India's early win foils grand plans to bid adieu to Sachin

Victory on day 3 for India against the West Indies spoils CAB's mega party for day 5

Most wins taste sweet when they come earlier than expected but exceptions are always there.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) had readied a grand finale for Sunday, to give a historic send-off to Sachin Tendulkar on his penultimate (199th) Test match. However, the plan was upset with India’s early innings win against the West Indies on Friday, the third day. Among the highlights of the plan was a shower of 199 kg of rose petals from the sky via three specially hired aircraft, on Tendulkar, on day five. Eleven cricketing legends, including the likes of Vivian Richards and Shane Warne, were supposed to share the glory of the rose petal shower, meant to last for 20 minutes after the match.

“But you cannot control everything. We won the match but could not celebrate it in a grand way. We had permits for the rose petal shower via aircraft for day four and  five only,” said Subir Ganguly, joint secretary at CAB.  

The disappointment is likely to lead to a monetary loss for CAB, as 199 kg of rose petals would find no takers now and hiring charges for the three aircraft might have been paid already.

CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya was happy on winning but couldn't hide the other disappointment. “I cannot say much now on what plans were there. The good thing is we have won,” he said over the phone.

The unexpected win on the third day also sent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's plans off track. She had to be rushed in to the ground at the last moment. She was supposed to join the celebrations on Sunday, the final day.

“When the West Indies lost their eighth wicket, we called up Banerjee and she readily agreed to come over,” said Ganguly. The CM was, however, ready with a ‘surprise’ gift for Tendulkar. At the post-match presentation, she gave him one of her paintings.

Cricket followers and Sachin devotees who had managed to get tickets for days four and five were also upset, as they lost the chance to see the cricketing genius take guard for a last time at the Eden Gardens.  

The little master, however, was quite happy to have won the first Test match of his farewell series. “He told us he was happy with whatever Kolkata did,” added Ganguly.

Before the series took off, Tendulkar was seen mostly at the nets and could not make it to many of the events planned for him, including a photography exhibition  and gold coin unveiling event at a city hotel.