"There has never been a farewell to sport quite like this " -- this was the unanimous view of the British media as it gave a collective round of applause to Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who called time on his inspiring international career at the end of his 200th Test.
Tendulkar, immensely popular in this part of the world as well for his exquisite batting, was lauded for remaining extraordinarily humble despite being the most followed cricketer of his generation.
"There has never been a farewell to sport quite like this, one perfectly designed to induce a billion cheers and a billion tears," said 'The Daily Telegraph', referring to the emotional farewell speech that the maestro gave at the end of his journey yesterday.
"How fitting that Sachin Tendulkar's last performance on his home cricket field should have been among his very finest, even if it came not with a bat but with a microphone."
The newspaper went on to highlight the 40-year-old's emotional hold over his millions of his fans, many of whom were moved to tears while listening to the speech, during which Tendulkar also found it hard to keep his composure.
"As all around the Wankhede Stadium eyes were being dabbed, the little man just stood on the grass, transfixing those followers one last time, only for once in silent, emotional thrall as he gave a wonderful speech charting one of sport's most fantastical careers. 'My life, between 22 yards, for 24 years,' as he put it so perfectly," it wrote.
"A full-house was already celebrating that life with delirious acclaim...The crowd had whooped with delight at seeing the first never-ending, moveable guard of honour for a tearful Sachin as the little master's young teammates kept bouncing alongside him towards the pavilion like gleeful, star-struck kids.
"Yet though his worshippers wanted to honour him, it somehow felt typical of his humility that he only cared about saluting them."
The newspaper lauded Tendulkar for delivering a speech so clear in its message despite the overwhelming emotions surrounding it.
