Coach Achrekar wants Sachin Tendulkar to bat on

The World Cup victory has brought joy and pride not only to millions of Indians, but also to the man who taught master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to hold the bat - Ramakant Achrekar.

"This is the best gift a student can ever give a coach. I am delighted and pleased to have coached the God of Cricket," Achrekar (79) told TOI from his Dadar residence. "I always believed India could win the World Cup and Sachin could play a crucial role in making it happen. Finally, it happened yesterday (Saturday)," the former cricket coach said.

'Achrekar Sir', as he is popularly known, wanted to attend the final at Wankhede, but a bone fracture and the consequent bed rest advised by doctors prevented him from doing so. The last time he met his famous disciple was when Sachin visited his Shivaji Park home on March 15.

"All I told him was to do his job and keep his calm," Achrekar said. "He is an inspiration to millions of Indians. Aspiring cricketers in the country can take a lesson or two from the dedication Sachin has shown throughout his career."

Achrekar, who hopes to meet Sachin soon, wants to see his disciple play for some more years. "Although I have not set any target for him, I want him to continue playing till the time he is enjoying his game," he said.

Some of Sachin's friends at his old housing society in Bandra (East) are ecstatic about the World Cup victory and say there could not have been a better script for the tournament. "It had always been Sachin's dream," said Rajiv Talashikar (56), who met Sachin at a party organised by a common friend last month in Bandra Kurla Complex. "We are extremely happy that it has finally come true."

Right from dropping Sachin at the airport when he got selected for his debut tour in Pakistan, to bowling him with rubber balls before an Australia tour, Talashikar has seen it all. "Always particular about fitness, he liked to think ahead. For instance, to adjust to bouncy pitches, he would make us wet the rubber ball and bowl him short on a concrete pitch in the society," he said. "Even today, Sachin for us is the boy who we saw growing up."