Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is approaching almost three decades of marriage with his wife, Anjali—a relation threaded with love, mutual respect, and an understanding that transcended the age factor. Recently, the mother of his wife, Annabelle Mehta, broke her silence about the early days of their relationship, revealing the moment when young Sachin asked for Anjali’s hand in marriage. Even though Anjali was six years Sachin’s senior, both she and her husband have always maintained that age never came in the way of their relationship.
Annabelle Mehta’s autobiography—*My Passage to India*—offers a glimpse into the formative years of their relationship. Anjali’s family had moved from England to India in the 1950s—a decision that formed the bedrock of this great love story. Annabelle now reflects back to Sachin’s proposal as she had clearly come out and expressed her apprehensions then.
By that time, Sachin was already the brightest star in Indian cricket, and to her, it was a phenomenon like what David Beckham was in England during those times. However, with all this fame came pitfalls, especially in the sports world.
ALSO READ: Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin Rested As Duleep Trophy 2024 Undergoes Format Overhaul
“By that time, I had already realized that Sachin was a rising star in the Indian cricketing fraternity, but I was a little concerned at the possibility of his turning out to be a playboy, as seemed to be the case with many of these cricketers. Sachin in the nineties was like David Beckham in England. I wanted to look him in the eye and ask how he really felt about my daughter,” Annabelle recounted, according to NDTV.
Anjali’s mother Annabelle “Sachin Tendulkar was the brightest star in the Indian cricketing firmament,but I was concerned by the possibility of him becoming a playboy like so many of his fellow cricketers.Sachin in the nineties was like David Beckham in England.” pic.twitter.com/v122lqEsXA
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) August 12, 2024
The impromptu response of young Sachin was direct and from the heart. He said that he wanted to marry Anjali, and this bold statement left Annabelle in shock.
ALSO READ: Aakash Chopra Takes A Dig At People Advocating IPL Mega-Auction
“‘We want to get married’ were his exact words,” she recalled. “I was astounded. I had always imagined Anjali marrying a tall, dark, and handsome man. Dark and handsome, Sachin was. But at nineteen, he was still a boy. And so small. Barely taller than Anjali, who is five-foot-five and a half. Sachin’s bouncy hair probably gives him another inch, but not enough for Anjali to wear the high heels she had always loved.”
Although Sachin Tendulkar was just 19 when he first expressed an interest in marrying Anjali, he waited until he reached 22 to knot the bond that remains an ongoing marriage and inspires many to this day.
