Fans demand BCCI include Sachin Tendulkar in India's Champions Trophy squad after his explosive 21-ball IML blitz

It has been 12 years since Sachin Tendulkar bid farewell to international cricket, but the legendary Master Blaster continues to showcase his incredible talent. In a recent match against England, Tendulkar amazed fans by scoring 34 runs off just 21 balls, reminding everyone of his iconic prowess on the cricket field. His aggressive innings, which included five fours and a six, set the tone for India Masters as they chased down 134 runs in under 12 overs. Tendulkar's display of vintage shots left spectators in awe, proving that his skill and finesse have not diminished over the years.

Tendulkar, almost 52, began with a cracking cover drive off the fourth ball he faced from Steve Finn and followed it with a pull shot for another boundary. He chipped down the wicket to Chris Tremlett before turning it on against Tim Bresnan, whom he clubbed for 6, 4, 4 off consecutive deliveries. It was good while it lasted since Tendulkar's inning was cut short unexpectedly but the job was done. Gurkeerat Singh Mann scored a half-century and, in the company of Yuvraj Singh, made it two wins out of two games for the Indian legends.

However, Tendulkar's onslaught sent the fans into a frenzy, many of whom were hit by a heavy dose of nostalgia. Some even wanted Tendulkar to play more, vouching for him to return to the IPL in some capacity, while others wanted the BCCI to consider him as a backup for the Indian team in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.

Here are some of the reactions:

Irfan Pathan pays tribute to Sachin Tendulkar

While Tendulkar was busy doing Tendulkar things with the bat in hand, his India Masters teammate Irfan Pathan aptly summed up what Tendulkar meant for an entire generation of cricketers, public and fans growing up.

"Social media today has no idea what he meant to the entire nation while growing up. His presence in the dressing room was enough to motivate us. His batting was a dream for so many kids who are now representing India. When Tendulkar used to bat, the whole country came to a standstill. And even today, so many years after retiring from the game, it is still country first for him. Legend. An absolute legend," he told Darren Gough during the match.

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