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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash
This article was first published 11 years ago

PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash

Last updated on: November 19, 2013 16:27 IST

Image: Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin arrives for the party on Monday
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 venue
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Hosts Sachin and wife Anjali were both dressed in impressive black outfits.

Tags: Azhar

PHOTOS: Azhar, Ganguly grace Tendulkar's retirement bash

Image: Ramakant Achrekar
Photographs: 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 Gavaskar
Photographs: 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 Shastri
Photographs: 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 Sakshi
Photographs: 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 glasses
Photographs: 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 Vengsarkar
Photographs: 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 Patil
Photographs: 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 Laxman
Photographs: 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 Rahane
Photographs: 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 Sharma
Photographs: 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 Kohli
Photographs: 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 Utthappa
Photographs: 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 Muzumdar
Photographs: 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 Majumdar
Photographs: 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...”