Sachin Tendulkar paid tribute to his late childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar on Guru Purnima and he was so thankful to him for helping him to develop one of the greatest careers in cricket. He said the life-changing lessons he learnt from Achrekar Sir and the support he was always there in the early stages of his career, and even more so for the way he was young.
Tendulkar wrote: “I have one more thank you to say” in what was a simple but touching note that touched cricket fans around the world. His tribute also spoke to the way cricketing skills developed in his lifetime as well as the values, discipline and work ethic that Achrekar instilled in him.
Shivaji Park is one of the most influential nurseries of Indian cricket and has produced many top-class players over the past few years. From there a young Sachin Tendulkar was first introduced to Ramakant Achrekar whose talent and hard work helped every cricketer in the world become pros.
Sachin was his most famous pupil and in all his students he was one of the highest run-scorers in world cricket and the most respected cricketer of his generation.
Tendulkar has always acknowledged Achrekar's contribution to success in his long-term career. The great coach was strict and innovative with his methods to get young players to believe in him. The best story Sachin tells is about Achrekar putting a one-rupee coin on the stumps during training. If Tendulkar remained unbeaten in the net session he was allowed to keep the coin. Such an exercise was great for concentration, patience and determination qualities to be found in Sachin’s game.
Tendulkar told the Guru Purnima tribute about the lessons of Achrekar that were not only in cricket and not only in the setting but in life itself. He remembered that he learned humility, patience, consistency, and respect for the game whether successful or not. What Sachin learned helped him remain grounded even after his international career when he was a global star with many records.
The emotional message resonated with cricket fans, former players, and fans of the game. Tendulkar is so lucky to have been mentored so much that he never forgot the person he learned from. Social media platforms were flooded with messages in thanks to a student and his teacher who are still very much in touch and a tribute to gratitude and mentorship.
Guru Purnima is celebrated all over India to honor teachers, mentors and spiritual teachers who have had a great impact on our lives through their wisdom. Tendulkar’s tribute was to express the true spirit of this day and to recognize in every great achiever the mentor who has seen in them their potential long before we can see it in the eyes of man.
Ramakant Achrekar’s contribution to Indian cricket is much bigger than Sachin Tendulkar’s. He trained scores of first-class and international cricketers over the course of the last 30 years and won much respect from the cricketing world for his belief in young talent. His method of coaching was one of discipline and hard work and never the instant success.
The visit to Achrekar’s statue also represented Sachin’s return to his roots. Tendulkar is one of the most celebrated athletes in sport today but has always referred to his early years at Shivaji Park and his coach as the foundation of his career. His humility in saying thanks to all of that generation motivates millions of fans.
Standing here today, I realised something. No matter how many years pass, I’ll always feel like I have one more ‘thank you’ left to say.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 29, 2026
Thank you for believing in me, guiding me, and helping me become the person I am.
Happy Guru Purnima, Achrekar Sir. pic.twitter.com/PzgaXztl1s
The tribute also reminded fans that success in sports is seldom a matter of performance, but never one person’s. But at the heart of every champion are millions of hours of coaching, encouragement, sacrifice paid off and mentorship that are often forgotten. Tendulkar paid tribute to Achrekar Sir on Guru Purnima to his coach and to all those teachers who work all their lives to shape future generations.
Sachin Tendulkar showed cricket fans in the country again why he is still loved so much not just for his records but also for his values. His words. "I have one more thank you to say" told us that gratitude is a universal bond between a guru and a follower and that it is one of the best things in life.
