Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has penned a heartfelt note after his portrait was unveiled at the MCC Museum at Lord’s before the start of the third Test between India and England on Thursday.India vs England, 3rd Test Live ScoreThe portrait, painted by Stuart Pearson Wright from a photograph taken by the artist at his home 18 years ago, will remain in the MCC Museum until later this year before being relocated to the Pavilion.“I first visited Lord’s as a teenager in 1988, and returned in 1989 with the Star Cricket Club team,” Tendulkar wrote on X.“I remember standing near the Pavilion, soaking in the history and dreaming quietly.“Today, to have my portrait unveiled at this very place is a feeling that’s hard to put into words.“Life has truly come full circle. I’m grateful, and filled with wonderful memories.”Pearson Wright has previously painted portraits of Kapil Dev, Bishan Singh Bedi, and Dilip Vengsarkar.Tendulkar was quoted as saying, “It’s a huge honour. In 1983, when India won the World Cup, it was my first introduction to Lord’s.”“I saw our captain, Kapil Dev, lift the trophy. That moment sparked my cricketing journey. Today, with my portrait going up inside the Pavilion, it feels like it’s come full circle. When I reflect on my career, it brings a smile to my face. This is truly special.”“Unlike the previous paintings, which were full-length, Tendulkar’s portrait is a larger-than-life image of his head and shoulders,” the release added.The Lord’s Portrait Programme has been running in its current form for three decades, but MCC has been collecting art and artefacts since the Victorian era, opening a dedicated museum in the 1950s—making it the oldest sporting museum in Europe.The Long Room Gallery is the oldest and most iconic gallery in sport. The Club currently houses around 3,000 pictures, nearly 300 of which are portraits.
