Sachin Tendulkar’s mother-in-law Annabel Mehta is sure that the just-retired cricket icon would remain in touch with the game he considers his oxygen but wants him not to rush into anything for the time being.
Tendulkar bid a tearful farewell to the game after 24 years following his 200th Test on Saturday.
The Tendulkar family and wife Anjali’s parents were also present at the Wankhede stadium where Tendulkar delivered a heart-warming farewell speech. “I think we were all moved by his speech. It was amazing. How he managed to make such a speech when he was so emotional I just don’t know. The love and respect he got from all over the country was amazing,” Ms Mehta said.
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When asked about the future plans of the champion batsman, Ms Mehta said, “I will advise him to take time before deciding what he would like to become involved in, not rush into anything just now,” said the British-origin social worker, who runs an NGO ‘Apnalaya’ for street children in Mumbai.
She said he might take up golf or tennis to maintain physical fitness. “I think he will continue to work on his physical fitness, maybe take up golf or tennis. His wife plans for him to take over some of the responsibilities of running the house, I don’t know what she has in mind,” she said.
“He used to enjoy cooking in the early years, which was a good thing as Anjali had no interest in cooking,” Ms Mehta joked.
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She said former West Indies batsman Brian Lara had invited Tendulkar to visit Trinidad.
“Lara told me he has invited him to visit Trinidad, so I told him to invite his mother-in-law too! I have always wanted to visit the West Indies,” she said.
For her, Tendulkar has been the best son-in-law and is happy that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. “I adore his honesty and integrity, humility, intelligence and understanding and most of all, his love for his family. I couldn’t have a better son-in-law. Thank goodness he’s not retiring from that,” she said.