Sachin Tendulkar gifts 26 bats to MCA museum; 'Batography' opens Nov 16
Synopsis
Sachin Tendulkar is gifting 26 of his match-used bats — including those behind his 100 international centuries — to the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum. The 'Batography' exhibition, opening on the 13th anniversary of his final Test, is the most significant archival donation in Indian cricket museum history.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Tendulkar will donate 26 match-used bats , along with helmets, jerseys and personal notes, to the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum in Mumbai .
The dedicated exhibition is titled 'Batography' — conceived as a biography narrated through cricketing equipment.
The collection includes bats used to score his 100 international centuries , a world record.
The unveiling is set for 16 November 2026 , exactly 13 years after Tendulkar's 200th and final Test against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium .
MCA president Ajinkya Naik said the donation ensures Tendulkar's legacy remains 'accessible to generations of cricket lovers.'
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar is set to donate 26 bats — including those wielded during the most defining moments of his record-breaking international career — along with helmets, jerseys, and personal notes to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for permanent display at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum in Mumbai. The dedicated exhibition, titled 'Batography', will be unveiled on 16 November 2026.
A Biography Written in Willow
Conceived as a biography told through cricketing equipment, 'Batography' will trace Tendulkar's extraordinary journey from his teenage debut to his landmark retirement. The collection includes bats used to register his 100 international centuries — a record no other batter in the history of the game has matched — giving visitors a tangible connection to the milestones behind those numbers. Alongside the bats, the display will feature helmets, playing jerseys, and personal notes from significant occasions across his career.
Why November 16
The unveiling date is deliberate and deeply symbolic. 16 November 2026 marks 13 years since Tendulkar played his 200th and final Test match — against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in November 2013 — bringing the curtain down on a 24-year international career. Anchoring the launch to that anniversary underlines the exhibition's intent: to preserve memory as much as memorabilia.
What MCA President Ajinkya Naik Said
MCA president Ajinkya Naik described the donation as a rare act of generosity that would benefit generations of cricket lovers. 'Sachin Tendulkar's contribution to Indian and world cricket goes far beyond the records he has created. His journey is woven into the memories of millions of cricket fans, and these bats are among the most personal artefacts of that journey,' Naik said. He added: 'Through Batography, we are bringing a unique dimension to the MCA Museum, allowing visitors to experience the story behind the milestones through the very instruments with which they were created. We are honoured that Sachin has chosen to share these prized possessions with the MCA, ensuring that this extraordinary legacy remains accessible to generations of cricket lovers.'
Significance for the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum
The MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum at Wankhede Stadium is one of India's most visited cricket heritage spaces, drawing fans who come to trace the city's storied cricketing past. The addition of a dedicated Tendulkar wing represents the most significant single accession to the museum since its establishment. By housing instruments directly linked to measurable, verified achievements — rather than replicas or generic memorabilia — the exhibition sets a new standard for how Indian cricket institutions document their legends.
Looking Ahead
The 'Batography' exhibition is expected to become a major draw for cricket tourists visiting Mumbai, particularly around international fixtures at Wankhede Stadium. As more retired Indian cricketers reach the later stages of their careers, the MCA's initiative may encourage similar archival efforts at other state associations — a potentially transformative moment for cricket heritage preservation across India.
Point of View
Yet its state associations have been slow to build world-class heritage infrastructure around them. Tendulkar's decision to donate match-used equipment — not replicas, but the actual bats behind 100 centuries — raises the bar for what cricket archiving can look like. The choice of the 13th retirement anniversary as the launch date signals that this is a carefully curated legacy project, not a routine PR exercise. The real question is whether the MCA and other state boards will now invest in the curatorial rigour — provenance documentation, climate-controlled storage, interpretive storytelling — needed to match the significance of what they are being handed.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Batography' exhibition at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum?
'Batography' is a dedicated exhibition within the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum featuring 26 match-used bats donated by Sachin Tendulkar, along with helmets, jerseys, and personal notes from significant moments in his career. It is conceived as a biography of his cricketing journey told through the equipment he used.
When will the Batography exhibition open?
The exhibition will be unveiled on 16 November 2026, a date chosen to mark 13 years since Tendulkar played his 200th and final Test match against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in November 2013.
Which bats are included in Sachin Tendulkar's donation to the MCA?
The collection of 26 bats includes those Tendulkar used to score his 100 international centuries — a world record — along with bats from other defining moments of his 24-year international career.
Where is the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum located?
The MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum is located at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, one of India's most iconic international cricket venues and the ground where Tendulkar played his farewell Test.
Why is Sachin Tendulkar donating his bats to the MCA?
According to MCA president Ajinkya Naik, Tendulkar chose to share these personal artefacts with the association to ensure his cricketing legacy remains accessible to future generations of fans. The donation transforms the museum collection and gives visitors a direct connection to some of cricket's most celebrated milestones.
