London: A striking new portrait of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was unveiled at the MCC Museum at Lord’s Cricket Ground, marking a moment of deep nostalgia and celebration for fans of the sport. The unveiling took place just before the start of the England vs India Men’s Rothesay Test match, offering a fitting tribute to one of the game’s most iconic figures.
The portrait—created by renowned British artist Stuart Pearson Wright—captures Tendulkar in a larger-than-life format, focusing solely on his head and shoulders. Painted in oil on abraded aluminium, the piece uses a textured, abstract background to convey a timeless quality, reflecting Tendulkar’s enduring impact on the game.
This unique composition is based on a photograph the artist took 18 years ago at Tendulkar’s home in Mumbai. Unlike previous full-length portraits of Indian players in MCC’s collection, this one opts for a bold and minimal aesthetic, intentionally removing any spatial context to allow viewers to engage more directly with Tendulkar’s expression and legacy.
“It’s a huge honour,” Tendulkar said at the unveiling. “In 1983, when India won the World Cup, I first saw Kapil Dev lift the trophy at Lord’s, and that moment sparked my cricketing journey. Today, with my portrait going up inside the Pavilion, it feels like life has come full circle. This is truly special.”
Tendulkar’s record-breaking international career spanned 24 years, during which he amassed 34,357 runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is—over 6,000 more than the next closest player, Kumar Sangakkara. The portrait now becomes the fifth of an Indian cricketer in the MCC collection, joining Kapil Dev, Bishan Bedi, and Dilip Vengsarkar—all also painted by Pearson Wright.
“This portrait was approached differently,” said Pearson Wright. “The MCC wanted a new format, so I used a heroic scale to focus on Sachin’s features and presence. The abstract background removes specific context, allowing the viewer to connect directly with the subject.”
The Lord’s Portrait Programme has been active in its current form for three decades, but the MCC’s art collection dates back to the Victorian era. The MCC Museum, founded in the 1950s, is Europe’s oldest sporting museum, housing around 3,000 images, including nearly 300 portraits. The Long Room Gallery, where many of these artworks are displayed, remains one of the most iconic spaces in world sport.
Charlotte Goodhew, MCC Collections and Programmes Manager, added:
“It’s a privilege to welcome such a transcendental figure as Sachin Tendulkar into our portrait collection. Unveiling his painting during a high-profile Test match gives thousands of fans the opportunity to witness the artistry and legacy up close.”
The portrait will remain in the MCC Museum for public viewing throughout the summer before being relocated to the Pavilion—a place long associated with cricket’s greatest names and moments.
