The Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar is a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar's cricketing skills. The thought of watching Sachin's last match on November 14 at the Wankhede Stadium is both pleasurable and painful for Lataji.

"I really don't know how I'd feel when Sachin plays for the last time. Of course I wouldn't miss the match for the world.And I would have been at the stadium were it not for the fact that I've just recovered from a viral flu. But I can tell you this much. I'd be watching Sachin at home with a heavy heart. What a sad day for cricket when a batsman of his calibre calls it quits.`

Lataji feels Sachin was under unnecessary pressure to retire. "Self-appointed experts were asking him to step down. That was very wrong.Why should he step down? It's his prerogative to play as long as he wants. I remember once a music director asked me to retire from singing. Maybe he meant well. But I didn't pay any attention. Why should an an artiste or a sportsperson be pressurized to give up what he or she loves doing?"


Lataji sees Sachin Tendulkar as no ordinary cricketer. "Sachin is an extraordinary batsman.The bat is a shastra(instrument) of excellence in Sachin's hands. He played cricket on the field with the same devotion as a priest performing prayers to the gods.Sachin's devotion and concentration on the field are exemplary. He never loses his temper with the umpire. Even when an obvious mistake is made he never raised his voice. Though one could see Sachin's unhappiness at the umpire's decision in the way Sachin shook his head and walked off the field with a slumped shoulder he never lost his cool. That's Sachin for you.Shradha(devotion) and namrata(humility) come naturally to Sachin."

Lataji is full of praise for Sachin's performances on the field. "From a very young age he was a super-achiever . He never played for effect. His game was always honest. On many occasions he injured himself. He took all the mishaps in his stride.I wonder what cricket would be like after Sachin! Mujhe bahot dukh ho raha hai.According to me Sachin is cricket, and cricket is Sachin."