Sachin Tendulkar enthrals crowds at a charity bushfire match in Melbourne

Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar turned Australian for a day when he walked out to play an over, dressed in yellow and green with a bat sporting the kookaburra logo.

Sachin Tendulkar reacts after facing a delivery from Ellyse Perry of Australia during the Bushfire Bash charity match. Source: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

It was a sight to behold on Sunday noon at the Bushfire Cricket Bash at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

Cricket fans couldn’t contain their excitement when legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar walked in to bat between innings to face an over from Australian women’s team’s star players - Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland (three balls each).

The Little Master, as he has been fondly called, padded up for the first time in almost six years to raise funds for the families affected by Australian bushfires in recent months.

Dressed in Australian colours of yellow and green, Tendulkar hit the first ball across the boundary and charitably pushed the rest of the balls towards the fielders.

It was all over in less than five minutes but the fans didn’t mind.

Watch: Tendulkar in action

‘Had a lot of fun coming together for a cause like the Bushfire Relief,’ Tendulkar later tweeted.

Tendulkar also coached the Pointing XI for Cricket Australia’s Bushfire Cricket Bash where the team faced Tim Paine coached Gilchrist XI on Sunday afternoon.

Some of the biggest names in the world of cricket and footy came together to play a 10-over match where Ponting XI  won the game by one-run against Gilchrist XI.

Ponting XI won the toss and scored 104 for 5 in 10 overs before Gilchrist XI made 103 for 5.

Sachin Tendulkar poses for a selfie with Brian Lara during the Bushfire Bash charity match at Junction Oval in Melbourne, Sunday, February 9, 2020. Source: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

Tendulkar coached Ponting XI which included Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee and Wasim Akram. Tendulkar couldn’t participate due to his shoulder injury.

Australian Test captain Tim Paine coached the Gilchrist XI team comprising Yuvraj Singh, Andrew Symonds and Courtney Walsh.

Sachin Tendulkar signs autographs for supporters in the crowd during the Bushfire Bash charity match. Source: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

The stadium saw many Indian cricket fans who had turned up specially to see Tendulkar on the field. 

“I am here to watch Sachin Tendulkar and other the legendary cricketers and support the cause. I am here, like all others, to do my bit,” said Nelson Albert who had come with his family to watch the game.

The match raised more than $7.7 million for the communities affected by the fires recently.

Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh in Sydney:

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