Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Praveen Amre and Sameer Dighe along with Achrekar were felicitated at a function here as ‘Guru-Shishya’ (mentor and his protege) by a local arts and cultural academy, which was presided over by BCCI President Shashank Manohar.
Tendulkar recalled an incident when his coach told him to play for ‘B’ team of his School. Instead of batting, he preferred sitting in the gallery and cheering for his schoolmates.
In the evening, when he came across Achrekar, he was asked how many runs he had scored. Taken aback, Tendulkar told him that he was clapping and cheering up. Then came a slap which shattered his myth. His lunch box fell on the ground and he realised what a mistake he had commited, he said.
Achrekar told him firmly ‘don’t just clap for others, play for yourself and concentrate on your batting’, Tendulkar said.
“That incident changed my life and whatever I am today is because of his coaching and match practices that encouraged,” he said.
Tendulkar lauded his contribution to Cricket and said his mentor looked after all players really well.
BCCI President Manohar said Achrekar and Tendulkar are a modern day example of Dronacharaya and Arjun and recalled their journey and contributions to Cricket.
Former Test player from Vidarbha, Prashant Vaidya and former Vidarbha Ranji skipper Preetam Gandhe were felicitated by Achrekar.
Mumbai under-16 skipper Harmeet Singh was given a scholarship of Rs 50,000 by Ramakant Achrekar Foundation which was formed by former Ranji player Sharad Thakre who organised the function.
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