Painted by British artist Stuart Pearson Wright, the artwork captures a larger-than-life image of Tendulkar\u2019s head and shoulders and will remain in the museum before being moved to the Pavilion later this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This is the fifth portrait of an Indian player in the MCC\u2019s famous collection and the fourth painted by Pearson Wright. Unlike his earlier full-length paintings of Kapil Dev, Bishan Bedi and Dilip Vengsarkar, this portrait takes a different approach with a close-up composition and an abstract background. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before the start of the third England vs India Test, Sachin Tendulkar had the honour of ringing the iconic five-minute bell at Lord\u2019s. Introduced in 2007, the tradition is one of cricket\u2019s most cherished, reserved for players who have left a lasting mark on the game - making Tendulkar a fitting choice for the occasion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The painting is based on a photograph the artist took at Tendulkar\u2019s home in Mumbai 18 years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time. He scored 34,357 international runs across formats - over 6,000 more than the next highest, Kumar Sangakkara.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about the honour, Tendulkar said, \u201cIn 1983, when India won the World Cup, it was my first introduction to Lord\u2019s. I saw our captain, Kapil Dev, lift the trophy. That moment sparked my cricketing journey. Today, with my portrait going up inside the Pavilion, life feels like it\u2019s come full circle.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pearson Wright explained his creative choice and said, \u201cMCC wanted something different from the previous portraits, so I focused on Sachin\u2019s face and used a heroic scale. The abstract background allows his features to stand out without placing him in a specific time or place.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about the honour, Tendulkar said, \u201cIn 1983, when India won the World Cup, it was my first introduction to Lord\u2019s. I saw our captain, Kapil Dev, lift the trophy. That moment sparked my cricketing journey. Today, with my portrait going up inside the Pavilion, life feels like it\u2019s come full circle.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Charlotte Goodhew, MCC\u2019s Collections and Programmes Manager, said, \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to add such a transcendental figure as Sachin Tendulkar to our portrait collection. Unveiling it during an England\u2013India Test makes it even more special for fans visiting Lord\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n