“One man’s triumph is everyone’s celebration.”

The dinner invite said it all, in just a few words. For Sachin Tendulkar is the one man who – when he walks out on the pitch to play – carries the hopes of millions of Indians with him. It has often been said, and rightly so, that the Master Blaster does not walk out alone – India walks with him. No wonder then that when he completed 20 years in cricket and Nita and Mukesh Ambani hosted a celebration in his honour on the lawns of Sea Wind at Cuffe Parade, the A-listers of the city came, saw….and applauded! It was power of a different sort that acknowledged the power play of Tendulkar that Sunday evening. The worlds of business, Bollywood, politics and sports blended seamlessly in a star-studded evening under a starry sky as the hosts extended their warm hospitality to everyone on their home turf.

Interestingly, the evening turned out to be a double whammy for Indian cricket lovers. For Team India too – and this was perhaps the first time that the team visited anyone’s private residence – it was a day to rejoice, having just acquired the No 1 world status in test cricket. Gracious in defeat, the Sri Lankans attended the evening’s celebration putting their hands together for the man every opponent instinctively fears.

Nita Ambani’s gracious welcome address set the tone for the evening and the eulogies flowed as swiftly as runs do from Tendulkar’s blade. While Aamir Khan spoke about the player’s significance as a symbol of India, Asha Bhosle sang a few lines especially for him. Spontaneous speeches by KV Kamath, MS Dhoni, Yash Chopra, Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar were punctuated by specially choreographed dance items. Shah Rukh Khan too took the mike to underline Tendulkar’s significance to young Indians. He read out a poem written by him and his daughter Suhana in praise of Tendulkar.

Then it was the turn of Mukesh Ambani whose affection for the man who also captains the Mumbai Indians’ Indian Premier League team was more than in evidence. He handed over the mike to Tendulkar.

The man, who normally prefers to let his eloquent bat do all the speaking, smilingly shed his customary reticence to let his feelings show. With his trademark smile completely in place, he spoke eloquently about his humble beginnings, playing in the by-lanes of Bandra, breaking windows, practising hard and long through the day and owing it all to his coach Ramakant Achrekar and his elder brother Ajit who made him hone his skills in long hours on the pitch or the maidan. As he spoke, one could almost see a young ‘Tendlya’ padded up, bat in hand, doing the rounds of Shivaji Park!

Tendulkar did not end his innings at the mike without referring to the longest partnership of his life. Acknowledging wife Anjali’s presence and contribution to his success, he thanked his in-laws for giving him her hand.
The champagne was uncorked, the cake was cut…and the celebrations continued into the night....

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