Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar called time on his illustrious international career on November 16, 2013. His last appearance for India was against the West Indies at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

In his farewell match, Tendulkar played a brilliant knock of 74 runs, helping India secure a big win by an innings and 126 runs.

During the 50th anniversary celebration of the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (January 19), Tendulkar revealed that before his farewell series was announced, he made a special request to then BCCI president N Srinivasan, urging him to schedule his last match in Mumbai so that his mother can come to the stadium and watch him play for the first and last time.

“Before the series was announced, I got in touch with the president of BCCI, Mr. Srinivasan, and made one request. I said, ‘Ki last match, I want that match to happen in Mumbai, for one very reason—itne saal mai cricket khela, 24 saal for India. And before that, another 5-6 years, so around about 30 years. My mother had never seen me play in 30 years. And at that time, my mother’s health was such that she was not able to travel. She would never have been able to get to any other venue, other than Wankhede Stadium. So, I made a request that my last wish is that my mother sits here (Wankhede Stadium) and sees me once ki 24 saal mai ghar chod k kyu jaa raha tha. At least my wish should be fulfilled. And very graciously, BCCI accepted and kept the match here," Tendulkar said.

“But that match, in fact, was a very, very emotional moment for me because after so many years, I knew that this is the last time in my life. It’s never going to happen again. But on the first day, when my batting came, in the evening, I still remember, you know, while fighting with all those emotions, I had walked out to bat. The West Indies team also gave a lot of respect. All the spectators, they gave a very good reception. So all these emotional moments were there for me. My eyes were a little wet. There was a little water in my eyes, but I had to focus and bat above all," he added.

Tendulkar, 51, also recalled a hilarious moment from his farewell Test at the Wankhede Stadium from November 14 to 16 in 2013.

“Just before the last over, I saw on the mega screen there, there was a close-up of my mother. And the mother, my mother, did not realise that she was being shown on the mega screen. And when she looked at the mega screen and that reaction before the last over, I’m like thinking that all these things are needed. The last six balls, then they went to Anjali and kids, all my family members. Then I had a doubt that the director who was inside, who was guiding the cameraman, does he have a West Indian passport? Because he was acting in favour of the West Indian team. He was playing with my emotions. I was looking to survive," the batting maestro said.

“And then once the match got over, I spoke, and at the lap, where the players lifted me on their shoulders, it was surreal. All these things, you know, no one can plan. It is written from above. The story is written from above. And for that, the way you gave me love and that experience was special for me. That’s going to be with me till the last breath. It’s like I said, that (Sachin Sachin) will reverberate till the time I breathe," he further remarked.

Sachin Tendulkar represented India in 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs) and centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs).