Sachin Tendulkar may have hung up his bat about 17 months back, but the cheers that he received from a sea of fans at the Wankhede stadium here on Sunday showed the aura around the little master has not faded a bit.
While cheers for those in the playing eleven is a normal scene, Mumbai Indians icon Tendulkar's name was constantly chanted by the spectators as the team played their first home match of the ongoing Indian Premier League against Kings XI Punjab.
There were shouts of 'Sachiiiin Sachiiiiin', showing the the love and affection that the little master enjoys in his home city.
A Tendulkar fan turned up with a poster written, "Sachin was the only reason for me to watch, learn and play cricket. We miss you legend."
Fans also wore Tendulkar t-shirts and painted their faces with 'Sachin 10'.
Carrying team flags and with their faces painted in white and blue, the fans turned up in large numbers to watch the MIs in action.
A party spirit prevailed at the venue, which hosted the 2011 World Cup final, as fans roared in unison "Mumbaiii", "Mumbaiiii".