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It was a somber moment for the world of cricket as Sachin Tendulkar and several of his peers wept during the final send-off for the renowned coach Ramakant Achrekar, who was mourned by everyone touched by his legacy.
Following the passing of the legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar due to a heart attack on Wednesday at 87, his funeral procession was held on Thursday. The atmosphere at Shivaji Park during the cremation was heavy with sadness, as a sea of people—from famous stars to young hopefuls—gathered to pay their last respects. Notable cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, and Chandrakant Pandit were seen grieving openly for their mentor. In a stirring gesture of farewell, the players honored his memory by hoisting their cricket bats in the air as his procession passed by.
Despite his immense contributions, including receiving the Bhishma Charya award, the Maharashtra government did not grant Ramakant Achrekar a state funeral, a decision that drew criticism from the media and prompted questions to Housing Minister Prakash Mehta. Achrekar's prestigious career was marked by the Dronacharya Award in 1990 and the Padma Shri in 2010. His profound impact on the game and his mentorship of Sachin Tendulkar were also highlighted in the biopic 'Sachin: A Million Dreams.'
Ramakant Achrekar was a monumental figure who gifted Indian cricket some of its greatest talents, most notably Sachin Tendulkar. Having coached Sachin from childhood, Achrekar shared a deep, paternal bond with him, which was evident in the raw emotion Tendulkar showed during the funeral. In a touching scene, as the coach's body was placed on the field, players who were practicing stopped immediately to chant 'Amar Rahe' (May he remain immortal) in unison. He was honored not only by the players but by a collective of coaches who joined together to pay a heartfelt tribute to his life's work.