Sachin Tendulkar reveals emotional story behind his century celebrations
What's the story
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the emotional story behind his unique century celebrations, a ritual he followed throughout his illustrious career. The revelation came as he accepted the prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 BCCI Naman Awards. Tendulkar's signature celebration was looking up at the sky every time he scored a century in any format, which was a tribute to his late father. Here's more.
Emotional tribute
Tendulkar's life-altering loss during 1999 World Cup
During his acceptance speech, Tendulkar recalled the deep impact of losing his father during the 1999 World Cup. He had to leave mid-tournament to attend his father's funeral in India, before rejoining the team. "It started in 1999. During the World Cup, I lost my father...that suddenly changed me overnight," he said. He further added, "Life changed after that. I wanted my father to be around and to see a number of things that were to happen in my life."
Heartfelt dedication
Century celebrations: A tribute to Tendulkar's father
Tendulkar revealed how much he missed his father during important moments of his life. "Life changed after that. I wanted my father to be around and to see a number of things that were to happen in my life," he said. "From that moment on, I started showing my bat to my father. So anything good that happened in my life, I would show that to my father first and celebrate with everyone," he added.
Moral stance
Tendulkar's stand against promoting alcohol and tobacco
Tendulkar also spoke about the values his father instilled in him, which made him refuse endorsements from alcohol and tobacco companies in the mid-90s. As a result, he played without a bat contract for two years. "In the mid-90s, I played for 2 years without a bat contract... But all of us at home had taken this decision that I would not promote tobacco or alcohol," he revealed.