Watch: Sachin Tendulkar takes David Beckham on Wankhede tour, tell him about ‘special’ 2011 World Cup victory

Football megastar David Beckham visited India for the first time in his life. Beckham met with legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar ahead of the World Cup 2023 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium.

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Sachin Tendulkar took David Beckham on a tour of the Wankhede Stadium. The International Cricket Council posted a video of the duo meeting each other ahead of the match and engaging in a candid chat.

“It is my first time in India. I have never been to India before. Do you know what, it has been amazing, I have been waiting to come to India for a long time. I landed in Gujarat and went to this kids’ centre. I went to the university and met some young innovators, young kids who were coming up with ideas. And I was like, you are amazing,” Beckham told Sachin upon meeting him ahead of the India vs New Zealand semi-final.

Beckham revealed that he played a little bit of cricket with children in Gujarat and thoroughly enjoyed his experience.

“I used to play in school. I feel more comfortable with the bat in my hand than I feel with the ball in my feet. I really enjoyed it,” Beckham said.

Tendulkar took Beckham on a tour of his home ground – Wankhede Stadium, where he told the former England footballer about the 2011 World Cup Final. India defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the tournament, winning the ODI World Cup for the first time since 1983. Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni starred in the final against Sri Lanka, which helped Sachin to sign off with a World Cup win to his name.

“In 2011 we played the final here. The best day of my life. We took a victory lap, things cannot get bigger than that,” Sachin told Beckham.

Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi plays currently, exchanged jerseys with Tendulkar and called the atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium electric. Beckham revealed in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he met the India players ahead of their high-pressure match and thoroughly enjoyed his experience.