Odishatv Bureau
Mumbai: Without doubt the most enduring phenomenon in modern cricket and India's biggest sporting icon, Sachin Tendulkar is all set for an epic curtain call starting on Thursday when he steps on the field against the West Indies for his 200th and final Test where emotions will weigh heavy.
 
For once, an individual would be the focus even though it is a clash of two teams and why not, given that the individual in question is a man who successfully transformed from a prodigal talent to a living legend in 24 glorious years.
 
Tendulkar has been synonymous with the game in India for more than two decades and held in awe and admiration all over the cricket-playing world.
 
As a curly-haired teen with unbelievable talent, he walked in to the cricket field and the hearts of his fans quite effortlessly ever since his debut in 1989. And Such has been his domination in both the places that the vaccum he would leave seems unfillable.
 
Having won the first Test by an innings and 51 runs, Team India and their seniormost statesman will be focussed on inflicting another humiliating defeat on a mediocre Caribbean outfit at the Wankhede Stadium.
 
But the scores and statistics will certainly take backseat for the next few days as a nation gets ready to bid farewell to arguably its greatest and most revered sporting icon.
 
When Sir Don Bradman retired at the Oval in 1948, there were tributes but celebrations of a fantastic career were much muted.
 
But now as world cricket's most celebrated No 4 batsman bids adieu to the game, there is a silent prayer on everyone's mind, let it be a farewell to remember. 
 
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