Sachin retirement news

How many matches did Sachin played in 2013?
4 test matches and around 20 T20s for MI. Hardly 2 or 3 ranji/practice matches.

How many runs did he scored?
Nothing great to mention about it.

By the standards set by him, we are already missing Sachin in cricket. Then why I'm feeling so sad after his retirement news? May be I'm not able to digest the fact of seeing Sachin without batting for India.

As far as I remember, the first match I followed was Sachin playing against Australia where Sachin came after Kapil dev  & Azharuddin and scored a half century. It was may be 1991-92. From that day, I'm seeing Sachin as a batsmen for India. After 21 years, now I have to see a different story.

I may not be crying externally, but inside my heart I can feel the weight of sadness. All the beautiful memories are scrolling in the mind like a slideshow. That double century in ODI at the age of 36. Those back to back centuries against Australia in Sharjah(1998) with beautiful sixes in Warne's bowling. That upper cut against Shoib akthar. The last gem in his career, 146 against South africa (we can say against Steyn) which helped to draw the series. Those 673 runs in 2003 world cup which took us closer to world cup. Those century partnerships with Ganguly in ODIs. Those partnerships with Dravid & Laxman in test matches. Those moments where everyone asks about Sachin's score while India batting. That moment when he became the first person to score 100 international 100s. The moment people criticized when he score anything less than 50. Those days where people believe India can win even after 9 wickets down and Sachin is playing from one end. The moment Azhar throws the ball to Sachin to break big partnerships. Those man of the match performances between 1995 to 2002 with the weight of one-man army tag.

Probably Sachin has given memories for the lifetime. As a Sachin fan, I have to move on with those memories.