Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Maharashtra government for their decision to build a statue of his childhood coach, the late Ramakant Achrekar, at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his appreciation, stating that Achrekar Sir had a profound impact on his life and the lives of countless others. He emphasized that Achrekar’s life revolved around cricket at Shivaji Park, and a statue at this iconic location is a fitting tribute to his legacy.
The announcement of the statue came on Wednesday, a day before National Sports Day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. The Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution (GR) authorizing the installation of the monument near gate No. 5 of Shivaji Park.
The idea for a memorial to Achrekar at Shivaji Park was initiated and diligently pursued by Sunil Ramachandran, a former student of Achrekar and a former captain of the Kamat Memorial Cricket Club. Ramachandran, who currently serves as the assistant general secretary of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana, credited the support of MNS chief Raj Thackeray for making this project a reality.
Achrekar, a recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya award, passed away on January 2, 2019, at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy of nurturing 14 players who went on to represent India, including Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, and Ajit Agarkar.
The monument will feature a ball, helmet, gloves, pad, and an inscription of Achrekar’s name. The bat will be adorned with the signatures of all 14 Indian cricketers he coached, starting with Balwinder Singh Sandhu, the hero of India’s 1983 World Cup victory, and ending with Tendulkar himself. The memorial is expected to be completed within the next couple of months and will be inaugurated by Tendulkar.
