Watch: Sachin Tendulkar turns conscience-keeper at BCCI awards, urges youngsters not to get distracted

Two careers started almost at the same time. Sachin Tendulkar made his India debut at the age of 16, in 1989. A couple of years later, Vinod Kambli, another Ramakant Achrekar disciple, made his India debut at the age of 19 - an ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah. Tendulkar took the elevator. Kambli didn't mind climbing up the ladder. But there was a phase, in 1993-94, when the southpaw even threatened to overshadow his more talented childhood pal by dint of his exploits on the field. Then, Kambli fell, and the slide was rapid. Tendulkar, on the other hand, was going through the process of becoming a legend.

Kambli’s Test career ended in 1995, with only 17 matches to his credit. Tendulkar called time on his career in 2013, after playing 200 Tests. He ended up as arguably the game’s most respected batsman since Don Bradman. Kambli, meanwhile, ostensibly fell prey to off-the-field distractions.

So, when Tendulkar was offering his words of wisdom to the younger players after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI on Saturday, it somewhat struck a chord. The master told the youngsters to act responsibly.

“Without cricket, all of us would not be sitting in this room. For me it has been the ultimate gift of life,” said Tendulkar in his acceptance speech. “We have bat and ball, and if there is no solid grip over that, you start losing grip over bat and ball, kind of slowly start losing grip over your career also.”

The maestro went on: "I should not be giving you advice and saying, stay focused, whatever. But there will be distractions. Don't let them disrupt your career. Value everything that we have. And look after your game. It is about how we all have managed when we did not have anything. It is important to value when we have everything and behave in the appropriate manner to take the game forward and the country's name."