In a stunning revelation made on March 12, 2026, former BCCI Chief Selector Sandeep Patil disclosed that the selection committee was actively planning to drop Sachin Tendulkar a year before his eventual retirement in 2013. During a candid interview, Patil recalled a meeting after the Nagpur Test in 2012 where he directly asked the legend about his future plans. At that time, Tendulkar was struggling with form, averaging just 23.8 in Tests and 31.5 in ODIs for the year.

When Patil informed Tendulkar that the committee was looking for a potential replacement, the “Master Blaster” was reportedly shocked and repeatedly asked, “Are you serious?” According to Patil, while Tendulkar initially expressed his desire to continue playing, he realized the shift in the board’s stance and announced his ODI retirement just days later. This new information suggests that the iconic farewell Test series against the West Indies in 2013 was a gracefully managed exit strategy by the BCCI, rather than a purely personal choice. The revelation has sparked intense debate among fans about whether the greatest batter of all time was pushed toward the exit door earlier than he intended.