Unveiled in glory, Sachin Tendulkar’s life-size statue now losing its letters

A statue of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar unveiled with much fanfare last year has become the subject of unexpected attention due to a concerning issue with its inscription The statue which was meant to honour the batting great now stands with several letters missing from its nameplateAlso Read EXCLUSIVELifesize statue of Sachin Tendulkar to be sculpted at Wankhede stadium in MumbaiDuring the India vs Australia Test match on November 1 MidDay photographer Atul Kamble captured an image showing that the letters in Tendulkarrsquos first second and surname had begun to drop offThis was during Indias third and final Test against New Zealand which despite its early conclusion on Day 3 drew attention not only for the match but also for the condition of the statueSnippet from our story published on November 2A week after the Test another MidDay photographer Kirti Surve Parade returned to the statue to find that the missing letters had not been fixed The damaged inscription now reads as a shadow of the full name it was intended to represent diminishing the statuersquos intended grandeur While no official statement has been made regarding the issue the delay in repairs has raised questions about the upkeep of monuments dedicated to national heroesAlso Read Sunil Gavaskars masterstroke that led Sachin Tendulkar to Yorkshire for his 1992 County stintThe statue a tribute to Tendulkars unmatched contribution to Indian cricket was unveiled with much ceremony However the fading letters have prompted some to wonder whether the care given to the statue matches the reverence it was meant to embody As of now the statue remains in its incomplete state leaving fans and observers alike puzzled over why such a minor issue hasnrsquot been addressed promptlyLast year before the unveiling of his lifesize statue Tendulkar spoke to reporters following his visit to the Wankhede Stadium He described the decision to erect a statue in his honor as a pleasant surprise and acknowledged that it was a significant moment in his life1998 is when it all started at the Wankhede The journey started here for me Played my first Ranji match here Long ago Achrekar sir reprimanded me here and from thereon I became a serious cricketer I played my last match at this very venue Life has come full circle for me here I have wonderful memories of this place some memorable and some notsogood Its a big moment for me he saidHe added I am still a 25yearold with 25 years of experience I would say Its good and I would like to thank the MCA for this really great gesture Its a very special place for me and a lot of things happened in my career because of the MCA The amount of time that I have spent here is second to none and I have enjoyed being here and playing here A special place for me