Anjali Tendulkar, Sachin Tendulkar’s wife, has described her life with the “Master Blaster” as a celebration of their similarities and differences. Despite coming from different cultural backgrounds, they share the same values.
Tendulkar first met Anjali at Mumbai International Airport in 1990 when he returned from his first international cricket tour. Anjali was there to pick up her mother. They later met at a common friend’s place and got to know each other better. They fell in love and got married in May 1995.
In the book Sachin@50, released as a tribute to Tendulkar on his 50th birthday on April 24th, Anjali wrote about her relationship with the cricket legend. She said:
“When you live with someone long enough, they become a part of you. To write about Sachin, therefore, isn’t easy—because it is a reflection of myself as much as it is about him. We have known each other for 33 years now.
“Every day has been a celebration of our similarities and differences. We have gone through different stages of our partnership, like every couple—courtship, marriage, becoming parents, and to now seeing our children become adults and carve out their own lives.”
“We come from very different cultural backgrounds. Yet, we have been brought up with the same value systems. Both of us believe in according every person’s dignity and respect.”
“What is praiseworthy about Sachin is that despite all the fame and adulation, he still treats everyone equally. Irrespective of someone’s position in society, he treats everyone the same.” She further added.
“We have differences as well”: Anjali Tendulkar
Anjali acknowledged that, like all couples, they have their differences. However, they have supported each other personally and professionally. The 55-year-old wrote:
“We have differences as well. For example, both of us love gadgets. But I would go through the operations manual before I start operating one, whereas Sachin would be more hands-on, and he would work his way through the device and figure it out by using it.”
“We have both supported each other in our personal and professional lives. When Sachin played for India, there would be phases when I realized he needed to be given the space required. Likewise, he has been a very supportive partner.”