Here is why Sachin Tendulkar refused to speak to his family about engagement with Anjali

Ask any Indian cricket fanatic to name their favourite cricketers and only a rare few would not put Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the list. Such is the aura that surrounds the legendary former Indian batter. The poise and confidence that he walked out on the park with, only a few can match. However, Tendulkar might not have held the same confidence in him when it came to intimate personal matters off the field, especially disclosing his feelings for his then-girlfriend and now wife Anjali Tendulkar to his parents.

This tale is from 1994. It so happened that Anjali proposed Tendulkar to get engaged, during the Indian cricket team’s tour to New Zealand. The then 21-year-old cricketer was himself more than in favour of the idea. However, he had an issue, he would not want to speak to his parents about it and would want his potential fiancée to take charge for the same.

The details of the matter and a lot more were revealed from the horse’s mouth when Tendulkar sat down with Graham Bensinger on the latter’s YouTube channel for a relaxed chat.

“In 1994, when we were in New Zealand. After that Auckland innings, I had another decent inning in Wellington. I was in a good mood,” said Tendulkar.

“She caught me at the right time, actually and she said, ‘I think we should get engaged. What do you say?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m ready.” “She said, ‘But for that, you need to speak to your family and I’ll speak to my family.”

I said you will have to speak to both the families: Sachin Tendulkar

“I’m sorry, ‘I said. ‘You’ll have to speak to the families, both sides. You are taking charge. I will not go back home and I’ll speak to my parents, no chance. It was feeling odd. Though they knew Anjali she had come home and all. But I was feeling odd. I (Tendulkar) said ‘if you manage to do both, then I am okay. If you say tomorrow, I will get engaged tomorrow.”

“So, she was the one who spoke to both families,” Tendulkar concluded.

The duo dated for a period of 5 years before tying the knot in 1995. In 1997 they were blessed with their daughter, Sara, and later with son Arjun, in 1999.