“To be in Shivaji Park forever is what he would have wanted”

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his happiness over the Maharashtra government’s decision to approve the memorial of late coach Ramakant Achrekar. A six-foot-tall monument to the Dronacharya Award-winning carriage will be built near Gate No. 5 of Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Achrekar was Sachin Tendulkar’s childhood coach and played a big role in the right-handed batsman’s career. He founded the Kamath Memorial Cricket Club at Shivaji Park, where he coached the likes of Vinod Kambli, Ajit Agarkar, Sanjay Bangar, Pravin Amre, Chandrakant Pandit and Ramesh Powar.

Sachin Tendulkar said Achrekar would have wished himself in Shivaji Park forever. In response to news of the memorial, the top batsman wrote:

“Achrekar Sir has had a huge impact on my life and a number of other lives. I speak on behalf of all his students. His life revolved around cricket at Shivaji Park. To be at Shivaji Park forever is what he would have wanted. I am very happy with the government’s decision to build a statue for Achrekar Sir in his karmabhoomi.”

Achrekar was 87 when he passed away on January 2, 2019. It is worth noting that he was awarded India’s fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 2010.

Sachin Tendulkar will be the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of Ramakant Achrekar Memorial

Sunil Ramachandran, one of Ramakant Achrekar’s students and the former captain of Kamath Memorial Cricket Club, came up with the idea of ​​building the monument.

Speaking to TOI, Ramachandran said the monument will be inaugurated on December 3, Achrekar’s birth anniversary. He also confirmed that Sachin Tendulkar will be the chief guest at the event.

Ramachandran said:

“It was possible due to the guidance and support of (MNS chief) Raj Thackeray. We plan to inaugurate the monument on December 3, Achrekar sir’s birthday, with Tendulkar of course being the chief guest.”

Ramachandran also stated that the statue will contain a bat with the signatures of the 12 Indian cricketers coached by Achrekar.

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Edited by Nihal