Former cricketers Chandrakant Pandit, Praveen Amre thank coach Ramakant Achrekar

Former India cricketers Chandrakant Pandit and Praveen Amre – who are also eminent coaches in the city – thanked veteran coach Ramakant Achrekar  for producing talents like Sachin Tendulkar at the felicitation ceremony of the 13th Dronacharya Ramakant Achrekar Under-14 cricket tournament at Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana Club on Thursday.

The 81-year-old Achrekar’s sharp vision laid the foundation for cricket in Mumbai. “Even if one isn’t a cricket fan, any Indian would want to thank Achrekar sir for his foresight, he has given the world Sachin Tendulkar. It was Sachin years back, Rohit (Sharma) today and the future sure looks bright going by what the current crop of talent has to offer,” said Pandit.

“Even if some people from this generation missed Sachin’s batting, they have Rohit to look up for inspiration,” he added.

When Pandit took guard for the first time, Sachin was at the non-striker’s end. “He taught us that there is no age to learn. Youngsters as well as experienced cricketers learnt from him,” he concluded.

Amre was happy that the Master will play his last in his homeground.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better venue for the match. It just had to be Mumbai for so many reasons. Past and present cricketers will be under one roof to watch him for the last time. Despite this being his final, he will still have that same desire and passion that we saw years back when he started his cricket,” he said.