In the whole ODI World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar showed his class and why he still was the greatest batsman for the Indian team in that tournament as he made 482 runs in 9 innings.
He finished as India’s top run scorer in the 2011 World Cup, with an impressive average of 53.55 and a strike rate of 91.98. Tendulkar smashed two centuries and two fifties, including crucial knocks in high-pressure games, helping India progress through the stages. His top score was 120, and he hit 52 boundaries and 8 sixes during the tournament. Every time India needed a foundation or stability, Tendulkar stepped up and in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar finally retired from Cricket.