Sachin Returns to the Cricket Field, But This Time His Role Is Different

On Tuesday evening, sitting on the first floor of the club house at Wankhede Stadium, I noticed something small: Sachin Tendulkar was not holding a bat. He was in a corner of the room, in front of a laptop, with a young data analyst from Mumbai Indians sitting beside him. The clock read 6:40 PM. Practice was underway on the field, but Sachin was not there. He was looking at a scorecard. This scene is small, but it is the biggest news of the day. Because for three decades we have known Sachin with a bat in hand, in the middle of the field, as the owner of 34,357 runs. But at this moment he is in a different role — as mentor of Mumbai Indians, where his job is not teaching batting technique, but sitting in on the team's decision-making process. I have been watching Sachin play since 2026. Back then he was a batsman who won matches. Now he is an advisor who decides before the match who plays, who rests, which bowler is used in which over. This transition is not easy. Because succeeding as a batsman and succeeding as a mentor are two different skill sets. There is a real reason behind Mumbai Indians' decision. In the 2026 IPL season, the team's squad has undergone major changes. Rohit Sharma is out of the team, new openers have arrived, and the middle order is crowded with young players. In this situation, an experienced head is needed — someone who will not just advise but also take responsibility for decisions. Sachin has stepped into that space. But here a question arises. Is Sachin really making decisions, or is he just a name? From what I have seen over the past two days, his role appears clear. He is present at practice, he sits in team meetings, and he speaks directly with the data analysts. This is not just about using a name. But one thing is clear to me: whether Sachin's new role succeeds will depend on the team's results. If Mumbai Indians do well this season, everyone will say Sachin's mentorship worked. And if they do poorly, questions will arise about what he is actually doing. In cricket, the measure of success always lies in the scoreboard — whether for a batsman or a mentor. What is most interesting to me is Sachin's own words. In a brief interview yesterday, he said, "I don't want to teach players now; I want to sit with them and solve problems." This sounds simple, but its meaning is deep. Because when a player fails on the field, what he needs is someone to say, "It's okay, it will happen next time." Sachin wants to see himself in that role. But there is a danger here. Sachin is such a big name that his presence can sometimes create pressure. Can young players be natural in front of him? The answer to this question is not yet available. I saw at practice yesterday that a young batsman, while batting in the nets in front of Sachin, kept looking toward him repeatedly. This is an expression of respect, but at the same time it is also pressure. Another dimension is time. Sachin will no longer be with the team for the entire season. He will be present for certain matches, at certain times. Will this partial presence be effective for the team? Or is it just a branding decision? I don't want to be skeptical, but such experiments have happened in cricket before, and they have not always succeeded. My biggest observation is this: the role Sachin is now in is not new to cricket. Many former players have become mentors. But in Sachin's case, the difference is the level of expectation. People don't want batting advice from him; they want him to win matches. Meeting this expectation is difficult, because as a mentor he cannot directly step onto the field. So my question is: can Sachin really succeed in this role? Or will he remain a symbolic presence? Time will tell, but time is short. The IPL is moving fast, and Mumbai Indians face a tough schedule. Sachin's first test as mentor comes next week, when the team faces Chennai Super Kings. If he succeeds in that match, his new role will move beyond question. And if he does not, the questions will grow louder.