Sachin Tendulkar Honours Father on Teachers’ Day

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar paid an emotional tribute to his late father, Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, on Teachers’ Day, describing him as the first person who recognised his potential and gave him the freedom to pursue cricket.

When I think about the people who shaped my journey, I do not begin with a cricket ground or a coach. I begin at home.
Long before anyone outside my family knew my name, my father had begun to recognise my love for cricket and, perhaps more importantly, understand what it meant… pic.twitter.com/AfBH6QOolX

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 5, 2026

In a heartfelt social media message, Tendulkar recalled how his father, a writer, poet and professor, guided him not only in cricket but also in life. He said his father taught him that failure was acceptable, but cheating and taking shortcuts were not.

Tendulkar said he was simply a young boy who loved playing cricket, while his father saw a greater possibility in him without deciding what he should become.

“That, in many ways, is what a great teacher or mentor does. They recognise a possibility in you before you can recognise it yourself.”
Reflecting on the importance of nurturing young talent, Tendulkar highlighted that children across India often need access to coaches, mentors, education, healthcare and the right learning environment to realise their potential.

He also spoke about the work of the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, which he founded with Anjali Tendulkar to provide children with greater access to sports, healthcare and education.

Professor Ramesh Tendulkar Memorial Fellowship Announced

On Teachers’ Day, Tendulkar announced the Professor Ramesh Tendulkar Memorial Fellowship, in partnership with the foundation's long-standing healthcare partner, Inga Health Foundation.

Under the initiative, one MD (Doctor of Medicine) each year will receive financial support for a year-long opportunity to specialise in cleft and craniofacial care in Srinagar.

Upon completion of the programme, the fellow will receive a certificate from the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation recognising their excellence.

Tendulkar said the fellowship represents more than an educational opportunity. For him, it is a way of carrying forward his father's belief that education creates opportunity, and that opportunity becomes truly meaningful when it is used to serve others.

Recalling his father's influence, Tendulkar said the greatest lesson he received was the importance of giving people the confidence and opportunity to discover their own potential.

He concluded his Teachers’ Day message by emphasising that the influence of a teacher can extend far beyond one student, travelling from one life to another and from one generation to the next.

“Happy Teachers’ Day!” Tendulkar wrote.