WATCH: ‘Are you serious?’ – Sandeep Patil on Sachin Tendulkar’s reaction after being told his replacement was being considered

Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket in 2013 having played 200 Tests, 463 ODIs and 1 T20I.

The end of Sachin Tendulkar’s international career for India began after he realized his dream of winning the ICC World Cup in 2011. After that, in the eight Tests that India played against England and Australia and was blanked 8-0, Tendulkar only managed 560 runs with four fifties to show for it.

There was also pressure on Sachin Tendulkar to score his 100th international century, and it showed in his batting. Later, when England defeated India in a rare home series loss, Tendulkar's batting deteriorated even worse, finishing with only 112 runs from four Tests at an average of 18.6.

On the other hand, 2008 saw the retirement of Sourav Ganguly, while Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman retired in 2012. That was when Sandeep Patil, who was the chief BCCI selector, arranged a meeting with Sachin Tendulkar to tell him that they were looking for a replacement for him.

“I remember the last day of the Nagpur Test when we lost to England in 2012. My fellow selector, Rajendra Singh Hans, and I went to the ACU (Anti-Corruption Unit) to seek permission to meet Sachin Tendulkar. We obtained the manager's permission and invited Tendulkar.

I asked him, as the chairman, ‘What are your plans?’ The selection committee had decided that his contributions were not helping the team. The entire country turned against me, but we never dropped him. He announced his retirement from ODIs first and then Tests,” Patil told Vickey Lalwani on his podcast.

“He was surprised and rightfully so. He said, 'Why?' I said the committee felt we needed to look at your replacement, and he was shocked. He called me again and asked, ‘Are you serious?’ I said yes. Later, when he decided to retire, he even called me and said, ‘Sandy, I am announcing my retirement. ' I feel sad that we had to take such a harsh decision. But look at the player who came in—Ajinkya Rahane,” Patil added.

Patil stated that Tendulkar explicitly told him after their conversation, "I want to carry on." However, less than a week later, the batting legend announced his retirement from one-day internationals, just days before a three-match series against Pakistan. Tendulkar had completed 100 international centuries during the 2012 Asia Cup.

Tendulkar continued to play Tests for another year, but he was unable to recreate the success that had established him as an idol. Even though India defeated Australia 4-0 in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he scored only 192 runs at an average of 32, with a high of 81.

Then in 2013, Tendulkar retired from the IPL after his team, the Mumbai Indians, won their maiden IPL title under Rohit Sharma. Three months later, Tendulkar bid goodbye to international cricket after a farewell two-test series at home against the West Indies.

He finished his India career with more than 34,000 runs, becoming the first player ever to feature in 200 Test matches.