Tendulkar's surprise visit to bat-manufacturing unit in Kashmir

Srinagar: Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketing legend, on Saturday visited a quaint bat-manufacturing unit nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Charsoo area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Reports said, Tendulkar, accompanied by wife Anjali and daughter Sara, stopped by at a unit in Charsoo on the Srinagar-Jammu highway and interacted with the workers there.

The Master Blaster‘s visit to the bat-manufacturing unit was not only a surprise, but an honor for the owner and the craftsman busy in their work.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Basharat while posting a video of Tendulkar inside the unit, said on X: “Master Blaster, the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar Blessed Cricket Bat factory Chersoo Awantipora Pulwama (M/S MJ Sports) with a Visit. Inspiration par excellence. Golden day for Kashmir Willow Bats (sic).”

Mohammad Shaheen Parray, owner of MJ Sports, said they were busy making bats when a vehicle stopped at their gate. “We were pleasantly surprised to find the Little Master and his family,” he said

“The Master Blaster checked the quality of the bats made of Kashmir willow. He stroked a few bats and was quite pleased with the quality. Tendulkar said he had come to compare the Kashmir willow bats with those made of English willow,” Parray added.

Reports said Tendulkar spent an hour at the manufacturing unit and interacted with a small bunch of fans. He also enjoyed Kashmiri khewa during his visit to the factory.

An eyewitness told DH over phone that as Tendulkar wandered through the manufacturing unit, his eyes gleamed with admiration at the meticulous craftsmanship displayed by the local artisans.

The artisans, with a sense of pride, shared their centuries-old techniques passed down through their families, blending tradition with innovation to create the perfect cricketing instrument, he said. In the midst of the buzzing atmosphere, Sachin's attention was drawn to a pile of raw Kashmir willow, the very essence of the iconic bats synonymous with the region.

Notably, Kashmir’s bat industry is mainly concentrated in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Anantnag districts, with willow groves growing in the wet highlands nearby.

Kashmir has been producing bats for over a century. According to estimates, Kashmir willow bats are priced up to Rs 3,500 per piece, as against the English willow bats whose retail prices range between $220 (Rs 16,000 approx.) and $450 (Rs 33,000 approx.) per bat in international markets.

According to official figures, over 400 cricket bat-manufacturing units are functional in Kashmir on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, welcoming visitors with willow-clefts piled up on both sides of the road. The Jammu and Kashmir government is also working hard to get a geographic indication (GI) for Kashmir willow bats.