Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
The hype and hoopla on Sachin Tendulkar just refuses die down!
Monday night’s party at Waterstones Club, in Andheri East, Mumbai, was a star-studded affair. Though it was the iconic batsman’s private bash, the who's who of the nation, foreign guests and members of the Indian cricket team were present.
Mohammad Azharuddin too made a rare public appearance.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Anjali and Sachin Tendulkar arrive at the venuePhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Hosts Sachin and wife Anjali were both dressed in impressive black outfits.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Ramakant AchrekarPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
A notable guest was Sachin’s first coach Ramakant Achrekar. His presence elated the Master Blaster.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Sunil Gavaskar (right) and Rohan GavaskarPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Former batting ace Sunil Gavaskar and son Rohan were among the guests who arrived early.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Ravi ShastriPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Former India captain and popular commentator Ravi Shastri also made the guest list.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with wife SakshiPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni came with his glamorous wife, Sakshi.
The captain spoke a few kind words about his legendary senior teammate at the function, but he went against the grain and spoke in Hindi.
‘That was Dhoni speaking in Hindi.... and now Yuvi,’ wrote columnist Ayaz Memon on his Twitter feed.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Brian Lara looks dapper in a pair of geeky glassesPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
West Indies batting legend and Tendulkar’s contemporary Brian Lara too was among the foreign guests.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Kiran More and Dilip VengsarkarPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Former India batsmen Dilip Vengsarkar and Kiran More too attended the bash.
Sachin Tendulkar's first captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth was also one of the invitees.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Sandeep PatilPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
India’s chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil were among the guests to make an early entry.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Javagal Srinath, Sourav Ganguly and VVS LaxmanPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Sachin Tendulkar’s former teammates, pacer Javagal Srinath, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman were also in attendance.
It is learnt that Tendulkar’s ex-teammates took turns to share their experiences with the batting maestro towards the end of the party.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Shikhar Dhawan, Pragyan Ojha and Ajinkya RahanePhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Team India's young brigade was also at the party. Shikhar Dhawan, Pragyan Ojha and Ajinkya Rahane arrived in the team bus.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Yuvraj Singh arrived and Rohit SharmaPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Tendulkar's close friend Yuvraj Singh arrived with Rohit Sharma.
Yuvraj Singh read out a poem for his Sachin paaji and discarded spinner Harbhajan Singh turned emotional.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Virat KohliPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Tendulkar's probable successor for the No 4 spot in the Test squad, Virat Kohli made it in time for the function.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Robin UtthappaPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Former India openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag too were present. Robin Uthappa was also on the invitees list.
The guest-list was reportedly prepared by Sachin's wife Anjali.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Amol MuzumdarPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Sachin's former Mumbai teammate Amol Muzumdar also made a public appearance after a long time.
PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
Image: Boria MajumdarPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Cricket expert Boria Majumdar was also one of the invitees.
The cricketers, while cutting a cake towards end of the party, smeared Tendulkar’s face with icing.
Depicting the scene, a sports columnist and guest tweeted, “Zak, Bhajji, Yuvi plaster Sachin's face with cake. Looking like a dressing room, all boys party now...”
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