The mood is poised among his fans, somewhere between a goodbye and a celebration. Most fans are only happy lavishing him with praises, for they know that Indian cricket without Tendulkar is just too bleak.

When the second Test between India and West Indies unfurls at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium tomorrow, Tendulkar will take on the last leg of his glorious journey, a ride that kicked off at the age of 16 in a Test match at Karachi in 1989.