Sachin Tendulkar keeps 15-year promise to teammate who batted with broken hand for his India debut

Sachin Tendulkar is a cricketing icon, celebrated not only for his extraordinary achievements with the bat but also for his humility both on and off the field. In a recent interaction, the legendary cricketer revealed how he once fulfilled a promise he had made to a former teammate. Tendulkar revisited an old memory and recalled the crucial role Gursharan Singh played in his early days, particularly in helping him earn a place in the Indian cricket team.

The ‘Master Blaster’ went on to share how he eventually repaid the gesture when the opportunity arose. Tendulkar was representing the Rest of India in the Irani Cup and was batting on 85 with the team nine wickets down. Gursharan, the vice-captain of the side at the time, walked out to bat despite having a broken hand, after being persuaded by the late Raj Singh Dungarpur.

"That was my trial match for the Indian team. Gursharan wasn't supposed to bat, but he listened to Raj Singh and came out to bat and eventually helped me get my 100. And I got selected to play for India after that. Later, Gursharan also became a part of the Indian cricket team. I thanked him profusely there, because it was a big thing for him to come out with his broken hand. His intent, his attitude mattered the most to me. That touched my heart," Tendulkar said during an Ageas Federal Life Insurance event as quoted by NDTV Sports.

"In those days, there were benefit matches for retired cricketers. So I told him in New Zealand, 'Gushi, someday or the other, you will retire. You can't play for a lifetime. But the day you retire and you get a benefit match, I promise I will come and play.' And I'm glad that I was able to play his match," he added.

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Tendulkar later received a call from Gursharan when the latter was playing his benefit match, and he made sure to fulfil the promise he had once made.

"I told him, 'Gushi, I had promised you in New Zealand (in 1990) that I will play in your benefit match, and 15 years later, now that you have decided to host the benefit match, I will definitely come and play. That's my promise. These memories still stay with me. And today, I can proudly say, whatever I promised, I fulfilled," said Sachin.