Former BCCI selector Sandeep Patil has shared details of a 2012 conversation with Sachin Tendulkar, where he informed the cricketer that the selection committee was considering his replacement due to poor form. Tendulkar reacted with surprise, asking 'Are you serious?' This discussion preceded Tendulkar's retirement from ODIs shortly after.
In a recent podcast appearance, former India chief selector Sandeep Patil recounted a pivotal meeting with Sachin Tendulkar following India's loss in the Nagpur Test against England in 2012. At the time, Tendulkar was struggling with consistency, scoring just 112 runs in four Tests during the home series against England and averaging 23.8 across nine Tests without a century that year. In ODIs, his average stood at 31.5 over 10 matches.
Patil, along with selector Rajendra Singh Hans, sought permission from the team manager and Anti-Corruption Unit to speak with Tendulkar. As chairman, Patil asked, 'What are your plans?' When Tendulkar inquired why, Patil explained that the committee felt his contributions were not aiding the team and they needed to explore replacements. Tendulkar expressed shock, responding, 'Why?' and later calling back to confirm, 'Are you serious?' Patil affirmed the decision.
Tendulkar stated he wanted to continue playing. However, less than a week later, he announced his retirement from ODIs ahead of a three-match series against Pakistan. He continued in Tests until November 2013, when he played his final international match—a Test against West Indies at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. In that game, Tendulkar scored 74 runs in his last innings, and India won by an innings and 126 runs.
Patil noted that the selection committee never dropped Tendulkar; retirement was his choice. He highlighted that selectors can only drop players, not force retirements. The move paved the way for emerging talents like Ajinkya Rahane, who replaced Tendulkar, as well as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah during Patil's tenure. Tendulkar, with over 34,000 international runs and the record of playing 200 Tests, retired amid India's transitional phase after the exits of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman.
