Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday welcomed the Maharashtra government’s decision to install a statue of his childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar at the iconic Shivaji Park. The state’s urban development department had on Wednesday approved the proposal for a six-feet statue of Achrekar near Gate No. 5 of the Shivaji Park.

It was at the Shivaji Park that Tendulkar honed his skills to become one of the best batters the world has seen. “Achrekar Sir has had an immense impact on my life and several other lives. I am speaking on behalf of all his students,” Tendulkar wrote on Instagram. “His life revolved around cricket in Shivaji Park.