Former England football captain David Beckham, present at the Wankhede Stadium to witness India’s triumphant victory over New Zealand, expressed the significance of his encounter with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as “special.” Among the star-studded audience, Beckham engaged with Sachin, Indian and New Zealand players, and even shared conversations with cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri before the highly anticipated World Cup semi-final.

Reflecting on his time with the “Master Blaster” and the players on the field, Beckham conveyed the uniqueness of the experience. In a video shared by BCCI, he described the meeting with Sachin, stating,

“It was very special. I met Sachin for the first time at Wimbledon, and it was special to meet him then. Firstly, he is the best, but as a person, he is even better. To spend time with him is even better. For me to spend some time with him in his house was very special. But for me, spending time with all the players, they were going into an important game, so it was nice that they were able to come and say hello. It was a pleasure to meet them all.”

Beckham, known for his prowess in football, revealed his childhood fondness for cricket, confessing that he used to play the sport in school and saw himself as a batsman.

“I used to play cricket when I was a young kid at school, and I always liked being a batsman. I also like to bowl and field, so maybe I am an all-rounder, but I see myself more as a batter,” he added.

Turning to the match itself, India chose to bat first, scoring an impressive 397/4 in their 50 overs. The opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start, with Sharma scoring 47 in 29 balls and Gill contributing 80 in 66 balls. Despite a partnership between New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Shami’s exceptional seven-wicket haul left the Blackcaps struggling, and India secured a 70-run victory.

India’s opponent in the final is yet to be determined, with South Africa and Australia set to face off in the second semi-final at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.