That Lata Mangeshkar was a passionate cricket fan and shared an emotional relationship with a fellow Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, who referred to her as “Aai” (mother in Marathi), is well-documented. But her support and role as a well wisher of the game and India’s cricketers is perhaps less understood.
In fact, she would often go out of her way to congratulate the Indian team and players. Ratnakar Shetty, who has been involved in cricket administration in various capacities for more than four decades, recalled a couple of such instances while paying his tribute to the Bharat Ratna.
