Nashik is taking its skills to another level. A city based artist Shishir Shinde, 29, got an opportunity to gift one of his paintings to the master blaster who will be retiring very soon from the Indian cricket team Mr. Sachin Tendulkar. The Mumbai cricket Association (MCA) officials after seeing his marvelous works were amazed and gave him the honor to gift Tendulkar one of his masterpieces during a function at the MCA’s new premises in Kandivli on Monday.
Shinde was overwhelmed when he saw the ceremony on television and in sheer joy he excliamed, “I have done many paintings, but the one of Sachin has been my biggest and most satisfying assignment. Through the media I came to know that Sachin had rejected a painting done by another artist. So, I approached Nationalist Congress Party’s working president Jitendra Avhad and requested him to give me a chance. I was put in touch with MCA authorities, who gave me the go-ahead. Finally, when it was shown to Avhad and the MCA officials, they were mighty pleased with my work. Sachin, too, was happy with it. I was very thrilled when I heard that my work had been selected. It will always be a great moment in my life”.
His achievements in the past include offering paintings to campaigner Anna Hazare during his campaign of fast-unto-death in New Delhi, photojournalist who was gang-raped in Shakti Mills. His paintings are displayed at Krishi Bhavan and Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
When asked about his painting gifted to Sachin, he described his art very well, saying “I have tried to adapt every aspect 
of Sachin’s personality on canvas. The use of clear, bold strokes in the painting is reflective of Sachin’s style of the game.In the painting, the stumps in the quiver and the bat in the form of a sword reminds one of the valour of Chhatrapatii Shivaji.”
The zealous painter ended quoting , “If cricket is a religion, Sachin is god.” Page 3 Nashik totally agrees with his statement and feels honored about the city having such great talent. Cheers to Shishir Shinde painting!
